Phoenix Patrol Build Forthcoming

[RiverPatrol]

Now you're going to make me have to dig stuff out to take pictures to prove you're wrong.

The one in your picture looks like someone screwed a plastic lens onto an original glass lens receptacle. I will provide pictures to show the differences.

The mounting holes in the fenders are different for the two different receptacles, I will go take pictures since I fortunately have a later style fender that accepts the plastic lens receptacle out and available. A '66 - 67 fender is different than a '68 fender in a few features. I can also pull some light assemblies to take pictures to show the differences in sizes and mounting screw locations. But that's fine, that will give me something to do this afternoon.

[moore_rb]

The one in your picture looks like someone screwed a plastic lens onto an original glass lens receptacle.

If they did, then they had done it MANY years prior to 1996, and there was no evidence of tampering when I removed everything (in order to replace them with lights that actually worked )

The mounting holes in the fenders are different for the two different receptacles

Agree- They are totally different- I had to re-drill the holes in El Bondo's fenders in order to fit the later style lamps.

I will go take pictures since I fortunately have a later style fender that accepts the plastic lens receptacle out and available. A '66 - 67 fender is different than a '68 fender in a few features. I can also pull some light assemblies to take pictures to show the differences in sizes and mounting screw locations. But that's fine, that will give me something to do this afternoon.

I've seen all the same differences you have, I'm sure. The lamps I installed on the Blue Bondo machine are original NOS Koitos, and thanks to you and Plateaucal, I also have a full set of correct, original Everwings for my 62

My position on this matter matches my position on many other year to year nuances inherent to the Patrol, and that position is that component changes came into these trucks based on the timelines during which they were built, and are not fixed to specific model years.

the prime example of this are the side door handles, and model year 1966, where you will see many "early 66's" (like PFohl's Patrol, or my own 66) with the older style recessed door handles, as well as many "later 66's" (like David's, or Togo) that have the newer style door handles. Due to that, how would one determine which door handles are "correct" for a 66?

I thnk we can also agree that any Patrol sold in the US during 1967, was probably assembled either in late 1966, or early 1967

I think Nissan probably signed a new supplier agreement with Koito, and then proceeded to install the remaining Everwing lamps (and Everwing compatible fenders) that they had in inventory, at which point they swithed over and started installing the newer style fenders and lamps...

(Pure speculation, but the REASON they probably signed a new supplier agreement with Koito was that Nissan Management had grown tired of bleeding red ink from all the glass Everwing lenses that were being dropped, and shattered, on the assembly line ...)



I simply don't think they drew a hard line on which fender (and corresponding marker lamp design) would go with which model year- We see far too many examples of the opposite behavior, where they would build with what they had, until they ran out, at which point they would start building with whatever new part superceded the one that they ran out of...

That's all I'm sayin...

[RiverPatrol]

Oh boy. I'm really too old for dissertations.

If they did, then they had done it MANY years prior to 1996...

Which is highly possibly. Look at Edgar's gas tank for example; someone put that in there long enough ago that it has the exact same rust patterns as any original tank.

The mounting holes in the fenders are different for the two different receptacles

Agree- They are totally different- I had to re-drill the holes in El Bondo's fenders in order to fit the later style lamps.

The fenders are different from '67 to '68, and the obvious visible difference (besides the mounting hole for the marker lights) is the fender vent door; the '67 fender vent door was still flat like early years, the '68 fender vent door was stamped with a ridge like later models. Look at Edgar's '67, which is a late '67 in the Registry - it has a flat fender vent door, and glass lens markers. And the vent doors are not interchangeable between fenders, completely different design.

My position on this matter matches my position on many other year to year nuances inherent to the Patrol, and that position is that component changes came into these trucks based on the timelines during which they were built, and are not fixed to specific model years.

Yes and no. While changes did not always precisely match model year cut offs precisely, there were never instances of mixing previous and new. Once a change was made, it continued, it never reverted back to the previous style.

the prime example of this are the side door handles, and model year 1966, where you will see many "early 66's" (like PFohl's Patrol, or my own 66) with the older style recessed door handles, as well as many "later 66's" (like David's, or Togo) that have the newer style door handles. Due to that, how would one determine which door handles are "correct" for a 66?

Again, the door handles, and doors, latches, tub, all changed at the same time. It was early in the '66 model line, where it's already published elsewhere other changes happened, larger gas tank, split rim wheel, etc. Your '66 is doubtful whether it is actually a '66 model. It falls between krc65tan’s ’65 and rdarnell’s ’65 in the Registry, so it’s highly debatable that yours is an actual ’66 model, which would explain the door handles.

I simply don't think they drew a hard line on which fender (and corresponding marker lamp design) would go with which model year...

Find me a single example of a '67 that has a '68 style fender on it that came that way originally and I might have to concur. The latest example is Edgar, which has a '67 fender.

I will give you this: the first time you ever saw a plastic lens may have been on a '67 Patrol, but that wasn't correct for the model year. It wasn't my intent to question your expertise, I was just throwing some snark your way.

[moore_rb]

Oh boy. I'm really too old for dissertations.

It keeps the blood flowing to the brain...

Your '66 is doubtful whether it is actually a '66 model. It falls between krc65tan’s ’65 and rdarnell’s ’65 in the Registry, so it’s highly debatable that yours is an actual ’66 model, which would explain the door handles.

Again- Totally agree. My 66,and PFohl's were probably both assembled during the early part of 65, and were simply "sold as" 66's when it came time to stamp the firewall plate.

same goes for the "65" that I got from you- the serial numbers on that one (frame and engine) fall within the number sequence of a bunch of 63's and 64's

It wasn't my intent to question your expertise, I was just throwing some snark your way.

It's all good, I wasn't offended or anything- Just having fun; and you know I yield to your observational and documentary experience/expertise FAR more often than I challenge it; and you offer very compelling technical details that are being put up against my feeble memory, and a couple old, grainy photographs of what was probably the biggest hunk of rust-bucket crap in the history of Nissan Patrols...

but as far as debates go, at least this topic is objective, and arguable in matter of technical facts; as opposed to being some nebulous debate topic like whether late 69 Billboards (oops, I mean marker lamps ) are, or are not, the coolest marker lamps ever used on a motor vehicle

See, if ONLY I had known to snap the vent door shut BEFORE I snapped the pic in my signature, 24 years ago...

[RiverPatrol]

Here, I will get you out of your faux pas of not closing the vent door before the picture. It is quite obvious from the picture that the vent door is an early model. Here are early and later, later on the right. Your picture clearly depicts the difference. There, bailed you out.

997062A0-AE29-4B33-B64F-18031A00C9AE.jpeg

[plateaucal]

Thread jack. Where's the admin?

[moore_rb]

The admins are too busy debating about turn signals, side vents, and trying to stop someone from attempting to infiltrate the forum with hundreds of new, fake-spammer accounts

[L60Boerne]

Not that I want to prolong the vent discussion but I can add my Red 65 has the earlier kick vent as does my 63...but the 66 is the newer type.

Patrolling at sunset,
L60Boerne

[RiverPatrol]

Your '66 has the older style. They're flat, no stamped ridge.

[plateaucal]

I am available for a virtual hug if anyone needs one.