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Builds The Firetruck Project (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter 4crawlinVA
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #2
The first thing I did was check the fluids, made me a speed cheat sheet and removed the damn buzzer off the back of the speedo that lets you know (very loudly) that your going over 110kph.
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- #3
Then it was time to remove the pumper bed and the ballast weight from the front. The very heavy pumper bed. I don’t have a shop or a garage or a fork lift so we had to get crafty. A couple of ratchet straps and hi-lift jack or two, a lot of unbolting and grinding (everything that was bolted was welded also) and some cussing. Finally the fire truck’s 2400lbs lighter.
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- #4
I was having issues with the carburetor so I swapped it out for a two barrel Weber after doing the vent modification to make them climb. Modified the factory air box to fit and presto. Still looks factory other than the gorilla tape. Haha.
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- #5
So I needed a bed. Just so happens a buddy of mine is retiring his Toyota tube truck after plenty of years on the rocks. Watta you know, it kinda fits.
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- #6
I needed to put a witch on because I’m leaving these diffs open. Don’t want to break some hard to get axles. So I mounted this Ramsey 8.5 upside down so I could get to the clutch then bolted the factory bumper to the winch mount. Turned out pretty slick if I say so myself.
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- #7
I was left with this big empty space under the rear seat where the pump was so I got some sheet metal, some hinges and made me a tool box. For a few more creature comforts I stacked a couple of ammo cans for a console. Cut another ammo can up and made a 3X cup holder and installed the trusty JBL Bluetooth speaker for tunes.
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- #8
Here’s where I’m at now. I ordered up some 315/75-16 with new wheels (The factory wheels were split rim death circles). The factory gearing is 4.68:1 which is about perfect for these tires and I had to make some 1.5” longer shackles to clear them. We’ve been driving around some back roads having fun but it rides like a skateboard and has no flex so the next step I have In mind is the 63”Chevy spring swap for the rear. In the front I’m thinking three of the longer factory Rear leaves with a new drag link for the steering to eliminate the extra pitman arm. I plan on keeping the leaves under the axles. From what I see it should give me 3-4” of lift with a comfortable ride and some articulation.
That thing is AWESOME!!
that looks like a little brush truck, was there a water tank in the pump body?
Wow. Nice job. I thought it could be done - I've imported about 20 vehicles from Japan, including a 600cc 10foot Mitsubishi firetruck that I sold as is. I will look harder at the bigger firetrucks.
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- Thread starter
- #12
No tank, just a pump and a lot of big cast iron pipes. Well over a ton of wieght.
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- #13
Thanks. These Safaris are solid trucks from what I can tell. The dealer has a bunch of the three cyl mini trucks and fire trucks also has a handful of Datsun 4door hardbody truck’s but the IFS turned me off of them.
www.duncanimports.com
- Thread starter
- #14
I was told that in Japan every industrial park is required to have a fire brigade. Evedently thats where these little pumper trucks are used. Also was told letters on the doors translate to either Sinohara-machi shouboudan or Hinohara shouboudan. Shouboudan meaning Fire Brigade and the other words are the location depending on weather it’s new or old language.
I don't doubt that, usually the pump bodies are cast bronze
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2004
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- Boise - Idaho
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- www.snlandcruisers.com
Nice man! I always wanted to build one of these into the ultimate overland truck. With the TD42T though.
Parts are no harder to get than any non-us Cruiser.
Check out www.partsouq.com and you can get most everything.
The axles are actually stronger than Cruiser axles so I would not worry about breaking them. If you are familiar with an 80-series, well the Y60 Patrol is the main competition worldwide for Cruisers. Start comparing your Y60 to an 80-series and you will see all kinds of things that are better on the Patrol.
Cheers
Parts are no harder to get than any non-us Cruiser.
Check out www.partsouq.com and you can get most everything.
The axles are actually stronger than Cruiser axles so I would not worry about breaking them. If you are familiar with an 80-series, well the Y60 Patrol is the main competition worldwide for Cruisers. Start comparing your Y60 to an 80-series and you will see all kinds of things that are better on the Patrol.
Cheers
- Thread starter
- #17
Thanks, I was actually looking for a cruiser but the prices were crazy expensive and with a 1/4 million more miles. Believe me, we’re a Yota family, other than my old 7.3 power stroke, we all drive Yotas. But this Nissan is built solid!
- Thread starter
- #18
Haven’t done much on the fire truck other than cutting the roll bars off of the bed. Picked up a used Smittybilt xl tent and test fitted it the other day. I think it’ll work perfectly.
sweet ride.
D21FJ60
#LiveLaughLove.
I like it. Any consideration to putting a pickup bed on there?