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My 720 Resto


720inOlyWa

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MaxChlan, I suspect that you are right- some ducts are not lining up, maybe some cables are not quite right. Previous repairs under the dash weren‘t done right, i am almost positive. It sounds for all the world like it is just blowing random air all over under the dash, and some accidentally leaks out the vents.

 

I know for a fact that these little squirrel cages can put out the volume, but it aint happening in this case. It will be another satisfying moment of accomplishment when I get it all working correctly again. I printed out waynos dash removal instructions and stuck them on the work list clipboard for this vehicle. That guarantees it gets done at some point. 

 

wayno, can we make a deal? How much for a couple of your spares there? My filler door repair fell apart the first time I filled up my tank and now my gas tank door has a serious case of the shabs. No door pull. Clink, clank, and it is all over the ground. So much for that repair. I sure could use one and a backup. Interested? Let me know and I‘ll shoot you a little cash, right away.

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Well, yesterday I suited up and dug out my ramps and changed the oil and filter in the Fudgecicle. It was time for the 1,000 mile oil change since my rebuild, and I was already 340 miles late. So since it was only freezing and not raining too, I nutted up and did the deed. I still can’t seem to get the oil filter off without spilling some oil down the side of the block, but I suppose practice will eventually make perfect.

 

I was pleased to find the underside of the engine and transmission are bone dry and tidy. I was displeased to find that two of my power steering pump mounting bolts had worked loose and were well on the way to fleeing the scene. I buttoned that up and checked around fir other ‘loosies‘, but found none.

 

Earlier in the week I spilled about a quarter of a cup of corn meal on the passengers side of the cab, so I have that mess to get after today. Now, let’s see... where did I put the damn nozzle attachment for my shop vac?

 

Damn, I love my truck. It is so cool.

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Wintertime limits driveway work, especially wit the winter we have been enjoying. So I make a springtime work list and wait out the days. Meanwhile, my truck is my daily driver since my Legacy wagon has gone in for a total rebuild (at 350k miles). Most people wouldn't sink three grand into rebuilding a 1995 Subaru legacy L wagon, but most people aren‘t me. Over the years that I have owned it, I have replaced most of what would normally go wrong or wear out, so it has been the most reliable and effective car that I have ever owed. Why would‘t I rebuild a car like that? Besides, 3 to 4 grand is a lot cheaper than buying a new car, and new cars are all over-priced plastic shit anyway. This way, I will have a ‘new‘ 1985 Nissan 720 truck, and a ‘new’1995 Subaru legacy L. Add a Fender Telecaster guitar, a small amp with reverb, and life is pretty complete...

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My little truck is running so great lately. It is a thrill just to turn the damn key. But one thing keeps happening that I can't understand. The power steering tensioner pulley keeps slacking. Should I put a drop of thread lock on the tensioner threads once I adjust it up to the right point? It takes about a month of driving to loosen up and start squealing.

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Man, this was a massively inspiring read... just found and went through the whole thread. So much work, so much problem solving. Just a great read all around. I'm digging though for bits of wisdom as I resurrect my 85 King Cab ST 4x4. It's been my daily for the last 7 years (minus a few years total of riding a bicycle whenever the truck was in pieces)... Anyway, thanks for all the posts and descriptions. Great stuff! 

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Thank you, drawsalot. When I found my truck on CraigsList, it wasn’t really what I was looking for. But the damn thing called to me, sitting there in the rain, covered with leaves and crap, with a blown head gasket. I could literally hear it calling to me. To be totally honest, it was broken down and discarded at the time, and so was I. I recognized this quality to the situation- the fact that the truck and I were in the same boat- and talked the kid into selling it to me instead of the wrecking yard.

 

Buying the truck is the point where it gets truly weird. Every step of the way, it has given me an immediate and substantial reward. It led me to this forum. It turned me onto Doug Brown, a local Nissan master who just happens to work with me as a volunteer at the hydroplane & race boat museum,. Datsun Mike, Wayno, the guamanian guy who used to be here, Charlie, Lockleaf, and all of the good people who have helped with advice and a few cheers- all came by my path thanks to the Fudgecicle. It dragged me to a neighbor who knew all kinds of stuff and people connected to this type of truck. It led me to Johnson’s Performance Machine shop, Junior the shop dog, and Brittany, the wrecking yard babe. This damn Fudgecicle has done more for me than a truck could ever do as just a truck. It has been a force for good, all along the way.

 

Beyond the magic stuff, it also has rewarded me fully each and every time I lay a screwdriver or wrench to it. It is easy to make it better, so work sessions are invariably satisfying. Fortunately, it is a simple machine, so simply doing the work that has been neglected amost always pays off handsomely. I change something, it gets better. It has also been cheap to repair and renovate, which is helpful since I am poor. Not everything in life works that way...  I sure appreciate the kind words, but more to the point, I encourage anyone to step onto the path of truck salvation. I thought I was fixing an old truck, but it turns out it fixed me.

 

Oh, and by the way, a 720 Nissan truck also happens to be a brilliant design. Anyone can find a good use for a motorized wheelbarrow, and it turns out this version is quite exceptional. I hope that you can get half as much from your rehab experience.

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So it is winter, which in truck messing‘ terms means the driving season, and not the driveway mechanicin‘ season. Especially this winter as I am chilled to the bone indoors sitting at my computer. Forget about in the driveway on my back, pulling a driveline. It is just hard to shake off the dank damn cold this time around, for some reason. And so I am not working on my truck, I am driving it. I prepare for this season all summer by ticking off my endless wordlists, in order. This way, during the driving season, I don‘t have to do any work. I can just plan for summer.

 

That is why it almost felt shocking to me today when I indicated a right turn with the signal and it did‘t blink! What? A problem?!? As small an issue as a burned bulb may be, and as unpredictable as well, I was nonetheless startled to have anything happen. It has been ticking away for months with no real issue- and then this?

 

I was raised and baptized in the Episcopal church. But religion never took and after I saw VTRs posts in here, I reckon it never will. (Even though I keep saying “jesus!“ right out loud.) The reason I mention this is because I grew up best friends with a jewish kid, and spent time in their prototypical jewish home. To this day, I treasure the memories and I generally hold a warm place for jewish families. But that is another story. Point being, I can hear Mrs Kaplan saying “Turn signal bulb? Turn signal bulb? That should be the worst that happens this winter, oy veh...“  And she would have a point, of course.

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The engine that came with this truck was not really expected to make it much further than across town, to my home. The previous owner told me that it had oveheated badly when the water pump failed and the head gasket blew. The replaced the head gasket, but it blew again. We negotiated the sale price based on the expectation that the engine was toast.

 

I wasn't driving the truck out of my driveway at the time while I mapped out the strategy that is covered on the preceding pages, more or less. Then a rebuilt and unused head, complete with head gasket set, crossed my path at such allow price, I had to nab it. This triggered a half baked engine rehab that included oil pump, timing chain and water pump as well.

 

Well, that engine ran all over the place for about 15,000 miles while I gathered together a new engine / trans package, also enumerated in the previous pages. Time now for the post mortem...

 

I never got it to run right at the correct lean/rich settings. It would only operate smoothly in a slightly rich condition.

 

Today, I pulled off the head to get it cleaned up for another application and, for the first time really, took a good look at the cylinder walls. Number 4 has some considerable wear along the back side. How much, I don’t know, but it is enough to feel under my fingertips. It is localized, not running vertical with the stroke, so I would surmise piston slap or the rod bearing is worn enough to increase friction as the number 4 piston came up to compression. 

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Yesterday, between rain squalls, I checked the torque on my head bolts. I am happy to report all were still at 60lbs and holding strong. It is so great when I discover the work I did before is holding up just fine. So much of this is new to me that I find myself half expecting my work to blow up out on the freeway. It isn't rocket science, and I go slowly and assemble with care and patience. So of course everything should be okay. My confidence is just not keeping pace with my work rate. I need to adjust one or the other. Or maybe this is a good thing, keeping me on my toes.

 

Today, the weather looks to be clearing. This is important at this time of year and in this spot on the globe. Spring weather is very iffy here and, this year, even more so. Lots of rain squalls are blowing through, every day. I have been caught several times working in the driveway, wetted from neck to waistband by a cloudburst. But tomorrow is supposed to be our first spectacular day off Spring. All the local weather folks are calling it.

 

So tomorrow, the new driveline will go into the Fudgecicle. I had it totally rebuilt at our local driveline shop and they balanced it too. Not cheap, but I think it was well worth it. Now, both U-joints have an actual zerk fitting so I have something to lube once a year. I have a decent driveline in there, but I took it out without marking the two halves for re-alignment. My mistake, avoid this yourselves. So when I put it together again, I could not be sure it was re-aligned in the factory balanced arrangement. It does‘t vibrate badly or anything, but I am curious to see if I can notice it when the new driveline goes in.

 

I am all smitten lately with a a new truck project which is also big fun, but it is time to pump the brakes for a day and give the Fudgecicle just a little more love.

 

t8KgaXe.jpg?2

 

1vBweed.jpg

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I did the same as I was leaving the driveline shop... new ujoints , carrier bearing, and full balance....

Thankfully I separated the 2 halfs in front of them.... they promptly had me come back to the counter to explain that I shouldn't do that.... they also balance with all the grease fittings inline just for that reason.....

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Thank you, drawsalot. When I found my truck on CraigsList, it wasn’t really what I was looking for. But the damn thing called to me, sitting there in the rain, covered with leaves and crap, with a blown head gasket. I could literally hear it calling to me. To be totally honest, it was broken down and discarded at the time, and so was I. I recognized this quality to the situation- the fact that the truck and I were in the same boat- and talked the kid into selling it to me instead of the wrecking yard.

 

Buying the truck is the point where it gets truly weird. Every step of the way, it has given me an immediate and substantial reward. It led me to this forum. It turned me onto Doug Brown, a local Nissan master who just happens to work with me as a volunteer at the hydroplane & race boat museum,. Datsun Mike, Wayno, the guamanian guy who used to be here, Charlie, Lockleaf, and all of the good people who have helped with advice and a few cheers- all came by my path thanks to the Fudgecicle. It dragged me to a neighbor who knew all kinds of stuff and people connected to this type of truck. It led me to Johnson’s Performance Machine shop, Junior the shop dog, and Brittany, the wrecking yard babe. This damn Fudgecicle has done more for me than a truck could ever do as just a truck. It has been a force for good, all along the way.

 

Beyond the magic stuff, it also has rewarded me fully each and every time I lay a screwdriver or wrench to it. It is easy to make it better, so work sessions are invariably satisfying. Fortunately, it is a simple machine, so simply doing the work that has been neglected amost always pays off handsomely. I change something, it gets better. It has also been cheap to repair and renovate, which is helpful since I am poor. Not everything in life works that way...  I sure appreciate the kind words, but more to the point, I encourage anyone to step onto the path of truck salvation. I thought I was fixing an old truck, but it turns out it fixed me.

 

Oh, and by the way, a 720 Nissan truck also happens to be a brilliant design. Anyone can find a good use for a motorized wheelbarrow, and it turns out this version is quite exceptional. I hope that you can get half as much from your rehab experience.

Well said Oly, it is truly a life style!  How can you say you are a poor man when you own 3 720s!!!  LOL

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I did the same as I was leaving the driveline shop... new ujoints , carrier bearing, and full balance....

Thankfully I separated the 2 halfs in front of them.... they promptly had me come back to the counter to explain that I shouldn't do that.... they also balance with all the grease fittings inline just for that reason.....

Good tip!

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Well, I intended to install my driveline back in April, but I got distracted by another 720 project and comfortable with the Fudgecicle serving as my daily driver. But, with over 4k miles on the rebuild now, it is time to drag out the ramps and lifts, jack it up, and crawl under for some general inspection and the driveline replacement. I also need to sort out the last steps in hooking up my oil pressure gauge.

 

Just a couple of niggling issues left undone that need to be mopped up. May as well do an oil change and filter too...

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Ron Brown, the winningest crew chief in unlimited hydroplane history, and a friend, once offered me sage advice about doing the works: “It all adds up.“ This was never so obvious as when I took my post-driveline installation test drive today.

 

With the installation of my rebuilt and balanced drivel, this truck has officially been rehabbed from radiator to differential, with every effort being made to bring it all back to like-new condition, mechanically. It all added up to a test drive so smooth, I could not stop laughing out loud. Gently resting my fingertips on the gear shift shaft, I could not feel anything but the smooth transfer of power in every gear and at every speed. I have had many a manual transmission vehicle in my life, but none has ever been smoother in operation than this little Fuegecicle. 

 

I wish there was a contest for smoothness- Damn, I’d enter!

 

I would rate rebuilding the driveline with getting a new windshield. Just do it- you will be happier about everything.

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  • 2 months later...

I have been driving ‘The Fudgecicle‘ happily for almost two years now. The miles roll by. While my 95 Subaru wagon is getting rebuilt by Eddies Automotive, my 720 has been my only daily driver.  And I couldn‘t be happier with it.

 

When I rehab a truck, one of the first things that I do is replace the windshield. Even if it isn‘t cracked or dinged, it is likely to be badly pitted.  The Fudgecicle was no exception. Well, I picked up a rock while driving home from the races and it is cracked now. If a brand new windshield gives one the feeling of the new truck experience, a cracked one is outright depressing. So I called S&S glass to come and replace it again. I a not rich- far from it- but I dont drive my720 to feel depressed...

 

Maybe next week, it will be okay again. I still say a new windshield is some of the best money that I have spent so far.

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I only intended to get this set of stock steel rims sandblasted. Honest. But then I saw a set that was powder coated and I simply could not say no. So in they went to get a nice silver coating, as close to the stock look as I could get.  

 

It isn‘t cheap, and I am cheap, so there is something kind of wrong going on here. But I did it anyway. I figure that I will be driving this truck until they take the keys away, so why not? In a couple of weeks, we will see if it was all worth the splurge...

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I have been driving ‘The Fudgecicle‘ happily for almost two years now. The miles roll by. While my 95 Subaru wagon is getting rebuilt by Eddies Automotive, my 720 has been my only daily driver.  And I couldn‘t be happier with it.

 

When I rehab a truck, one of the first things that I do is replace the windshield. Even if it isn‘t cracked or dinged, it is likely to be badly pitted.  The Fudgecicle was no exception. Well, I picked up a rock while driving home from the races and it is cracked now. If a brand new windshield gives one the feeling of the new truck experience, a cracked one is outright depressing. So I called S&S glass to come and replace it again. I a not rich- far from it- but I dont drive my720 to feel depressed...

 

Maybe next week, it will be okay again. I still say a new windshield is some of the best money that I have spent so far.

Any money spent on a Datsun/Nissan is well money spent!!!  LOL

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This is an aside, a digression. It is related to my truck, but not about it directly. So indulge me, or head on over to PosTits for a better time...

 

My little 720 King Cab is about 80 percent done, by my standards. It is clean and doesn‘t look like a beater, despite the dents on the side of the bed on each side. Mechanically, it is aces, as this thread attests.  But it is just an 85 Nissan truck, not a collectible classic or highly sought after vintage Toyota Land Cruiser. Just a 720 KC deluxe what got lucky enough to cross the path of this old fool (me).

 

I have a dear old friend who, years ago, used to chase around the wrecking yards of Washington and Oregon with me, hunting for 1949 Plymouth station wagons and their related parts and bits. We had some great times together, doing that. So when the 720 bug bit me, I was sure I could suck Phil into diving in too, now that he is retired and all.

 

Some months ago, Phil stopped by with his new car, when my truck was still on jack stands. His new car is some kind of all wheel drive Toyota minivan deal, and he just loves it. Hell, I would gladly admit that it is nearly perfect in terms of getting you from point A to point B in comfort and safety. In other words, like many new cars, it is perfect.  I got the message: Phil‘s days of laying in the driveway or crawling around junk yards are over. He observed with bemused detachment my passion for re-living the old Plymouth adventures only with a Nissan bent.

 

Here is what I know for sure: his Toyota is fucking boring. Perfection is boring. What is interesting- and satisfying- is creating perfection for yourself out of that which is not perfect.

 

People know this innately. On Friday, when I stopped by the Olympia Coffee Roasters stand out in west Olympia, a pleasant thirty something woman said to me “Hey, nice truck!“ out of the blue. She didn‘t want any part of me, she admired the truck. It happens quite often. Once, sometimes twice a month, someone asks me if I would be willing to sell it, dents and all.  I have a little stack of post it notes on my desk with the names and numbers of folks who are interested in buying the other two trucks in my driveway. Well over half of 720 drivers that I pass flash a peace sign, wave, or even get a little crazy to see another 720 true believer trundling down Capitol Avenue. These things never happen to my friend Phil and his perfect Toyota. Nobody cares and nobody ever will.

 

It turns out, we all kind of want perfection but, so often, it isnt really what we need at all.

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  • 2 weeks later...

It always starts with a little thing...

This time, it was the low beams on the Fudgecicle. They just looked tired and, at night, they didn‘t seem to throw many photons ahead. So I stopped by and purchased a set of mid-level low beam headlights at O‘Reillys and tossed them behind the seat, which is what King Cabs are really for. After they aged there nicely for ten days or so, I set to the task of changing them out.  

 

Of course, this chore hits a wall real quick because the cheapo steel screws that they used to secure the stainless steel headlight frames have rusted into shit by now and the dimple suggesting a phillips head screw laughs at your fucking Snap On screwdriver, Liquid Wrench, and any vice grips that you may quickly resort to. It doesn‘t take very long before you realize, as I did, that you are taking out the buckets and mounts and doing the full rehab. The only way to get those little bastards out is to rock them loose from the backside with a pair of small vice grips. It takes a while, and a lot of Wrench soaking in before that is all apart.

 

After breaking everything down, I de-rusted the headlight adjusting screws, and springs, three ways: wire wheel, POR 15 metal prep, spray de-rusting primer. I also cleaned, prepped, and spot de-rusted the buckets and mounts before re-priming and painting. They weren‘t too bad, but now they are as new. I used GM pewter block paint for the inside of the buckets, for no other reason than to be a bad ass. This is about as bad ass as I get. Whoo-hoo!

 

 

Pv782Bh.jpg?1

 

 

Finally, the headlights are back in and everything is ship shape again. I replaced the stock headlight retainer screws with 8mm stainless steel beauties. That should make change-out a lot easier in the future. I will wait until dark to dial in the aiming...

 

MekpizA.jpg?1

 

Nobody is ever gonna notice the eight hours or work that I tossed at the front end of this old truck. ‘Cept me... and you.

 

9X5XyrC.jpg?1

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It took most of an hour  just to clean up the backside of the grille really good. It had never been cleaned. Whew!  Today, I just washed it, and changed out the white tie wrap holding the center part of the grille in, to a black one. The grille never was painted, so who would want yet another service chore? Not me. Naw, clean as a whistle is plenty good enough for me.

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