1968/9 PFP

[EricB]

Hi everyone,


So about a month ago, I bought Leslie's 1968/9 PFP. She told me she bought it from a guy in NorCal (Grass Valley) who had owned it from 1975 to I think 2006...
Thought I'd post up some pics of how it's kept me busy so far - this is my first Patrol but I own two other classic Nissans so I'm not a stranger to the brand.



Requisite chassis and engine numbers:




I live in the Pasadena area, so PFP will keep it's original California black plates for years to come.
There are some pretty awesome houses around here, so while I was driving around I thought I'd stop at one of my faves: FLW's "La Miniatura", right next to the Rose Bowl



Hopped on over to Eagle Rock to go visit a friend (standing) who has a '70 240Z, and another friend (in car) who had just gotten delivery of his new / old Nissan



More to come ...

[EricB]

First order of business was brake lines... The hoses I removed could very well have been the original ones from 1968 - they certainly looked cracked enough.
So a quick trip to Earl's in Lawndale for a new set of custom stainless lines and presto:





PFP also was no longer in love with it's 2011 battery, so new battery and I made up some new 1gauge battery cables.



I un-bolted one side of the belly pan to make some room to run the new positive cable and I found the following (arrow) - looks important, not sure where it is supposed to go.
Does someone recognize this pin?



It is wet wet wet under there - going to have to look in to a set of gaskets for the PTO / transmission



The clutch has had a really low engagement point - caught me out a couple times at stop signs with people honking behind me.
The threaded rod was almost adjusted all the way out, I screwed it out those extra couple threads I had left.
It helped a little - but I am going to have to go back and see what else I can do to improve this.

[EricB]

Next stop was to look in to the steering's wobble - first thing I looked at is the steering damper. It was the original Tokico unit with the Nissan bowtie and part number on the casing.





Made some calls, and found out that ARB USA had a single OME SD22 in stock in the US over in a FL warehouse. So a week later it showed up on my doorstep.





In the sale, Leslie included a set of stock steelies, so this week I first had them sand blasted:





And then had them straightened - 2 needed it on the front, 2 needed it on the back:



I got them back, and while I was priming them I noticed that one of them is 0.5" wider than the other four - notice how it has a bevel (right) instead of a step (left) in the barrel. Does someone want to trade me for a narrower 16" like the 4 I already have? I'll post up in the for sale sale / trade section as well...

[RiverPatrol]

I un-bolted one side of the belly pan to make some room to run the new positive cable and I found the following (arrow) - looks important, not sure where it is supposed to go.
Does someone recognize this pin?

You found it!!! I thought it was lost forever! That disappeared after the photo shoot. That is the pin for your PTO shifter, to keep you from accidentally engaging the PTO. It sticks in the plate and through the floor.

It is wet wet wet under there - going to have to look in to a set of gaskets for the PTO / transmission

That could be residue from when I was bleeding the clutch.

It's great to see that you're diving right in and working on it. And also nice that you are taking it out and enjoying it.

Nice Skyline that your friend acquired.

If I knew how to measure the width of the rim with a tire on it, I'd check some of my others for you.

[EricB]

Hi Leslie

Ah ok - the PTO gate pin - cool! I'll return it to its original location then!


Measuring with the tire still on? hmmm...
Other than a combination of three straight edges through the hub opening, it wouldn't be easy I guess.
One quick tell though would be the step / bevel in the inside barrel...

@moore_rb PM'ed me about the trip to visit you soon... we might work something out


The wetness on the PTO is definitely gear oil - not hydraulic fluid from the clutch line.
I really need to clean all the gunk off, drive it around, and then see where it's leaking from... maybe a project for next weekend.

[zed]

Perhaps a local tire shop has a caliper you can borrow:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003UFQKO ... ot_redir=1

Keith

[bosque]

Come on folks....make a caliper from cardboard or luan ply with a screw or loose rivet and measure.....maybe GM or chevy rim.

[zed]

Re: the wheel width issue

Four (4) of my 1966 single piece 16" rims are narrower than one (1) rim.


Perhaps this is systematic of the rims Nissan used!

Keith

[RiverPatrol]

Eric, what is the actual width of the rim that is wider than the rest?

The ones that Moore_rb are picking up tomorrow are 6 ¼", beveled not stepped.

[EricB]

Hi Leslie

Sounds like we have a match for Rob!

My single wider 16" beveled steelie is in fact 6.25" lip to lip - just as you've measured yours.

Thank you

-e