Just got a 69 Patrol

[alber garage]

Hi, my name is Steve and I live in Puyallup, WA. I picked up a Patrol from the Portland, OR area a few months back and I have been working on getting it street worthy.

The previous owner had it sitting for several years and had never gotten it running. The owner before the PO had swapped the P40 engine for a Chevy 292. I believe that the transmission and all other running gear are original.

I was told that the carb needed to be rebuilt and it needed brake work. So far I replaced the brake master cylinder, got new tires, rebuilt the carb, drained the bad gas from the tank and replaced the fuel filter. It runs very well now but the clutch is pretty sketchy so its not exactly roadworthy.

I am trying to decide where to go from here with the transmission. I would love to have a higher top speed and it looks like the options for getting there are a 5 speed swap or possibly a theoretical overdrive setup for the existing 3 speed. I saw RiverPatrol's post over on ratsun.net which is what got me over to this forum.

Does anyone have a suggestion on what route to take for attaining a higher top speed? I am only trying to get to the point where I can cruise on the freeway at 65.

Thanks for any input. Here are some pics of my patrol (I also have a 73 510 shown in one picture):

[mdawg4x4]

Welcome to 60Patrol. Nice project.
Sorry can't help with the tranny questions, so on to the next item. What is the white car setting next to your Patrol?

[RiverPatrol]

Welcome to 60Patrol! Thanks for dropping by. Make yourself at home and take a look around. You'll find plenty of literature to keep you busy (and suck up your bandwidth) for a while. You've got some serious Patrol company up there; 50car has a collection and IrishPatrol has a '69 also. I know there are other's that i'm forgetting right now.

A stock Patrol should be able to do 65mph on the highway. That is about maxed out though. Remember that your diffs are 4.10's, so that going to limit your speed as well. Other than the illusive 5 speed and the hopeful overdrive, there isn't mush that can be done beside tucking yourself in the slow lane, stick the earbuds in and just wave to all the people that are pissed at you for going so slow. Your Patrol will never give you a ride anything like your 510.

What master cylinder did you use for replacement? Those have been impossible to get for a little while now.

Your clutch issues will be interesting. Running the 292 you've got some sort of adapter between the engine and trans. Perhaps it wasn't engineered perfectly, and you're not getting full adjustment or throw. I know of another Patrol with a 292 in it, and the owner had to handcraft new clutch linkage.

It's a good looking Patrol. Lots of potential there.

[50car]

Cool! another Washington Patrol. Welcome to the site. For a quick maybe not too inexpensive change in rolling speed, try getting a taller tire. Your gearing will suffer out on the trails, but rolling speed will increase..... Congrats on your addition and joining the site.
I am in Tri-Cities...

[67patrol]

Does anyone have a suggestion on what route to take for attaining a higher top speed? I am only trying to get to the point where I can cruise on the freeway at 65.

Welcome to 60patrol!

I'm nearby in Lynnwood, but my Patrol lives in Kent, even closer to you. I just moved my Patrol from Ocean Shores where it used to live to Kent a couple months ago and drove through Puyallup on the way. I went about 55-60 (limited by the engine noise I was willing to endure) that whole trip, and didn't hold anyone up who didn't want to be held up. There were stretches of many miles where I had several cars behind me who had ample opportunity to pass who didn't, so I don't worry about going slower on the freeway as long as there are lanes for people who want to pass. Good luck with your Patrol, and cool 510!

Thanks,
Rick

[alber garage]

What master cylinder did you use for replacement? Those have been impossible to get for a little while now.

When I pulled out the bad one I realized that this was not a factory master cylinder. The previous owner drilled two new mounting holes since the flange on this one is rotated 90 degrees from the factory one. I chose to just replace the bad one with an identical brand new one instead of trying to track down an original. The part number I used is a Dorman M40000.






Steve

[alber garage]

Welcome to 60Patrol. Nice project.
Sorry can't help with the tranny questions, so on to the next item. What is the white car setting next to your Patrol?

White car is a 1973 Datsun 510. I wish I could take credit for all the work but most was done by the previous owner. I was working on a VG30E swap in a '72 510 I already owned when I came across this completed VG30DE swap at the Datsun show in Canby a few years ago. The price was right so I purchased this one, sold my project and never really looked back.

Pics:






Steve

[RiverPatrol]

What master cylinder did you use for replacement? Those have been impossible to get for a little while now.

When I pulled out the bad one I realized that this was not a factory master cylinder. The previous owner drilled two new mounting holes since the flange on this one is rotated 90 degrees from the factory one. I chose to just replace the bad one with an identical brand new one instead of trying to track down an original. The part number I used is a Dorman M40000.






Steve

Thanks! I think one of moore_rb's Patrols has the same master on it. As I recall he discovered that it was a Ford master. I don't recall the details.

[moore_rb]

Thanks! I think one of moore_rb's Patrols has the same master on it. As I recall he discovered that it was a Ford master. I don't recall the details.

Yup, that looks like the Dorman equivalent of my old Ford Master Cylinder. They call these the "Fruit Jar" due to the screw on cap.

You can say it's off a 64-66 Ford F100 if you ever need to cross-reference it or find a rebuild kit

[mdawg4x4]

Welcome to 60Patrol. Nice project.
Sorry can't help with the tranny questions, so on to the next item. What is the white car setting next to your Patrol?

White car is a 1973 Datsun 510. I wish I could take credit for all the work but most was done by the previous owner. I was working on a VG30E swap in a '72 510 I already owned when I came across this completed VG30DE swap at the Datsun show in Canby a few years ago. The price was right so I purchased this one, sold my project and never really looked back.

Pics:






Steve

I thought it might have been an early 70s 510. Those cars are hard to find here in the states these days. Looks like it should run a little better than it did originally!