My 88 D21

[Ranger850]

Nice work so far. The body looks to have held up pretty well. I love the slide bolt latch for the driver's door. Classic Mr Bean mod there. I'm assuming you'll be addressing that at some point.

That was one of my granddad's mods. Probably due to the shitty door handle. I think I'll just leave it right there. Not going full restoration on this thing. Not goin for beauty queen status either. More of a rat rod approach. I want to get the engine, and mechanics up to par, and pretty much leave the body alone, besides little stuff. But new paint will probably never happen.

 

[Josh B]

I went to TN late 88 and through summer 89 was doing hotshot truck parts delivery in a little Nissan 6cyl about like that, it was a new fleet truck. It was a tough little truck too that would really haul ass. Also had power to spare.

 

[Ranger850]

I went to TN late 88 and through summer 89 was doing hotshot truck parts delivery in a little Nissan 6cyl about like that, it was a new fleet truck. It was a tough little truck too that would really haul ass. Also had power to spare.

Mine is no power house, but no slouch either. It doesn't weigh very much, so that helps. It's a 4 spd manual shift tranny so it pulls pretty good.

 

[Ranger850]

I noticed a popping sound from the back of the truck, when going around corners. After doing some research, I concluded that the leaf spring bushings were shot, causing the pop. So I ordered a set bushings from rockauto.com, and watched a few videos on YouTube for practice, lol, and hit the bolts up with PB Blaster. When the bushings came, i got the truck up on jack stands and pulled the wheels. The truck has to be lifted by the frame, until the wheel comes off the ground, fyi. The old bushings came out fairly easy. But i had to really fight to get the new ones in.

I ended up using a large C-clamp to squees the shackle and bushing through the holes.
And a little Gold spray paint later

That as far as i got. I still have to do the front. Its gonna be a real PITA. But i saw a vdo on YouTube where a guy used a screw jack shaft, or something, but it gave me an idea of maybe using threaded rod the same way.

 

[Josh B]

I'd try rigging a round wire brush up on a cordless drill and hone those holes out real good. Would grease deteriorate the bushings?

 

[zachwabbit]

Am I the only one who thinks those super ‘80s stripes are rad!? Oh and that 4cyl is the same KA motor as the US-spec 240SX’s has, in NA form they’re good but with a turbo and some other doodads they can put down some respectable power

 

[Josh B]

Is that a 4 cyl?

 

[Ranger850]

Am I the only one who thinks those super ‘80s stripes are rad!? Oh and that 4cyl is the same KA motor as the US-spec 240SX’s has, in NA form they’re good but with a turbo and some other doodads they can put down some respectable power

Yes i like the stripes too, but that is no KA, that is a Z24i with 8 spark plugs. The KA's didnt come in the Hardbodies until 89-90.

 

[Ranger850]

Finally got around to doing the big front bushings

When removing the DS shackel, it somehow became magnetized.

 

[Ranger850]

I also did the rear shocks while i was back there.

That pretty much wraps up the rear end of the truck. I still have to do the front brake upgrade and new bushing and a few other front end parts, but after that, i will be done for a while with mechanicals, i want to get the dash repaired or replaced.

 

[Ranger850]

Is that a 4 cyl?

Yes

 

[zachwabbit]

Ahh yeah I didn’t notice the 8 plugs somehow, makes sense though!

 

[Ranger850]

Upgraded the small single piston calipers and rotors to the V6 Dual piston calipers and big thick rotors.

It had bad brakes to begin with, a constant pull to the right and it straightens up on the brake, told me the right caliper was sticking so I replaced everything but the hubs and bearings. I looked over the bearings after I cleaned the old grease off, before I repacked and reinstalled them. With the wheel on I checked for up/down play, NONE, but there was a little bit of side to side play, new bushings up front should take care of that, hopefully. But at over 30 years old, I expected worse. Next is front shocks & bushings or whatever, then will be done with the mechanics and on to making the interior a little more plush.

 

[John97]

Very nice.

 

[Ranger850]

New tie rod ends, fuel filter, front shocks ordered, should be here next Tuesday.