This is Jerry Hicks the Datsun truck

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mikec4193

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 13, 2007
Messages
668
Location
mechanicville ny (upstate ny)
Hi Rat Rodders...

Picked up another project....our plan is getting it back on the road so it can be used as dirt / lumber hauling vehicle again....

[URL=http://s226.photobucket.com/user/mikec4193/media/Datsun%20truck/DSCN3990_zps6vhmagrw.jpg.html] [/URL]

I follow the teaching of Esther Hicks and the last guy that owned this was Jerry Hicks...so I kinda had to call him this...

I owned one of these back in the late 1970's and into the late 1980's

[URL=http://s226.photobucket.com/user/mikec4193/media/Datsun%20truck/DSCN3992_zpsxfyj49nm.jpg.html] [/URL]

[URL=http://s226.photobucket.com/user/mikec4193/media/Datsun%20truck/DSCN3994_zpsby4v5anh.jpg.html] [/URL]

It is a 1971 Datsun truck....I have not seen one in my neck (upstate NY) since I sold my last one in 1989...

I really needed a winter project....this seemed to fill the bill..I love the finish on it for sure...

MikeC
 
My brother Ed had one that was a kind of mustard color and a bashed up front end. He paid $50 for it and got it running by changing the plug wires and fuel filter. He drove the crap outta that thing for years and sold it for $500 when the engine blew a head gasket. Other than used tires, he never did anything to it after he got it running. Those trucks are tough little buggers.

[P
 
love those old datsuns, a friend of mine told me about his a long time ago and that a 240sx 5 speed will bolt right to the engine, no idea if thats true but hey, overdrive!
 
Not many of those or 'Yota's left. I bought a brand new 78 'Yota in Jan 79, went through 3 4 cyls, dealer built it at 11,500, I built it at 150,000. Put a 231 Buick V6 and Saginaw 4 speed in it after that, it would pull a house!
 
So I have been busy....we are trying to the get the major money parts out of the way first...so off with the box...

had to take the gas tank out...



It sounded kinda funny when I took it apart...



This was the gasoline that was in the tank...and to think it actually ran like this...



smaller stuff too...old shocks were spent from over use I guess...not no more...

The big brown truck and the Fed_ex guy too have been stopping quite frequently too...


before....there was no side flange for this radiator....so DNN had one listed for this truck...that was a blessing for sure...

after...

The biggest problem I have found so far with this truck is...there is no aftermarket parts suppliers like the last Chevy truck I had...spending a lot of time online buying used parts from other Datsun folks...


Like this gas tank...my last old chevy truck...order a new one...nope not for this truck...you gotta save the old crusty one instead...


MikeC
 
Jerry Hicks gets some more new parts....again

Picked up a brandy new choke cable for the old truck....and it works...found this at NAPA

[URL=http://s226.photobucket.com/user/mikec4193/media/Datsun%20truck/DSCN4073_zpsmwapwzil.jpg.html] [/URL]

The US mail service delivered more parts from Canada...seems like all the vintage Datsun parts on the West coast and the West Coast Canada too...shipping to the East Coast is not a pretty sight at all...

[URL=http://s226.photobucket.com/user/mikec4193/media/Datsun%20truck/DSCN4079_zpswewg4al4.jpg.html] [/URL]

Fuel sending unit, nut for the top and o-ring too...ran me about $140.00 for this little box of jewels

[URL=http://s226.photobucket.com/user/mikec4193/media/Datsun%20truck/DSCN4080_zpssshabup0.jpg.html] [/URL]

Finally got the old truck to fire up...had to replace the ignition switch...another $125.00 for that beauty from Canada of course...come to find out once the truck started it would not stay running with out fuel in the top of the carb....so I am going to assume a crapped out fuel pump...orderd one from the local NAPA auto parts store...

It is enroute to my upstate NY house from a warehouse in Illinois...so in about 6 days we will have more brandy new parts for it...cant wait to hear it really run again...

What I have learned over the years of fiddling with old vehicles....is the best way to make them run better is buy lots of new replacement parts...it works wonders for the reliability of them in the end...not cheap but at least you kinda half think it will stay together for you...

Thinking maybe some grinding work while we wait for the NAPA truck to arrive...:)

MikeC
 
Maybe the reason all the NOS stuff is on the west coast is because that is where the trucks came in the country? I know Toyota's used to come from Japan without a bed, the beds were made in Long Beach, CA I think, and were put on after the trucks got here. Had something to do with the Tax structure on imports IIRC.
 
Makes sense, Bama. The Canadian west coast (Port of Vancouver) was and is THE source for anything of Asian origin.

mikec: Shipping sucks, I'm sure... but the exchange rate (USD - CAD) must help some!

.
 
Hi Rat Rodders



Spent sometime on Jerry Hicks....Found out the center crossmember was not what I had thought it was...



So I did what I had to do...



Drivers side....



Passengers side...

Got the rear brake line all replaced...found a new flex line on line...and I cobbed up the new hard line...

next on the agenda...the rear fuel line needs to be replaced...I have some 1/4" copper clad for that...

MikeC
 

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