1964 Nissan Patrol soft top frame off restoration

[moore_rb]

I am sure this will be the nicest restoration ever on a Patrol. Your work is concours quality! This one needs to go to Pebble Beach and represent Patrols all over the world

There has never been a category for 4x4's, or trucks in general, at the Pebble Beach Concours de'Elegance. (I know you were only making a complementary remark, Paul... I'm just being my normal, dorky, OCD self with this reply.... )

Besides, with all the model-year specific manufacturing nuances in the 60 series Patrol, there are only about 5 people I could think of (off the top of my head) who could properly judge a US market Patrol at Pebble Beach (and Ian is one of them- So he's out, because you can't judge a vehicle that you restored, hahaha )

But still - I agree with you that this Patrol will be the nicest, most thoroughly restored 60 Patrol out there when it is done.

Ian's OCD would absolutely give mine a run for it's money....

[RMP&O]

Gotta say looking smick Ian, every little piece has been replaced , dipped or just looks new.

Need more photos mate.

Steve

Few more pics....and by the way, all body seams were sealed up with seam sealer prior to painting this truck.






Cheers

[RMP&O]

Been working on a lot of little things on this truck lately, one of the bigger projects is restoring the wiring harness. The 64's original harness is in good enough condition to save. So I am stripping it, checking everything, making repairs as required and re-wrapping with the early grey wrap.



Nissan really went all out on these trucks, the attention to detail is awesome. Inside the wiring harness wrap is red wrap and a wax twine to keep it all in order and organized. Crazy to think this has not seen the light of day since 1963 and the last guy who touched it is likely dead.


I always really like this about Patrols, main wires in the harness are dated. Pretty friggin' cool! And yes, Yazaki is the company that manufactured these wiring harnesses for Nissan.


For the trans/t-case badge I am using an original that is un-restored but in very good condition. Although I still need to replace the mounting screws.



Cheers

[RMP&O]

I am sure this will be the nicest restoration ever on a Patrol. Your work is concours quality! This one needs to go to Pebble Beach and represent Patrols all over the world

There has never been a category for 4x4's, or trucks in general, at the Pebble Beach Concours de'Elegance. (I know you were only making a complementary remark, Paul... I'm just being my normal, dorky, OCD self with this reply.... )

Besides, with all the model-year specific manufacturing nuances in the 60 series Patrol, there are only about 5 people I could think of (off the top of my head) who could properly judge a US market Patrol at Pebble Beach (and Ian is one of them- So he's out, because you can't judge a vehicle that you restored, hahaha )

But still - I agree with you that this Patrol will be the nicest, most thoroughly restored 60 Patrol out there when it is done.

Ian's OCD would absolutely give mine a run for it's money....

Thanks Rob for the kind words. My OCD though can be a burden at times. Take the knuckle balls on this trucks front axle. I sat there for two 8-10 hour days hand sanding the balls. I started with like 120g and worked my way all the way up to 1200g, wet sanding started at 320g. The end result is outstanding but who is crazy enough to do this besides me!? I simply can't stand leaks and rust, drives me crazy. That and I can't fix something knowing it is not as good as it was new, if not better. That little voice in the back of my head often checks me saying things like "dude that is going to leak" or "man you could have done better on that" sometimes to the point that I will completely re-do my own work even though it is 2x better than 90% of mechanic shops out there do. I have literally rebuild the entire front axle on my Cruisers or Patrols only to tear the entire thing down again just because I am picky about one tiny little thing. Sometimes I will even admit it is absurd! I am just super anal that way when it comes to my trucks, all of them. It has gotten so bad I can't take any of my trucks to a mechanic in town here, like my 4 work trucks or my Land Cruisers. I always check their work and pick it apart and am way unhappy with it. So now I just do everything myself. It is the only way I know things are done right and I am satisfied.

Cheers

[RMP&O]

Test fitting a lot of parts lately.


This tool box is for the blue 68 I sold. Completely different subject but the 68 is getting it's motor rebuilt next month. Any ways, I test fit the tool kit.



restored original rubber block here, I think I will install a new Datsunland one instead.



Pretty and precious!




The window regulator is un-restored. I just cleaned it up, don't think I will paint it rather leave as is. Window crank handle got fresh chrome.



PTO shifter finalized. I went around and around on the boot for it. In the end we decided the center hump rear PTO plug works best, slice it where it has the cut outs and it works perfect. The one fitted is an old one for test purposes. I will replace it with the new one next to it.



Kick vent screens and levers are installed. All original hardware, down to the washers!




Ash tray resto, the one on the right is actually the original for the 64, I used a better condition one to restore. I still need to get some of the tiny screws for it, ones I am using at the moment are originals and un-restored.





Test fitting the dash panels. Ya, I know I got the green/red lights backwards.





Here is something I never noticed before. The red paint on the letters. The fuse block also has this red paint. I checked two other Patrols to make sure it is original and it is.



Cheers

[rrodriguezsal]

Ian your work is extraordinary. By sure this Patrol will be better than new.

Saludos desde Colombia.

[jazie]

Absolutely amazing work!

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[moore_rb]

Test fitting the dash panels. Ya, I know I got the green/red lights backwards.

You're fired....

[miller]

Test fitting the dash panels. Ya, I know I got the green/red lights backwards.

You're fired....

Top work as always Ian

[RMP&O]

Head light assembly



In case you can't read it, it says "Tokyo Denko 1963", this is the headlight wiring



funny, a lot of electricals on Land Cruisers are Koito.






correct and working pre-68 headlights







ready to install




Tail light assembly, use restored parts and pick the best from the rest





tap holes in body and fit the bases, not installing glass or chrome ring until it is 100% ready to be done. I need to get some more mounting screws. I was barely able to salvage a couple of the rubber boots.



Cheers