Moore_rb's 66 Ebay Patrol (re)build thread

[moore_rb]

I am facing a conundrum with this Patrol... a dillema


When I started refurbishing this Patrol last year, I dismantled, and re-did the SOA converted suspension out of necessity - I did not have the necessary parts (most notably the front axle housing and front springs) that I needed to revert it back to stock Nissan SUA configuration... Today, that situation would be easily rectified - thanks to this 65 donor I bought from RP, I now have the set of Nissan front springs, and the unbroken front diff housing that I actually needed a year ago....

Right now, I'm about 80% through the SOA conversion - The Patrol works and drives like a champ, but I still have some technical hurdles to overcome in order to "finish" suspension and drivetrain mods.

Right now the Patrol is still only 2WD - I have to do some fabrication to replace the middle cross member, in order to clear the front driveshaft, and I have to modify the front driveshaft itself to allow for a CV joint (or, I have to cut the steering knuckles off the axle and turn them to reset both the front pinion angle, and the caster)

Neither of these challenges are technically insurmountable- I know exactly what I need to do, and I know how to get it done - The dillema I face is time, versus money, versus this Patrol being "lightly modified" as opposed to "heavily modified" when it (inevitably) shows up on Ebay/Craigslist someday.

The crossmember is easy - I can do that in 2 days of measuring/cutting/grinding/welding and painting

The driveshaft is not so easy- finding a CV joint from the junkyard that fits would take a day of scrounging, and then mocking and modifying the driveshaft into the vehicle would take another day of measuring, head scratching , cutting and tack-welding, followed by a trip the driveshaft shop for final welding and balancing (300 bucks)

Returning it to stock Patrol SUA offers the following advantages:

1) Cheap- zero money - I have all the parts I need
2) Simple - nothing to do but unbolt stuff, clean it, paint it, move it, and bolt it back up - I could do all that on auto-pilot, while my brain takes a vacation
3) Fast- 2 or 3 days of wrenching (depending on how much time it takes to clean up these grungy donor axles)
3) Originality - everything on the chassis, suspension and driveline would be 100% Nissan Patrol again (no more Dodge springs, Jeep shackles, blah blah blah), and all of this Patrol's modifications would only be related to the body (doors, seats, etc) electrical (alternator), and safety (dual reservoir brakes).

The last point of consideration is a coin-toss - and that is resale-ability. I think any Nissan/Datsun fans who see this rig for sale some day would be more interested in seeing more original Nissan parts on it... while the jacked up, tough guy look of the suspension lift might better grab the attention of the off-road crowd...

I was considering doing another poll on this topic, But I'm pretty sure that since this is a Nissan Patrol fan forum, I already know what the majority opinion would be (RiverPatrol would not even need to cast a vote, I can read her mind on this matter, LOL )

and, I think that in the process of typing out all these options and reading them back to myself, the most rational and logical answer is presenting itself to me... and the only thing I need to overcome would be the matter of reversing course on a project that I know I can complete successfully, if I were only to throw more time and cash at it...

But time and cash are the foundations of any hobby; and right now, I think I have better potential uses for my time and cash...


I would welcome everyone's opinions and comments - ESPECIALLY if any of you have any reasons I have not considered about why I should go ahead and complete the SOA conversion... just be warned that:

I want you to finish the SOA conversion because I wanted to copy your design for my own SOA project

May not inspire me to continue throwing cash at this Patrol However:

I want you to finish the SOA conversion because I was planning to offer you 5 grand for this Patrol when it was done

Might just encourage me to complete the suspension swap, and change my mind about changing it back to SUA....

either way- I'm going to convert the brake MC, and make my custom spare tire carrier/rear tailgate for it before I take any further action on the suspension, so I have several more weeks to think about it...

[Coyote Patrol]

Are those tires going to fit under it when you convert back? If not thats at least $600.00 Oh thats right, you could cut the rear fenders. yes i said it!

[moore_rb]

you could cut the rear fenders. yes i said it!

hehehehe....

The wheels and tires would go away - I have several "zero-cost" alternative options there...

[faux40]

You're about 80% of the way there -- I say finish the conversion but keep the return-to-stock parts in a box in the attic or somewhere. Obviously, you have SEVERAL more Patrols on which to go with the stock axle set up. Besides, the SOA adds "TOUGH Points" driving down the road.

John

[RiverPatrol]

I think that if you complete the conversion it will be harder to get the return on your money from the from the off- road crowd. They can get a jacked up tough guy Jeep for less and still have better parts availability. Going back to stock and putting beefy tires will still attract the Nissan fan and still have a taste of the tough guy appeal.

[moore_rb]

You're about 80% of the way there -- I say finish the conversion but keep the return-to-stock parts in a box in the attic or somewhere. Obviously, you have SEVERAL more Patrols on which to go with the stock axle set up. Besides, the SOA adds "TOUGH Points" driving down the road.

John

HAHAHA Sure, I'll just put that spare front axle housing in the hallway broom closet, next to the vacuum cleaner

I'm 80% done, but that last 20% would still take me longer to complete than putting it back to stock...

I should go out and take it for a ride, and do my Robert Redford "Patrol Whisperer" thing and ask the truck what it wants...

[Grenadier]

I just spent two hours reading this thread from top to bottom. Fascinating and informative.

Moore, you're a savant with this stuff. Thank you for sharing all of this and to everyone who asked questions and offered possible answers, illuminating the topic even more.

Please keep us posted if you do more, or how you do on the sale.

Thanks again,

-Gernadier

[moore_rb]

Thanks for the kind words Wade...

Lots of my Patrol related projects are up in the air right now, but it is starting to look like I might not be selling this '66 after all... I may just throw my Marks 5-speed into this one and keep it for myself.



I still have fabrication to do in order to fit the front driveshaft with the SOA suspension anyway, so adding the 5spd makes sense, and then re-doing the driveshafts after that...

I also still need to finish that dual master cylinder upgrade on this one as well...

Stay tuned... Lots more to come.