My Beige Build

[stu]

Alright... little back story. My Names Edward, I live in Tacoma WA. My first daily driver was an 88 Mazda B2200. Smoked like a mother (Couldda guessed huh?) so i got rid of it, and bought a nice little commuter that was a 94 Acura integra.. Got real tired of that and sold it 3 days later. I was on the hunt for a new project and knew I wanted a retro style pickup... and well it was love at first sight....

 

When I brought her home in May 2014

 

 

 

 

 

All of my friends, being either into Hondas, VWs, or whatever their parents bought them, asked me what the hell I was thinking buying some junk truck from a field. I just smiled. One day they would see. :devil:

 

Got her into the garage and got right to work. First thing I did was moar low.. naturally...

 

 

Cut all this crap off, and thats just one side

 

 

On the ground

 

 

I drug thoes poor mudflaps right off

 

I played with the idea of no bumper but ended up on settling on removing the ends.. for some reason i think it looks a little meaner

 

 

She ran like ass so i slapped a new weber kit on it, and was really happy to find out its only a single adapter plate, unlike the more common doubble adapter

Yes... i know its dirty in there.

 

 

Being a broke high school student, I did what i could with what i could

 

So I slapped a coat of paint on the steelies

 

 

 

Also painted grille, and threw some amber tint on the headlights, altogether i think i improved the look

 

 

Next thing i knew, flyin down the freeway..... we lost power in a cloud of steam.. headgasket was shot and back to the whole broke kid thing, I had no choice but to let it sit while i came up with the funds, this was in May of 2014

 

 

 

Fast forward to October..... I had gotten a job in july, but spent all my money on an A to B vehicle.... but the time for my little pickup had come...

 

I got a new headgasket in er, then moved on to interior. the Bench seat kinda.... collapsed? i guess? so i temporarily (although its been 2 months) installed some leather seats out of a 2009 Accord, and i bed lined the floor... sorry i don't have any during pictures

 

 

Also put in a head unit, 2 6x9s, and 2 4in speakers. Along with an 8in kicker and 230 watt amp... she does alright

 

 

Lastly I got some 07 titan wheels 17x8 and i gotta say... well I am satisfied.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly, i threw a roof rack on it, (which I caught some asshole trying to steal last night smdh)  and peeled off the nasty tint. This is how she sits now, wile I was in Bellingham visiting some friends, waiting on a slave cylinder to some at the parts store

 

 

Another random picture

 

 

I hope you enjoyed. Yes. shes dirty, rusty, loud and drags ass, but i wouldn't have it any other way. 

 

Hopefully I'll be getting more progress soon, as I condensed the last 8 months into one post  B)

 

Also if you ever see me scootin around Tacoma, please don't be a stranger

 

If anyone has any questions or comments, please do share!

[_chiefjt]

Nice truck! I think it'll look better with the bumper corner pieces but hey that's just me.

[stu]

Thanks, I was reading your build earlier and felt like i should put mine all in one place. And as I was going through pictures, i found that id have to agree with you. the bumper just looks funny from the side if you look at it

[Justin Berni]

I love this color, probably my favorite factory 720 color.

What is it tht you cut off??

And how low are you in the back? Is it c notched??

[stu]

It is mine as well, All that crap i cut off were these increased load leaf packs.. just these kits you can buy from autozone. 

 

Im not sure how low it is, i just pulled 2 leafs out of the pack, left the load leaf, and a 3in block. also made mounts for rancho 9000 shocks, designed for a 4x4 and they give it a really stiff ride and never bottoms out

[wayno]

I am not going to alarm you with all the things that can go south by pulling leafs out of your leaf pack, I will just say find your self a set of Datsun/Nissan 720 4X4 leafs, they are a stiffer leaf pack, and they will give you a free one and a half inch drop without any issues other than putting you axle closer to the frame, and it will have a decent ride.

It is mine as well, All that crap i cut off were these increased load leaf packs.. just these kits you can buy from autozone. 

 

Im not sure how low it is, i just pulled 2 leafs out of the pack, left the load leaf, and a 3in block. also made mounts for rancho 9000 shocks, designed for a 4x4 and they give it a really stiff ride and never bottoms out

[Justin Berni]

that truck is sick though. I usually think 17's are too big, but you rock them very well, nice work.

[stu]

Wayno, thanks for the info. I was having issues with too much spring and axle hop. That's defiantly at the top of my list.

 

& thanks justin. I like the 17s... but I've been debating some 15x10s my buddy has for sale haha

[stu]

Also a pick n pull run today, found this jem. Dirty as hell, but only 113 miles and every option you could think of. I grabbed some climate control parts and a dimmer switch i needed. Also going back for the NapZ aluminium valve cover tomorrow 

 

 

I also grabbed these.. and I'm pretty happy with them, besides the fact I did a little damage

 

 

Magic eraser and some warm water

 

[Charlie69]

Mud flaps look good, they are hard to find in good shape.  Some more pictures of this would be great interior engine bay etc.

 

 

Does this truck have power windows and door locks?  I need the wiring that goes to both doors through the "A" plillar area.  If you happen back to that truck and could pull these pieces of harness (they unplug no cutting required) I would be interested in buying them from you.  I live in AZ so you world also have to be willing to ship.

[nismo24096]

If you grab me those hood vents I will pay you for them. as I would like to have a spare set.. PM if you can do this.

[stu]

Sorry Charlie (haha?) it was manual window and lock... I guess not ALL the options. I only have one other picture, ill dig it up. I planned on going today but it got pushed till monday. I'll be sure to get some then

 

and nismo I'll send a pm shortly

[JoeCool]

Looking good so far!

[datzenmike]

Forrest Gump.

 

 

Removing leafs to lower a vehicle is wrong two related ways. First it reduces the spring rate and the suspension will travel farther up and down over the same bump or dip in the road. This makes the ride soft and mushy and worse this is probably on worn out rear shocks still, so there is little to no damping. The handling on corners will be reduced from the added body tilt and rear wheels are more likely to lock up on emergency braking because of the weight shift to the front. Second the ride height is lower and combined with a suspension that travels further, you are at extreme risk for bottoming and ripping exhaust pipe or gas tank.

 

Don't get used to driving it like this! Add another leaf. Two would be better to add extra stiffness above what the stock was. You want stiffer on a lowered vehicle to avoid bottoming out. Once this is done measure and use a lowering blocks or have the springs de-arched to lower. Now your braking, handling and ride are not compromised but you are lower as well.

[stu]

Its really funny how you just described all the issues I'm having with my rear suspension. 

 

I'm on the hunt for 4x4 springs as we speak

 

Charlie this is the only picture I have of that truck. and its what originally made me take notice of the truck. It has the clock and tach cluster, which I thought was pretty bad ass

 

[wayno]

Does the clock actually run, I have never seen one that runs.

Its really funny how you just described all the issues I'm having with my rear suspension. 

 

I'm on the hunt for 4x4 springs as we speak

 

Charlie this is the only picture I have of that truck. and its what originally made me take notice of the truck. It has the clock and tach cluster, which I thought was pretty bad ass

 

[stu]

I really could't tell ya... I was considering snagging it just to have... 

[stu]

Took the truck to NW Toy Run 2014 I heard there was close to 4000 cars, and I only found like 4 other datsuns... which is pretty weak I'd say

 

 

[_chiefjt]

Nice

[Charlie69]

That is a sweet picture!

[stu]

Thanks. About an hour ago I was driving, stopped at a gas station and when I got back in none of my warning lights came on and the blinkers stopped working. When I arrived at my destination I realized my lights were very dim.... 

 

The alternator is charging at a whopping 7.8 volts. 

 

You guys have any idea why it would just crap out on me like that? And whats the cheapest way to get it going again? I heard rebuilding them was an option?

[MicroMachinery]

You guys have any idea why it would just crap out on me like that?

 

Parts go bad.

[stu]

Yeah I figured. I guess that was a dumb question . 

 

The no warning lights or blinkers still has me scratching my head

[stu]

The issue at hand:

 

 

Took like 5 minutes to yank out

 

 

Hitachi... Wonder how long shes been in there

 

 

I got in the zone and snagged this bad boy... Only one thing I hate more than Duralast and that's value craft. But the week long wait for the dealer replacement wasn't an option

 

 

Looks much better

 

 

I also got my warning lights and blinkers back.. Still really have no idea what would cause that

 

[Charlie69]

Yaeh!