School me on the Nissan Hardbody pickup truck.

[The Dayman]

Originally Posted by o0Syn

I know this thread is ancient but I own a hardbody and have gained a TON of knowledge about them so here it goes.

What years did they make the hardbody: 86-97
What years should I avoid: 96+ Because they are ODBII
Easy to fix: Very
Common problems: T Chain, Rust, Seized Lifters, blown rods & bent valves (if someone beat it) (dont be mislead the T-chain is easy and cheap 200 bucks DIY)
What to look out for: timing chain & excessive rust (comes from inside out, appears as small bubbles near fenders and doors under the paint, FIX ASAP or holes will be there in no time)
4 cylinder or 6 cylinder: My opinion both are great but I love the KA(4)
gas mileage? 28-30 (My 96 4cyl)
how many miles on the odometer is too many: 200+
forums for the hardbody:
http://forums.nicoclub.com/nissan-trucks-forum.html
http://www.nissanforums.com/hb-truck/
http://www.ka-t.org/forums/index.php
http://www.infamousnissan.com/forum/...splay.php?f=21

how cheap can I get one? -1000 to 5,000 depending on miles, work, & condition

reliable as old toyotas: Yes but not an old Hilux
is the old Datsun 720 as reliable: depends how good of shape they are in but the old motors are a bit more work, solid lifters and carbs

Bit more info:
They share the same motor as the 1989 S-13 or 240sx here in the states so the intake can be swapped on the -96's with relative ease. All the Ka24e performance goodies for the 240sx bolt right up to the D21 hardbody as long as it is before 1996 and the KA24 engine. The v6 is a VG30 which is almost the same as the 80's 300zx's. Some people have swapped the 80's 300zx Turbo motors in as well they bolt right up to the V6 equipped Hardbodies. All sorts of swaps have been accomplised with this truck, KA24DE, SR20's, RB20's, RB26's, u name it it has probably lived inside it.

They are becoming more and more rare so if you like em, snap one up and restore it before they all end up as iron dust in the wind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Hardbody_Truck

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[Engmus]

Originally Posted by o0Syn

I know this thread is ancient but I own a hardbody and have gained a TON of knowledge about them so here it goes.

What years did they make the hardbody: 86-97
What years should I avoid: 96+ Because they are ODBII
Easy to fix: Very
Common problems: T Chain, Rust, Seized Lifters, blown rods & bent valves (if someone beat it) (dont be mislead the T-chain is easy and cheap 200 bucks DIY)
What to look out for: timing chain & excessive rust (comes from inside out, appears as small bubbles near fenders and doors under the paint, FIX ASAP or holes will be there in no time)
4 cylinder or 6 cylinder: My opinion both are great but I love the KA(4)
gas mileage? 28-30 (My 96 4cyl 5-spd Rwd)
how many miles on the odometer is too many: 200+
forums for the hardbody:
http://forums.nicoclub.com/nissan-trucks-forum.html
http://www.nissanforums.com/hb-truck/
http://www.ka-t.org/forums/index.php
http://www.infamousnissan.com/forum/...splay.php?f=21

how cheap can I get one? -1000 to 5,000 depending on miles, work, & condition

reliable as old toyotas: Yes but not an old Hilux
is the old Datsun 720 as reliable: depends how good of shape they are in but the old motors are a bit more work, solid lifters and carbs

Bit more info:
They share the same motor as the 1989 S-13 or 240sx here in the states so the intake can be swapped on the -96's with relative ease. All the Ka24e performance goodies for the 240sx bolt right up to the D21 hardbody as long as it is before 1996 and the KA24 engine. The v6 is a VG30 which is almost the same as the 80's 300zx's. Some people have swapped the 80's 300zx Turbo motors in as well they bolt right up to the V6 equipped Hardbodies. All sorts of swaps have been accomplised with this truck, KA24DE, SR20's, RB20's, RB26's, u name it it has probably lived inside it.

They are becoming more and more rare so if you like em, snap one up and restore it before they all end up as iron dust in the wind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Hardbody_Truck

Run, run now and dont look back at this thread or forum ever.

Go now, keep it secret - keep it safe.

[aod]

Originally Posted by lotusdrift

I have a nissan 720, 1984.

say herro to jard




I don't know what you want to know about it. Its from 84 and still runs on original drivetrain (including clutch), thats pretty good I guess.

I call chop.


Jard would be sitting in the middle so he could do some "downhill skiing".

[The Dayman]

Originally Posted by aod

I call chop.


Jard would be sitting in the middle so he could do some "downhill skiing".

[GT11]

Originally Posted by 24

Have you guys seen that video called, "Three Dudes, One Bench Seat"?

Nice wheels.. bra

[mhoward1]

Originally Posted by Josh909

The desert runner is actually the frontier. After 1997 the hardbody monicer was converted to the frontier. The desert runner is basically the same suspension as the 4x4 truck without the front diff.

I missed this the first time,

the original Desert runner was made in 1988 and was a hard body

[Josey Wales]

I'm trying to unload my Xterra and pick one up, they are indestructible.

An acquaintance's 720 with D60s and 38"s:

[o0Syn]

Originally Posted by Engmus

Run, run now and dont look back at this thread or forum ever.

Go now, keep it secret - keep it safe.

Wow such a welcoming community. Eat a dick

[skywaffles]

Originally Posted by o0Syn

Wow such a welcoming community. Eat a dick

Go **** yourself, n00b.

[o0Syn]

Id rather be a newb than a ****bag like you

[CheezeWeezle]

Originally Posted by o0Syn

Wow such a welcoming community. Eat a dick

here we go!!

edit: forgot to tell you, inhale an angry swarm of africanized bees while inserting a metal rod up your urethra

[F3nom3ni]

Originally Posted by o0Syn

Id rather be a newb than a ****bag like you

Get out.

[XanRules]

it's ****ing field day tonight!

[1 Lucky Texan]

very entertaining documentary;

YouTube - ‪HANDS ON A HARD BODY trailer‬‏

YouTube - ‪HANDS ON A HARD BODY trailer‬‏

[rice h8r]

^

I always found it interesting that these were 6 lugs, even the 720.


With newer Armada wheels.

Random:
http://www.streetsource.com/forum/11...te-Titans.html
Wtf...

[plunk10]

amusing to see this thread revived. I never bought one, or any truck for that matter. However, the next vehicle on the radar will probably be a truck, and with the way things are going, my finances might only allow for one of these old indestructible pieces of s**t!

[WoodsWagon]

One of my neighbors had a Datsun 720 4x4 that he beat the hell out of in his woods. They had just logged, so there wasn't really any trails, just slash and massive mudholes from the skidders.

I went out to help pull it out of one of the mudholes one weekend, and noticed that the farthest point forward on the truck was the hub of the fan. The radiator was literally wrapped around the front of the block. Both front control arms were bent back so the tires rubbed on the body, and the rest of the truck was absolutely demolished. Pulled it out of the hole and he fired it up and kept on truckin. They'd run it till it seized, sit around and drink some while it cooled down, and fire it up again. Other than shredding 4th and reverse in the trans, they couldn't kill it. It got used as a firewood truck for a while, and was still running when they sent it to the junkyard.

I keep finding parts of that truck in the middle of nowhere from their cross country expeditions.

Nissan Hardbodys would be good trucks if it wasn't for the frame rust. You can slip a sheet of 5/8" plywood between the bed and the cab and run bolts through with big washers to make it a unibody. It will hold the truck together for a good woods beating before the frame finally tears.

[JC]

Buy one and do a WRX swap.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2053013

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Originally Posted by lotusdrift

86 was the last year you could have a carburetor in any car I believe.

You believe incorrectly. My '88 Corolla was carbureted, last year of that for the Corollas.

Had an '84 720 kingcab 4x4. Cracked the head twice, a common problem on the Z24 4-cyl which, as everyone else has stated, is a totally gutless motor. Also broke the transmission and wore out the driver's side lower control arm mount on the frame. Don't know how that compares to the '86 and newer. I sold it when the engine started making rapping/knocking noises on cold startup.

If you get a 720 rather than a hardbody, make sure you get '84 or '85. The earlier ones had a retarded strut-rod/ I-beam lower control arm setup. The strut rods were out in front of the control arm and were the lowest thing on the truck in the front. Guaranteed to get bent if you wheel it.

[plunk10]

Originally Posted by JC

Buy one and do a WRX swap.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2053013

[Qcanfixit]

Originally Posted by JC

Buy one and do a WRX swap.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2053013

if you have the resources to do that, why not make it a diesel-electric hybrid?


on demand AWD
more torque when you need it
better mileage all around

regenerative braking
full hybrid capabilities so that you can run it on just the engine, just the batteries, or a combination of both -- which gives you more torque and more HP when you need it, and lets you tone it down when you don't.





doo eeet

[Baja820]

Originally Posted by rice h8r

Almost no one knows that its name is Hardbody.

D21.

They suck. You can buy mine. Get a Toyota.