Wednesday :: 10 March 2010 :: 04:55 AM
290 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: Scandinavian Logic
Three Swedes were discussing the marvels of modern technology. The first man says, "I think the most brilliant invention of our time is the computer. Think of all the calculating, word processing and tracking you can do with the press of a button.
"Well, well, well...", interjects the second, "the computer is great, but nothing can beat the cruise missile. Who'd have thought we could invent a missile that will follow a moving target?"
The third one pipes in, "You guys have missed it altogether. The thermos is the greatest invention of mankind!"
The other two look at him like he's nuts and ask him to explain.
"Well," he says, "it keeps hot thing hot and cold things cold. How does it know?"