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First ever SHORT BED Utility body on a 4x4 '85 720


Desert720

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I'm halfway into this project and this site has been invaluable to me so I figured seeing as so few are interested in old 4x4 Datsun/Nissans I may as well share my build with those that are interested in seeing something different.

 

I purchased a very well worn out 85 Nissan 720 4x4 Deluxe with Toyota Tacoma wheels and in need of just about every consumable part but the price was right and I had just sold my Suzuki Samurai for a tidy profit so after falling in love with the Nissan almost immediately I decided she was a keeper and deserved to be brought back to her former glory..

I began with the usual engine freshening; plugs, wires, dist rotor and cap along with all fluids front to back.

After noticing very bad wear on my new KO2's (argh!) on the inside edge of the fronts I decided to pull the front end off and investigate... well i ended up going all out once I saw the wheel bearings were shot to the point of allowing a lot of movement. Started there and ended up replacing following; upper and lower ball joints, both wheel bearings, rotors, axle studs, lugs and with 225k on the clock I decided the steering needed an over haul as well so using only MOOG 555 brand parts(including ball joints) I replaced the inner and outer tie rod ends, pitman, idler, droop stops, bump stops, and a new stabilizer and pair of Bilstein shocks. Managed to get the upper control arm bushings and strut rod bushings as well only pivot up front I couldn't get were the lower control arm bushings ( the ones pressed into the front cross member) so if anyone has tips on those bushings I'd love to hear it as it's bugging me knowing everything is fresh and tight except the lca bushings..

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Front bushings SUCK. I've done multiple sets. I usually have to cut the star bolt off both sides with a grinder. Then i drill a bunch of holes through the rubber until i can push the center core out of the bushing. Then i grind or burn the rest of the bushing out.

 

I would highly recommend poly bushings for these. While they are noisier and stiffer, using them means you don't have to remove the metal shell from the front crossmember.

 

I've done both factory and poly bushings. I will never do another set of factory style.

 

I think at least one set is covered in my 720 shenanigans thread.

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Thank you for the Imgur suggestion, works the way a modern image site should!

 

Here is the old gal when we first met

 

https://i.imgur.com/lBEXqeD.jpg

 

Then the transformation began slowly,

 

https://i.imgur.com/7IGC48Y.jpg

 

I scoured Craigslist for a hard to find small cab over camper what a great set up it was!

 

https://i.imgur.com/tFxNUIN.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/wiM400Y.jpg

 

I made another all day Craigslist trip to Arizona for this snugtop original shell or topper and scored it with a killer upholstered and padded interior! Much easier and lighter than the pop top

 

https://i.imgur.com/0fCRTO8.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CmS1kCy.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/a8u2uFb.jpg

 

The shell will soon be back on Craigslist unfortunately as my latest obsession is converting to the utility bed! Sorry for the tangent just wanted to give some background.

 

Here it is as I found it in the junkyard after pulling it off a Early 80's Toyota. At 7 feet long it wasn't looking like an easy swap. I asked my veteran hot rod builder Grandpa what our options where and it was either stretch the frame or shorten the bed and we went for the later as one of the best qualities of the standard cab 720 is its short wheelbase.

 

https://i.imgur.com/vnd25LK.jpg

 

Then the fun fabrication began!

 

https://i.imgur.com/eh2tzWh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LXU2iFn.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2BHX5ab.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/mAUKINy.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/8TCLJz5.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/gKKFYLR.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/db5SkZx.jpg

 

Couldn't help but ask for a little body work help from the master :)

 

https://i.imgur.com/H5RegCg.jpg

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Here is the post with the pictures:

 

 

"Thank you for the Imgur suggestion, works the way a modern image site should!

Here is the old gal when we first met

lBEXqeD.jpg

Then the transformation began slowly,

7IGC48Y.jpg

I scoured Craigslist for a hard to find small cab over camper what a great set up it was!

tFxNUIN.jpg
wiM400Y.jpg

I made another all day Craigslist trip to Arizona for this snugtop original shell or topper and scored it with a killer upholstered and padded interior! Much easier and lighter than the pop top

0fCRTO8.jpg
CmS1kCy.jpg
a8u2uFb.jpg

The shell will soon be back on Craigslist unfortunately as my latest obsession is converting to the utility bed! Sorry for the tangent just wanted to give some background.

Here it is as I found it in the junkyard after pulling it off a Early 80's Toyota. At 7 feet long it wasn't looking like an easy swap. I asked my veteran hot rod builder Grandpa what our options where and it was either stretch the frame or shorten the bed and we went for the later as one of the best qualities of the standard cab 720 is its short wheelbase.

vnd25LK.jpg

Then the fun fabrication began!

eh2tzWh.jpg
LXU2iFn.jpg
2BHX5ab.jpg
mAUKINy.jpg
8TCLJz5.jpg
gKKFYLR.jpg
db5SkZx.jpg

Couldn't help but ask for a little body work help from the master :)

H5RegCg.jpg

"

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