plow patrol 2.0

[norville]

I'm a bit tired and sore today.. Picked up some donations with the scouts, and pulled the rest of the floor.. Two 2'x4' sheets of steel should cover all my floor needs... I'll have to start looking.. Next, inquiring how to do the floors? place the tub and fill in between? Or use the old as a template....the lower firewall will be fixed with the floor, and the sides/vent area look simple enough to repair.. I don;t want to pull the fenders until I get some floor done..




I found four colors, I think it was originally white then covered with dark green, military green and finally off white..

[norville]

I'm looking for the group to chime in here. I'm attempting to pull off the front fenders (AKA wings). Most of the vehicle came apart easily. but I've broken the cage just about every bolt on the inner to out fender area. I'm getting frustrated with the rust . i know it's par for the course... just look at it.. I'm thinking about cutting the wings off so I can get to the bolts and cages easier.. I was hoping to save the "swiss cheese" fenders for wall art.. I'm assuming I need to reach up in-between the bees nests to get at some bolts on the firewall?? Any tips or tricks before I take the saws all to it?? I had planned to keep the fenders on there longer but I need access to the back side of the door jam for rust repair..

[MadTripper]

When I pulled the tub originally, I ran into a few cages that flexed and allowed the nut to spin. I ended up wedging a flathead screwdriver and that worked. Not sure if it will help you but perhaps.

Tripper

[bosque]

Oil them overnite. Snap em off if they dont respond to oil then I opened the cages with a small pry or screwy driver, 86 the old snapped bolt and nut, slip another square nut in there, bend back and maybe weld or carriage bolt right through the whole mess. The snap and replace method is best.

[norville]

Thanks all ,I love when they snap off , unfortunately most are just spinning.. I've been using the screwdriver method and vice grips, pinching the cage and running them out. I can see a few that will be nearly impossible to get to the cage.. up along the radiator and fender to firewall... maybe I can just fix these with some bondo and chicken wire???

[bosque]

I can see a few that will be nearly impossible to get to the cage.. up along the radiator and fender to firewall... maybe I can just fix these with some bondo and chicken wire???

Bob,
I got an idea....

[norville]

I can see a few that will be nearly impossible to get to the cage.. up along the radiator and fender to firewall... maybe I can just fix these with some bondo and chicken wire???

Bob,
I got an idea....

funny...

[norville]

I really didn't feel like it after my normal chores, making dinner, feeding kids, dogs, clean up start laundry, help with homework. Moved a few loads of dirt and I had about an hour to spare. So I popped off the wing.... Leslie, how in the heck did nissan install this fender? There are two bolts right behind the vent? I was able to bend the wing out to get to them.. unfortunately I had to cut them off... not sure how I''m going to fix that...

not as bad as I thought but still depressing.. I'm going to start putting this are aback together, Cleaning up the metal adding new stuff and bolting on the new fender..

[RiverPatrol]

Leslie, how in the heck did nissan install this fender? There are two bolts right behind the vent?

The Japanese have very small hands?

I remember well those two hidden bolts. I used a ratcheting wrench on them. The later models were a little easier because the vent tunnel would come out so you could access those bolts, as I recall.

[Esteban]

Actually, in the "newer" models, the vent tunel was fixed to the fender as an integral part. In the older models, you have to take the vent tunnel first, to gain access to these bolts that are giving you a hard time.

Because of the type of construction of the older type vents, with felt gaskets all over, dust was always present in the tunnel, and the moment you opened the vent, all the dust ended up in your face. Long ago, I decided to gut these vents out. Sealed with a metal plate on the inside, and kept just the vent attached to the fender, but also welded (some bondo also to prevent water getting trapped there). I haven't regret this change a single day.