Restoring GFather's 1996 Mazda B3000. Looking for Ideas for Old School to New School

[freedombird2k0]

I just inherited my Great Grand Dad's 96 Mazda B3000 SE 5 speed manual with a lot of issues. I would like to restore the truck in his memory but add my own new school flare, and I am looking for any great ideas anyone may have or have done. I am also looking for relatively low cost but yet high quality parts for the truck. Also any videos, websites, manuals, and other helpful aids that you have come across in you internet travels would help. All of the work will be done by me and possible my father if he can ever get a day off lol. So in other words mainly me. I am going to aircraft mechanic school and have an idea of what I am doing so any help would be greatly appreciated. I plan to take pictures of the before, during, and after process to track the progress of the build. So any help and or ideas will go a long way in making my dream of restoration a reality. Thanks J

 

[Thed]

Lose the decal and the camper top if you don't need it. Go monochromatic on your grille's ass and you'll like the result.

Oh, and I cannot recommend Rock Auto highly enough.

 

[freedombird2k0]

Thanks! I however have to keep the camper shell for now until I find something better. I travel 100 miles to and from work daily and when i got the truck the MPGs were horrible without it so I put the camper shell on to help save on the $130 gas bill a month. With the shell I can go exactly 2 weeks before each refill. As far as the decals goes should I replace it with something nicer or lose it completely?

 

[Thed]

Lose it. Less is more.

And since you have to keep the camper, I say paint it the same color as your truck. I hate mismatched campers with a burning passion.

 

[kryptonitecb]

Search the site for mpg threads, good reading and some are comical to boot.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[freedombird2k0]

Thanks for the insight guys. The first project that I will be undertaking is a transmission and clutch rebuild. I am getting an awfull what sounds like a rattling noise any time the truck's clutch is depressed and the truck is put into gear. Also in some instances I can't even shift into gear without grinding happening. I have to double cluch or have it roll in neutral before I am abe to get it to go into gear. Any suggestions on what the cause is? Or any simple tricks of the trade that have worked in the past? I am looking for and hoping to do this on a weekend (Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday) for a quick tear down and rebuild so Monday the truck is ready for daily driving. Any Suggestions on parts, manuals/videos, and techniques?

 

[PanamaExpat]

Sounds like throwout bearing is on it's last legs. Don't know how much of a mechanic you are but you have a pretty ambitious project ahead of you for this weekend. Be happy it isn't 4X4. Make sure you can get all the parts you need first. Are you going to resurface the flywheel while it's out? If you pull the flywheel you might want to consider a new rear seal. They get pretty brittle after being installed for 16 years.

Make sure your trans is full of fluid and check to see if the rubber plugs on the shifter top plate are leaking. There are several threads for fixing that issue here on the forum.

 

[freedombird2k0]

Well I experienced some new symptoms today. With the clutch fully depressed and the truck in gear, the truck jerked forward twice as if the clutch was being let out. Also with the clutch fully depressed I could not put the truck into reverse without grinding the gears, I had to force it into gear in order for it to engage in reverse. And now anytime when the clutches depressed or the truck is in gear the rattling noise that happened before is now intermittent. Starting to lean towards the clutch assembly being the culprit. Any ideas or suggestions, this weekend is going to be fun filled and action-packed I fore see!!!!!

 

[freedombird2k0]

Oh and thanks for the heads up. I plan on dropping the tranny and clutch assembly this weekend and checking everything from bearings, o-rings, gears, and fluids so I have an idea of what is exactly going on and what parts I am going to need. I got some o-ring replacements and rubber gasket kits from the local auto shop so I have something fresh to use when I put it back together afterwards. Worst comes to worst I find out what's wrong put it back together and keep driving it until (A) it drops dead or (B) I order the parts and wait until they are shipped to me.

 

[DisturbedMXer8]

Sweet truck, dude. Kinda reminds me of mine (inherited from my father, who inherited from his farther). I personally like the decal, but that's just me. Kinda like the old-school look of it. First thing I would do (if it was me) is touch up the interior to your liking (stereo, gauges, etc...), and toss a set of bigger tires on there. What size does it have currently?

 

[freedombird2k0]

I have the standard 220/70R14s on it now. And come to think of it I need to get new tires too. So getting a bigger size tire is definatly on my mind. What would be your suggestions?

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

Id suggest u to remove the decals, color match the grille and shell. Then black out the rims
And like stated above, enhance the stereo

 

[Andy D]

Have you checked the lube level yet? Sounds like a failing slave cylinder to me. Get some brake fluid and try a bleed . You may be able to coax it along for awhile if you can bleed the slave. If you can't bleed it then you will need to replace stuff. after you take the trans out.

 

[freedombird2k0]

Check the lube and topped it off. Took it apart last weekend and come to find out it is the throwout bearing is going bad. So I am waiting on some parts and another weekend! Lol I will take pictures and add them later.