nissan hard body?

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LoneRanger

LoneRanger

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In my searches for toyota trucks I have run across several Nissan Hard body 4x4's.

Anyone care to share their opinion on these trucks and how they compare to the same era toyota? I am looking at a 1986 king cab 4x4 this afternoon that seems in good condition and reasonably priced.

Kelly blue book shows ca 1900. for one of these in "excellent" condition. Is he asking too much at 3k for a 1986? Or is KBB up to speed with the market on these as collectibles?
 
They're no Toyota, if thats what you're looking for.

A friend of my friends has one, and its setup just like a toyota ( same front suspension ) but has the ground clearance of a 2wd truck.
 
Collectable???? Sorry you lost me there!!! As far as hard body nissans I have owned 2 of them in a 2wd version. One had the old Z motor and the other the newer style that was back to 4 spark plugs. I liked both of the vehicles they never let me down other than the darn normal issue they have with lifters temporarily going dead and not pumping up.
 
The nissans are a decent truck. But it depends alot on what you are planning to do with it.

If off roading is in the plans, they are a solid truck and can take the a beating about as well as the toyotas. Of course, all manufacturers have lemons in different years or models, so youll have to go to a nissan site and search on best years or bugs for them to guide you a bit.

But... There isnt the aftermarket parts (i.e. bumpers sliders suspension etc) that toyotas or other domestic vehicles have.

I would have no problem with buying a nissan as long as it ran good and wasnt rusted out. But I like my toyotas so thats what Ill look for first.
 
i have an 89 pathfinder and a first gen 4runner. i like them both, but the 4runner is a far better platform to start with imo.

4runner has gear driven transfer case, as opposed to chain drive tx-10 in nissan hardbody and pathfinder.

if you get the nissan with the v6, it will surely have an old single injector throttle body. i think the 4cylinder is the same. (didnt change to multi port till late 90s) however, the 4runner has multiport fuel injection all the way back to 85 on the 4cylinder engine.

as said before, the aftermarket is no where near that of the toyota's. (thats one of the reasons i got a 4runner. tired of makin all my parts).

i think they could be just as good when fully built, but it is just going to take more doing to get there. imo
 
bryan89 said:
i have an 89 pathfinder and a first gen 4runner. i like them both, but the 4runner is a far better platform to start with imo.

4runner has gear driven transfer case, as opposed to chain drive tx-10 in nissan hardbody and pathfinder.

if you get the nissan with the v6, it will surely have an old single injector throttle body. i think the 4cylinder is the same. (didnt change to multi port till late 90s) however, the 4runner has multiport fuel injection all the way back to 85 on the 4cylinder engine.

as said before, the aftermarket is no where near that of the toyota's. (thats one of the reasons i got a 4runner. tired of makin all my parts).

i think they could be just as good when fully built, but it is just going to take more doing to get there. imo
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yeh, after talking this over here and with my local toyota friends, I think I will hold out for a 22re.
 
I think the weak point for off-roading an old nissan is the torsion bar suspension.

Other than that I have seen them wheel quite capably.
 
From what I've heard talking to owners I know, their transmissions don't have a long lifespan.

My truck's original tranny died after 300K and 28 years, plus it was an early L52 with weak bearings.
Compared to my friends each had a 91 Hard Body and Pathfinder, and both trucks lost their transmissions just shy of 160K. I was shocked when my "weak" Toyota transmission outlived "solid" Nissan gearboxes nearly double the mileage and half again the age.

If you can have a tranny built with bigger bearings, I think everything else would hold up well.
 
I had a buddy who used to wheel with us with an '89. Id did OK and the engine seemed to have alot of power but it ate steering parts every time he did any decent wheeling. I agree with the comment abut ground clearance as well, his was always hung up on something. I guess they make a decent fire roader/around town truck but they are no Toyota 4x4...
 
i had a 94 with a V6 and 5spd, 88,000 miles when i got it. all stock and super clean. put a 3" body lift some 33" thornbirds i got for cheap, a color matched carpeted canopy and a sweet stereo. it wheeled pretty good and was nice to sleep in the bed but unless you straight axle them there aren't too many SL options cuz the torsion bars hook up to the lower control arms. it was totaled in an accident and i got a bunch of money and bought a 95 pathfinder LE, heated leather, sunroof, LSD... put a calmini SL lift with some 32" cooper stt's. like H8PVMNT said, it eats steering parts and auto tranny's. i still have it in Seabeck, WA if someone wants to buy it. runs and drives, $700. my folks want it out of their drive-way.
 
My first truck was a hand me down 2wd hardbody king cab with the 8 spark plug z motor. As far as durability goes, that thing ran without any problems from when my step dad bought it new in 89 to when I retired it 17 years later with a cracked frame (no undercoat + salty assed roads = dead frame)

Great little truck but as stated earlier no aftermarket. Would make a great parts runner though.


D
 
Very good trucks, though I'd opt for a newer, fuel injected model. Their 4 cyl is the next best thing to a 22R, though smoother and quieter. I'd rate my '95 Nissan 4x4 just as highly as my current '92 Toy. I also have owned a '85 Nissan 4x4. Essentially trouble free rigs, though I never beat them.
 
They don't last. Parts are harder to come by for the 4x4 versions because of low support stateside. Most people who modded theirs had to resort to Fabtech (4WheelParts.com) and the parts once worn out are not available or even carried on in current form by that company.

Outsource parts are available through most Pacific Rim places and forums like the Nissan Titan forums.

As for the collectability there's only one real model people restore or collect and that's the Desert/Baja Edition. Neighbor has the one like this with a slightly different graphics package.
1590819290_498ea224c8.jpg


Early 700 Class Modified.
61370d1211272172-95-nissan-hardbody-pickup-engine-compatibility-budweiser-edit.jpg


A cool read if you want it: Armando's Original Desert Runner Hardbody - RONIN Wheelers

Also you may want to give ICON and SDHQ a call abut this one owned by Andrea.
http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_articles/id/2298/pageid/4041/driver-profiles-andrea-pathiakis.aspx
APR9-M.jpg


Buy a Toyota X-Cab and goto town. :popcorn:
 
Someone mentioned a weaker transmission on the 80's models, similar to the Toyota hilux story. Come to think of it, my '85 was starting to jump out of 2nd gear going down steep hills before I sold it. With the 90's models, the 94+ are better due to an inferior timing chain tensioner on the earlier engines. This would be for the 4cyl, of course. The 6's also, reknowned for lasting a very long time, have timing belts. If you plan on modding your truck, buy a Toyota. Otherwise, the Nissan is a good choice.
 
If you want solid axle I think 1985 was the only year EFI was available and the most sought after of the 80's solid axle pickups so this will drive the price up possibly. Otherwise you will have to do a solid axle swap to an IFS truck.

If you are looking for IFS I ask why are you looking for an 80's truck rather than the next gen 89-95? These will have less rust, especially in the bed, and you might have the option of finding one with power option, and cruise control. Extended cabs are bigger in the 90's trucks I think.

Just asking.
 
meigsrock said:
If you want solid axle I think 1985 was the only year EFI was available and the most sought after of the 80's solid axle pickups so this will drive the price up possibly. Otherwise you will have to do a solid axle swap to an IFS truck.

If you are looking for IFS I ask why are you looking for an 80's truck rather than the next gen 89-95? These will have less rust, especially in the bed, and you might have the option of finding one with power option, and cruise control. Extended cabs are bigger in the 90's trucks I think.

Just asking.
Click to expand...

Pardon my ingnorance but what is IFS?
 
IFS = independent front suspension.
 
Love that 2nd king cab hardbody pic. I had a "king cab" remote control truck just like it when I was a kid.

D
 
Gotta admit, as far as looks go, those old hard body trucks had it in gobs.
I've always admired the slab-like hood breakover points, and the near-90* angle lips on the tops of the King Cab windows.
 
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