1964 Nissan Patrol soft top restoration

[RMP&O]

Assembly has begun! :shakin:

Lot's of prep before assembly. Don't really want to go into details right now but over the weekend paint is drying on some parts. As with most things in this build so far, customizing is just part of the process. About three-quarters of the suspension hardware is prep'ed, test fitted, looks great and is ready to go. The rest will get done on Monday. I am excited to start assembly of the chassis but am making sure everything is ready to go how I want before I assemble.

Here is hardware before any customizing...

Cheers

 

[EricM]

Fantastic!

 

[RMP&O]

So I have been hard at work on assembling the chassis. Nearly all the leaf spring hardware had to be customized and the u-bolts still need to be cut down. All the greasable pins have been trimmed down to a tolerable length and drilled for a cotter pin. The sleeves for the bushings have also been trimmed to our needed length and then I drilled them on two sides for grease distribution. A lot more work has been done too but I will spare you the gory details!

Please keep in mind the leaf springs are expected to flatten out and settle a bit with some weight on them. Right now it is maybe 300lbs tops on all four of the springs.

Rear leaves and axle in

Installing front axle

Both axles in

Tie rod is just barely in there for now

And both wheels on!

Lot's left to do stilla nd if you are wondering, the yellow tape is because this is all test fit time.

Cheers

 

[mortonm]

I may have missed this from earlier but what size tires are those? Are they what you are planning on running?

 

[RMP&O]

I may have missed this from earlier but what size tires are those? Are they what you are planning on running?

You did miss it but no worries!

They are 8.5x16 Swiss military tires. I have had them for years, I just use them as rollers. So they are about a 33" tire. We will be running a 7.5x16 which is a 31" tire.

Cheers

 

[mortonm]

You did miss it but no worries!

They are 8.5x16 Swiss military tires. I have had them for years, I just use them as rollers. So they are about a 33" tire. We will be running a 7.5x16 which is a 31" tire.

Cheers

Are the 7.5R16s tough to come by?

They are pretty similar to 235 85R16 no?

 

[RMP&O]

Are the 7.5R16s tough to come by?

They are pretty similar to 235 85R16 no?

7.50x16s are hard to get. They are also very skinny. It is an old school tire size and as such is also only 7.50 wide. There is a picture of the tires we are using as well as info on that earlier in the thread.


No idea if they are similar to a 235 85R16 but I don't think so. I am to lazy to do the conversion...

 

[mortonm]

Thanks I will take a look back

235 85 is 31.7 inches taller and 9.3 inches at the widest point. The tread blocks are pretty close to 7.5 or 8 inches though

 

[Furb]

Any updates? I love this thread, favorite build up on the Internet at the moment.

 

[Co-opski]

Any updates? I love this thread, favorite build up on the Internet at the moment.

I think Ian just got a pinz that he had years ago. I'm guessing he is up in the tetons with his new rig. This is also one of my favorite builds.

 

[RMP&O]

I have not worked on the truck at all in some time. The body guy though is doing some things. I am just super busy with work and no time for the project.

New fabricated to match stock side steps have come back to me recently, they look great. The engine, bellhousing, trans & t-case is being painted soon. We have a perfect match to the stock and early rare engine color, aka seafoam green. We finally nailed down a match a month or so ago. The owner has selected a Jade Green, a Nissan color, it is kind of grey-green. Not original to Patrols but the owner likes it so that is all we needed! Wheels are to be the same as body color which means we can paint them soon and mount up the 7.5x16 XZLs!

And yes I did just buy back my old Pinz. Title will be here tomorrow and I will go pick the truck up on Saturday!

Cheers

 

[RMP&O]

Update!

Details of parts I had machined.


As previously mentioned, the stock bearing for the steering box are no longer available, at least in N. America! I took the stock bearing to a bearing supply house and the number on it was matched to this Koyo bearing. They are the same except for the race. To make it fit perfectly, I took the steering box, old bearing and new bearing to the machinist. He made this collar for the new Koyo bearing so it fits perfectly in the box.

All bushings were made for the truck. No more slop in anything! The oil slinger grooves were even machined into the new bushings, just like stock.

all the old bushings that were replaced...

Cheers

 

[mortonm]

I cant wait until this thing is done, going to be a beauty

 

[Co-opski]

I've been running Koyo bearings when I replaced my wheel bearings and they have been good to me trouble free, but I do service them often. Looking good, you are my truck guru.

 

[RMP&O]

Work starts again on this project Monday morning....

I am looking forward to it!

By the way, apologies for the missing pictures. I am letting my website go and as such any pictures hosted on it are gone. New pictures will be hosted elsewhere.