Nissan 720

[Slick68]

Hey guys, I've not been overly active here the past year or so. There's not been any updates worth mentioning on the 68. However, I recently picked up this little truck to build for my 13 yr old son, Clayton. Anyone that knows Clayton knows how much he loves autocross. We found out that the SCCA has a Jr. program that allows younger children to participate in the SOLO events with parent involvement. So this will be a starter vehicle for him to learn the ropes.

It's an 86 Nissan 720 pickup. Currently, it has the stock 2.4L I4 engine with auto trans, 14" stock steelies, and broke down bench seat. It has an issue with the carb so it either needs rebuilt or replaced. For the money, I've found a Weber swap kit that works well with these trucks. I also need to make sure the timing is correct, as it seems to have trouble starting. Current plans are to get it driveable to make sure it's a dependable driver and sort out any issues it may or may not have. We're gonna make a trip to Pull A Part soon to find some decent seats for it. I want my sons to learn how to drive manual transmissions, so we may try to swap a 5 speed in it eventually. I'm currently searching Craigslist for some cheap 15x8 wheels to throw on for now to at least get some decent rubber on it, then we'll lower it some. Sometime in the spring, we may shoot it white to get rid of the blue paint on the bottom and update/fix some of the trim pieces and what not. If we can get things sorted out where it's safe, I'll let him enter it in a few SCCA events this upcoming season.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/20160102_1453041_zpsfhh7zgus-1.jpg (http://s221.photobucket.com/user/Slick68/media/86%20Nissan%20720/20160102_1453041_zpsfhh7zgus.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/20160102_145312_zpsi7vqf0ve-1.jpg (http://s221.photobucket.com/user/Slick68/media/86%20Nissan%20720/20160102_145312_zpsi7vqf0ve.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/20160102_145335_zpskixycq9w-1.jpg (http://s221.photobucket.com/user/Slick68/media/86%20Nissan%20720/20160102_145335_zpskixycq9w.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/20160102_145416_zpsfedzssyg-1.jpg (http://s221.photobucket.com/user/Slick68/media/86%20Nissan%20720/20160102_145416_zpsfedzssyg.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/20160102_145517_zps3yybfkz2-1.jpg (http://s221.photobucket.com/user/Slick68/media/86%20Nissan%20720/20160102_145517_zps3yybfkz2.jpg.html)

Here are a couple of examples of the look/stance we're going for.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/0676502_NissanDatsun720pickup640x426_zps-1.jpg (http://s221.photobucket.com/user/Slick68/media/86%20Nissan%20720/067-6502_Nissan-Datsun-720-pickup-640x426_zpss0inh6j3.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/01/32981320003_large_zpslost801d-1.jpg (http://s221.photobucket.com/user/Slick68/media/86%20Nissan%20720/32981320003_large_zpslost801d.jpg.html)

[Tincup]

Nice little project.....

[Z06killinSBF]

I dig it, I love mini trucks. I want to get my S10 back how I used to have it being lowered and big sway bars.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/Z06killinSBF/media/Truckdriveway_zps98fc0fd8.png.html)

[rchaskin]

....LOL. Forget about that I4, last time I talked to "Junior", he was talking 350s and 6 speeds.

Let me know when you are teaching throttle control, I can help him out with that!!

See you guys soon at Cruzin the Smokies!!

[vintageracer]

I like those 80's Nissan trucks.

Here's my 1988 Nissan Hardbody!

[Slick68]

....LOL. Forget about that I4, last time I talked to "Junior", he was talking 350s and 6 speeds.

Let me know when you are teaching throttle control, I can help him out with that!!

See you guys soon at Cruzin the Smokies!!

Trust me, his first question was if a 350 would fit in it. LOL It would make a good candidate for a small cube LS like a 4.8 or 5.3, but I want him to learn some basics before we start throwing serious power at it. Research is showing these trucks only weighing around 2600 lbs. I don't need my son driving this with 300+ hp! Haha! I have considered doing an LS swap, but having the computer tuned with "age appropriate" parameters. ;)

I'm pretty sure the throttle control you're referring to isn't what he needs right now! lol

[AutoX_D21Hardbody]

Subscribed!!

[Austin97C1500]

I love the Datsun and Nissan mini trucks! So cool. For the wheels I think Nissan has kept the same lug pattern for years so wheels should be easy to come by. The 2.4 is a great motor and can make decent power. Heck it was in the 240sx for years; plenty of turbo kits if you were to go efi. Other options for good power without going over kill would be a black top or red top turbo motor from a Japanese 240sx. Haven't looked in a while though, may have gotten just a pricey as a low milage LS 4.8 or 5.3....

[Slick68]

I love the Datsun and Nissan mini trucks! So cool. For the wheels I think Nissan has kept the same lug pattern for years so wheels should be easy to come by. The 2.4 is a great motor and can make decent power. Heck it was in the 240sx for years; plenty of turbo kits if you were to go efi. Other options for good power without going over kill would be a black top or red top turbo motor from a Japanese 240sx. Haven't looked in a while though, may have gotten just a pricey as a low milage LS 4.8 or 5.3....

This one has the Z24. It's more of an "economy" engine. The KA24DE is what the 240SX cars and later D21 Hardbody trucks had. It's a popular swap, especially with the turbo version. The problem is they're getting pricey. I could do an LS swap cheaper than a KA24 swap. Crazy, right?

[Austin97C1500]

Yea, sounds crazy, but there are thousands upon thousands of LS motors sitting in junk yards right out of your back door so.... Guess it's not to crazy. I was close to pulling the trigger on a Datsun a few years ago and the SR20 turbo 4s were pretty pricey then.