Monday :: 08 February 2010 :: 08:39 PM
320 days to Christmas!
Nissan has a long history in America. When they first came out in the late 50s and early 60s, the Datsun (model 1000 or L220) pickup was the quintessential Japanese truck - a small box with room for driver, lite passenger and small freight. It was lite tin and rattled just like it.
My second pickup was a 1967 Datsun 520 with a 1300cc motor. I tuned it up every other weekend and had the heads shaved .002 and it turned into a tough competitor for all my Austin Healey friends. Even better, mine could go off road and the vehicle was so light, it did not need four wheel drive. It was a blast - a lot of fun.
BP1 Found This '56 Project Truck On Ebay
I purchased this old Binder on eBay, early August 2006. No rust through, just some surface rust. Straight body with just a few dings and dents! Very happy with this truck.
The truck was parked in a farm field in the very eastern end of Montana. I picked it up with a trailer and hauled it back home. The trip was almost eight hundred miles each way but I made the trip in thirty-one hours, including all stops, sleep, eats and fuel!
The winds were very severe in mid-state Montana but my 7.3L Powerstroke dually really had no problems (except for being knocked sideways a few times).
I forgot to take pictures of the interior cab before I cleaned out the mess the mice had made. Under the seat was solid stuffing, poop and pee. It stunk terrible!!!
When I removed the seat, the bolts came up with no coaxing and the threads looked like new. This truck is in very good condition. The frame of the bench seat is excellent and everything works great. But the upholstery (what little is left of it) stinks!
Gonna be doing most the work myself. Frame-offs are big business in Coeur d'Alene and there are no end of wealthy people willing to pay twice what the project is worth and wait five to six years for it. I went to a few body shops to talk about it. Even if I do all the dismantling and re-assembly myself they all want between fifteen to twenty-five thousand dollars -- just for the body work! Looks like I'll be pounding the dents out myself!
The plan is to remove all rust, install new running gear and braking system. Even though the motor (I think it is the 245) has had a recent rebuild, I plan to replace it with the Nissan Diesel used in the International Scouts. Re-assemble, paint and install new bucket seats and a console. Then Ride!!
-- I promise to take plenty of pictures as we progress in this frame-off restoration.
Will be selling off parts that I don't plan to re-use. Anyone want a bench seat???
Random Humor: God And The Scientist
One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.
The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this? Let's say we have a man-making contest." To which the scientist replied, "Okay, great!"
But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"