BKCowGod's 720 4x4 Build Tracking Thread

[BKCowGod]

(Hopefully this thread will do some good as I post up how I go about keeping within budget - I don't believe in paying mechanics, so I will be learning as I go)

The Vehicle: 1983 Nissan 720 4x4 King Cab. 2.4l Nissan Z engine, 5 speed manual, 2 speed transfer case. Crank windows, no a/c, no traction control, no airbags, drum brakes.

The Purpose: I have so many project vehicles that sometimes it is nice to just get in a car and drive it and know that you will be comfortable and make it where you need to go. While this truck will undergo some basic modifications, for the most part it will remain a reliable and comfortable daily truck. That said, for short local trips where the Beast is unnecessary and for snow trips and for gravel road duty, I expect this truck to be able to perform.

The Budget: $1500Expenses as of 3/18/10: $1105Purchase - $600Smog passing - $5Smog test - $50Spraypaint - $15Stereo - $95Speakers - $40Fog Lights - $15Shop Manual - $5Carburetor - $280

I traded a motorcycle straight across. The motorcycle could have sold easily for $500, or if I got the right person I could have gotten $600. So we assign a value of $600 to the truck, leaving $900 for upgrades and repairs.

Driveline: Stock, with the original Hitachi carb swapped out for a Weber 32/26 progressive. This is not only a huge performance and reliability upgrade, but is also cheaper than a rebuilt stock carb.

Wheels, Tires, Suspension: Stock again. The steel wheels have been painted "Cast Iron" at a total cost of $6. The tires will be replaced with Treadwright 30x9.5-15 All-Terrains ($68/ea). These tires will provide about 1" of lift. Bilstein HD Shocks will replace the rusted out factory shocks for a total cost of $125.

Bed: Primered it already ($12) and prepped it for Herculiner ($45).

Interior: Seats are incredibly comfortable. Driver even has adjustable lumbar support. Spraypainted the vinyl on the center console and it looks like new(ish). Radio will be an iPod capable Jensen Heavy Duty unit designed for big rigs. Speakers will be a pair of 6.5" Kenwood eXcelon units. I may install one of those cheapo 12v fridge units behind the seat - in the summer, my insulin can get mighty hot and mighty useless, mighty fast.

Other: The front end will get a pair of yellow beam Hella fog lights ($50). The main lights will be upgraded to H4 units ($50).

Current Photo:

Modified by BKCowGod at 11:33 PM 2/10/2010
Modified by BKCowGod at 10:28 AM 3/20/2010

[BKCowGod]

And a few more pix, including some with its big brother, my 1980 Jeep Cherokee Chief (360c.i. bored out to 380, RV Cam, upgraded ignition system, 4" lift, 33" muds, Flowmaster, bigger radiator, and quite a few other fun mods):

[PEZi]

haha... good stuff man

seeing stock interior pics reminds me of the old days

[BKCowGod]

Surprising to me that I am willing to keep the stock seats - I usually drop in seats from old Porsches (so amazingly comfortable...) but I am actually okay with these ones.

Can't wait to get that radio in and clean up the ugly speaker holes.

[moredunes720]

whoa.. great looking clean 4x4, not much if any rust. I hope to see the pics as you go. I am kinda stalled on my project, an 85.Once the steelhead season is over, I will get back out and finish up turning wrenches and applying the rest of the custom vinyl floor and headliner.Then a few trips to the junkyard and Helga will get a paint job. Maybe a name change, too lol.

[flinterman2000]

Love the detailed plans. I didn't have plans like yours and mine wasn't in as good condition as yours but its a work in progress. Z18ET, 5 speed manual, sport seats, nissan caravan front discs and calipers, L28E diff, power windows and mirrors, B12 dashboard and steering column and of course air conditioning.

Already complete 5 speed manual, sport seats,power windows, front discs and calipers. I have the diff and blower for the AC, just waiting for my baby to return .

[BKCowGod]

NOTE TO SELF: Previous owner was more of an idiot than I thought. And I am an idiot for not checking his work...

So today I went up to my parents' house to do the timing belt on the Porsche, then realized I left the P-Car's keys at home. Decided to get greasy on the truck instead... I truly believe that vehicles know when they have passed into the ownership of someone who cares about them, and they reward you for it.

I was checking around under the hood, tracing vacuum lines, when on a whim I looked at the plug wires - they were all misrouted. I cannot for the life of me tell you how it ran (and passed smog!) with how bodged up they were, but I routed them properly and set the timing and now it is purring. Still relatively gutless, but it cruised up Alba Road (one of the steepest in the state) just fine at 35. There are definitely still issues with this carb, but I am happy that I can put off the $300 Weber for a little while... Funds are terrifyingly low at the moment.

Oh, I also got rid of the clicky-clicky from the front end, so I have real, relatively quiet 4x4 now too. All freeee

[breadbox]

Nice.

I got my truck running on 3 cylinder and drove it for a while before it said no more. One cracked exhaust valve and everything else looks newish. I could probably even use the old HG but I already bought a new one. These trucks are beasts.

Your truck bed looks brand new...i hate you. Why does rust have to attack datsuns?!

[BKCowGod]

Breadbox - don't worry, there's some rust there...

Today I installed a bit of sound in the cab... Snagged a Jensen Heavy Duty receiver (designed for semis, I think it will be perfect for my needs) that I will wire to one of my old iPods. I love the classic looks of this stereo, I think they will blend much better with the interior of the truck. These sell new for $300, but I kept it under $100 by buying a demo unit. The receiver is going to be powering a pair of 6.5" MB Quart speakers. I've always been a fan of MBQ, and for $40 I am quite happy.

This Jensen unit (JHD3510) is pretty amazing, and actually perfect for camping:* 0 battery draw when the car is off. Instead it has a cap that stores your settings for 30 days.* NOAA weather alert with selectable automatic override.* iPod and Sirius built in, MP3 CD capability and front aux in.* Automatic battery monitor and shutoff.* PA system - yup, you can plug a mic into it!* Toughened and protected shockproof electronics - water resistant, too!* Looks like a factory stereo - no chrome or flashies or screen savers.

I'm also very happy with the MB Quart speakers. Obviously it's not the best environment, but they sound much better than the Pioneers in my Jeep.

Feels good to have music in my truck - I hate driving without a radio, makes me antsy.

[flinterman2000]

I know what you mean. When I installed a pioneer deck the crappy 6" door speakers just let loose. The cone foam just disintegrated. When I get her back from the mechanic, I'm using some 6X9's in the doors and two 12" JBL pick up flat subs behind the seat driven by a small but effective MTX amp.

[BKCowGod]

Finally some progress... I broke down and purchased a Weber 32/36DGEV carburetor and installed it two days ago. I still have some fine tuning to do - the secondary barrel comes on right at cruising speed, which I think is gonna kill my MPG, but this thing is straight up amazing. It totally changed the personality of this truck... Here's a few pictures:

Before:

See all the fuel residue around the accelerator pump thingie? You could actually watch it spray out!:

Out with the old!:

In with the new:

Up next, removing that nasty valve cover and painting it, doing the valve stem seals, and a valve adjustment...

[BKCowGod]

After 3 tanks of gas, I can safely say that this has made all the difference in the world. I am averaging 20mpg over some seriously nasty mountain road and it is easily able to keep up with crazy San Jose traffic. It does have a bit of a ghetto-rice-y exhaust note now, but not super annoying. I think I still have some fine tuning, and I would love to make it run a bit hotter (it cools off quick on downhill runs especially), but it is ready for my first camping trip.

[BKCowGod]

Oh, and we got a new vinyl die cutter at work, so I just had to play (bubbles in the beast are gone now... it turned out quite nice!)

[ShinHed]

I want a 720 in that colour

[flinterman2000]

Check with webber direct about jets and such like. You should be getting better milage the that even on mountainous roads. These carbs are sensitive to elevation changes.

[BKCowGod]

Yah, I'm still working out a few bugs - my header is glowing after a long run and I have some flat spots. But the mere fact that it runs smoothly is big progress for me!

[PEZi]

header glowing is BAD... too lean!!!

[flinterman2000]

And/or the timings too retarded.

[BKCowGod]

Timing is right at 3deg.

But now I find that I have an exhaust coil that ain't firing...

[breadbox]

Ooh vinyl cutter. We can maybe design a sticker?

I didn't think MB quarts are made anymore.

Keep up the good work.

[BKCowGod]

Ooh vinyl cutter. We can maybe design a sticker?

I didn't think MB quarts are made anymore.

Keep up the good work.

MBQ got bought, but their speakers are still handmade in Germany.

So for the latest - picked up a set of SuperWinch hubs for $37 shipped (I had been watching Amazon lower them from 50-40-37... Now they're back up to $110) and installed them this morning... Took all of 15 minutes to install them and they work great!

[[email protected]]

Timing is right at 3deg.

But now I find that I have an exhaust coil that ain't firing...

And thats the problem. With more fuel from the weber you need more timing. I'm running 12 degrees on my 4x4, under a hard load I do get some ping so I run 93 octane. If you like it now you will love it after you bump the timing!