BKCowGod's Pre-Pre-Frontier Build (Datsun 720)
- Thread starter BKCowGod
- Start date
BKCowGod
Automotive ADHD is fun!
And we have 4wd. Amazon's friggin' amazing deal on Superwinch hubs ($37 shipped) made it foolish to even consider dealing with rebuilding my auto hubs. I am gonna leave them on the shelf because they are more convenient for my original purpose of very light 4x4 and snowy roads. But for the Mojave Road trip, I really don't wanna be rocking back and forth in sand in questionable auto hubs that only lock half the time (if that). I still have some clicking from my CV, but I will re-grease and see what happens there.
Install took almost 15 minutes, including a phone call in the middle from a friend.
Install took almost 15 minutes, including a phone call in the middle from a friend.
mattsavage
Observer
Awesome job...
You're making me jealous! I really wish I had the dough to get mine running safely and reliably again. I have a perfectly good camper going to waste...
You're making me jealous! I really wish I had the dough to get mine running safely and reliably again. I have a perfectly good camper going to waste...
BKCowGod
Automotive ADHD is fun!
look at my budget! I don't have the dough either. Every spare penny I have is being dumped into either my Porsche or my debt. What I do is I have a savings account attached to my bank account that is called "Nissan." I put $900 in it when I started this build and I am only allowed to pay for Nissan stuff from that account. It only has $300 left in it, and that money is going to go to some suspension work.
I may actually raise my budget by $500, but only because of the Jeep sale. This truck is now my daily driver AND my ExPo rig, so it needs to be a little bit more capable and comfortable.
mattsavage
Observer
Yeah, you are on a tight budget, and you've done well with it. GF's got me saving for a down payment on a home. My spending is intensely scrutinzed...
Keep us posted, I'm interested in seeing what you do with the suspension, especially since you may have another 500 bucks!
BKCowGod
Automotive ADHD is fun!
Current plan for the last $800:
* Treadwright 30x9.5 AT
* Edelbrock IAS shocks
* refurbish all bushings
* homebuilt skid plates over gas tank and engine
* sliders
* some creature comfort odds and ends...
partsflyin
Adventurer
And we have 4wd. Amazon's friggin' amazing deal on Superwinch hubs ($37 shipped) made it foolish to even consider dealing with rebuilding my auto hubs. I am gonna leave them on the shelf because they are more convenient for my original purpose of very light 4x4 and snowy roads. But for the Mojave Road trip, I really don't wanna be rocking back and forth in sand in questionable auto hubs that only lock half the time (if that). I still have some clicking from my CV, but I will re-grease and see what happens there.
Install took almost 15 minutes, including a phone call in the middle from a friend.
Looks great man! Love the shell! I got my hubs in and installed to!! Sweet deal thanks again for the heads up!!
We actually got alot of snow here this year and i've been waiting for a hub , axle or something to explode after the hubs suddenly re-engage after disengaging while i was backing up.
BKCowGod
Automotive ADHD is fun!
Some notes on fuel consumption. I have finally got the fuel mixture about where I want it. I am idling at 700 reliably, though I am still dealing with a sticky throttle that every once in a while holds it at 1200. My choke is coming on and going off right, it gives the right amount of fuel at start, and absolutely never pings. The header only glows after my punishing run up Alba Rd. So I am happy with all that.
My commute: 35 miles (one way). My elevation ranges from 25' ASL to nearly 2000'. For 2/3 of the drive, I am rowing between 2nd and 3rd gear (3000-4000RPM), with brief forays into 4th. At the end of a long drop, I get to accelerate quickly to freeway speeds and do the last 10 miles at 65mph.
I fill the tank when it has 2 gallons remaining. I always fill at the same station, using the same pump, giving it one top-off full speed spurt that nets me an additional .3gal.
When I run regular, I average 20mpg. I recently switched to premium (at an additional cost of $.20/gal, or $2/tank) and gained roughly 2mpg. Put another way: For $31.00, I can go 200 miles. Or for $33.00, I can go 220 miles. Or: on regular, I pay $.155/mile. on premium, I pay $.15/mile for a savings of $.005/mile. If I average 350mi/week, that means that I can add fries to my order at Jack in the box once per week just on the money I saved by switching to premium fuel (not to mention it burns cleaner, runs smoother, and is guaranteed to keep my truck from ever turning into a gila monster.
Good stuff.
EDIT - did I do that math right? cost analysis always screws me up...
My commute: 35 miles (one way). My elevation ranges from 25' ASL to nearly 2000'. For 2/3 of the drive, I am rowing between 2nd and 3rd gear (3000-4000RPM), with brief forays into 4th. At the end of a long drop, I get to accelerate quickly to freeway speeds and do the last 10 miles at 65mph.
I fill the tank when it has 2 gallons remaining. I always fill at the same station, using the same pump, giving it one top-off full speed spurt that nets me an additional .3gal.
When I run regular, I average 20mpg. I recently switched to premium (at an additional cost of $.20/gal, or $2/tank) and gained roughly 2mpg. Put another way: For $31.00, I can go 200 miles. Or for $33.00, I can go 220 miles. Or: on regular, I pay $.155/mile. on premium, I pay $.15/mile for a savings of $.005/mile. If I average 350mi/week, that means that I can add fries to my order at Jack in the box once per week just on the money I saved by switching to premium fuel (not to mention it burns cleaner, runs smoother, and is guaranteed to keep my truck from ever turning into a gila monster.
Good stuff.
EDIT - did I do that math right? cost analysis always screws me up...
BKCowGod
Automotive ADHD is fun!
So the endless debate - did you grease your hubs (per Nissan manual) or leave them (per Superwinch manual)?
BK - I just checked (hey - it's either that or do actual work using actual spreadsheets) and you did it right. My commute's too variable to do something like that - plus we've got the summer/winter gas thing going on here. I get about 290 miles/tank during the winter (defrost has to be on, which runs the AC compressor) and about 330 during the summer. A change of 2mpg just due to that.
partsflyin
Adventurer
I actually did very lightly grease them.
BKCowGod
Automotive ADHD is fun!
Nice... Defrost is the only reason I sometimes wish I had a/c.
Though I just found out last night that I have a leaking heater core - I'm sure if I fixed that I would improve the efficiency of my heater-based defroster.
BKCowGod
Automotive ADHD is fun!
Just got back from my shakedown cruise in the Mojave Road... A few notes:
* Pulled Tehachapi Pass at 50-60mph in 4th. I'm okay with this.
* 24.8mpg on the drive down, 70mph most of the way.
* 4wd worked perfectly, no clicking from CV's or anything.
* Temp NEVER got above dead center, even doing 4000RPM through sand in 90+ deg weather.
* In general I am happy with my camping setup. A few changes re: where I store stuff are in order, and I need to re-do my front window.
NEEDS:
* My throat is raw from all the dust I inhaled. I am going to look into a/c. All of the fittings, and even the switch are there.
* Better bolts to mount the camper. They shook loose on the washboard.
* SHOCKS!!! I was bottoming out every downhill, no matter my speed.
* Cruise control. It's a luxury, but it would still be nice to have.
I also want to say, just for the record, that I am pretty damn happy with my generic "Mesa AP" tires. Not once did they let me down, and I didn't even air them down for the sand.
* Pulled Tehachapi Pass at 50-60mph in 4th. I'm okay with this.
* 24.8mpg on the drive down, 70mph most of the way.
* 4wd worked perfectly, no clicking from CV's or anything.
* Temp NEVER got above dead center, even doing 4000RPM through sand in 90+ deg weather.
* In general I am happy with my camping setup. A few changes re: where I store stuff are in order, and I need to re-do my front window.
NEEDS:
* My throat is raw from all the dust I inhaled. I am going to look into a/c. All of the fittings, and even the switch are there.
* Better bolts to mount the camper. They shook loose on the washboard.
* SHOCKS!!! I was bottoming out every downhill, no matter my speed.
* Cruise control. It's a luxury, but it would still be nice to have.
I also want to say, just for the record, that I am pretty damn happy with my generic "Mesa AP" tires. Not once did they let me down, and I didn't even air them down for the sand.
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