New wheels. . .pending

[daza / lemons]

An old mining mate has had a few health problems which don't allow him full use of his left leg. He rang me a while ago to offer me his 4X4.

It's an 1986 Nissan Patrol 3.3 standard diesel wagon with twin door at the back. He has had it awhile and the speedo indicates 250.000 km.

I have jumped at it because my little courier is vastly underpowered for my current plant.
Besides, the diff has gone and although mobile, it will need replacement either in total or swapping centres.

Another local prospector has offered me the diff from a later model 4X4 Courier which may or may not be suitable. I would prefer the drum to drum option if possible, but I'm not sure if it will fit without engineering.

Perhaps someone will have some info when I can see the donor Ute and identify it.

daza

PS: yes the Nissan has rust, but he says it isn't too bad; mainly around the roof gutter from a previous owners use of a roof rack.

[daza / lemons]

Lying old runt!

I collected the beast last week. Drives well and the running gears feels OK.
The trip home was fast. . . too fast for what I discovered when I got back.

Both rear engine mounts are stuffed, one has seperated.

Al the spring eyes and hangers are stuffed.

Leaks and at least one bolt is missing around the low pressure area of the fuel pump.

Overtightened fuel filter leak.

Fuses for the headlights have melted into the fuse block.

Frontend lifts off the ground and trys to tear the steering wheel out of your hands between 70 kph and 80 kph.

The body is a write-off as far as rust goes.

Front driveshaft worn on the splines.

Body seals . . . what body seals?

Drivers seat floats on the remenants of floor panel.

She's pretty inspite of all of the above.

Next: check diffs for bananas and perhaps. . . oil. Transfer, ditto.

Gearbox. . . not a lot of syncro left, but learnable.

I'm chuffed!

4x4 no issues, everything there seems OK for now.

Pictures:
I've known this bloke for over thirty-years and I didn't think he could pull-off anything new.
Just goes to show. Scourer pads? I never thought of that one. Yep that's what you will see.

















Plans: Use it as is and either plonk another body on or dump for spares. I like the Nissan Patrols and could get a later one, but time will tell and for now It will do me.

daza

[topcatwa]

Hi Dazza,

Talk about the luck of the draw.
From the looks of the pics I think all it is good for is spare parts!!!!
It certainly does need heaps of work.
It's a wonder it didn't fall to pieces on the way to your camp.

Best of luck in your new adventure.

Cheers

Ted

[Reno Chris]

Isnt Bondo the universal repair agent? ;D

By the looks of that scour pad, its a relativly recent installation.

Hope you didnt have to pay much for it.

Chris

[daza / lemons]

Na! I got it cheap.
It goes fine, compresion is down by 100psi average, but she manages very well for now and tows my big trailer easily.

I'm going prospecting again around New Year and may venture towards the Pilbara. . . a blank area on my travels around Australia.
I have mates living on mine sites there who can give me assistance if I need workshop space or temp accomadation.

Here's the rub: Ordered spring eye and shackle bushes; two rear engine mounts, tranny-handbrake fix; two new batteries (std) it's 12vdc and a new deep cycle for the fridge.

Done: rebuilt alternator and external reg; radiato service plus all engine hoses and heater hoses as well as the thermostat,

No plans for anything else.

well, maybe one. . . get gold! ;D

daza

[daza]

Just an update on my 'Wheels' post.
The old rust-bucket continues to go well enough to renew the registration.
One advantage I've discovered during my small repairs is the value of expanding foam as a cavity filler and resurfacing material. It has the tensile strength of a cheese-burger, but gives new facing surfaces with the aid of a sharp knife and an swipe of gap sealer to provide a painting surface. All good.
I now have a ten-year supply of SS scouring pads.

I've fixed the floating floor pan by stripping the surface of all crap and recasting the entire thing (drivers seat mounts and floor) in heavy fibreglass with a form-fit patch held to the underside by a jack. These surfaces have been cast as one unit with a really solid result. No more back-flips into the rear when I accelerate. ;D

Now that I'm back in civilisation, I'll post a few picks and answer a few requests from readers.

daza
Kalgoorlie