Starting with Style, 1995 D21 Built for a new driver

[Rjawm]

Picked up the driveshaft today.

Doesn't mean much as I won't have time to do much work on the truck for awhile due to holiday prepping and such.

I'll still try and escape into my shop and make at least some forward progress when I can lol



Forgot to include the riveting pic of a converted driveshaft when I first posted this,



It's all Nissan from trans to second u-joint coupler, then Toyota from there to axle flange. Fresh u-joints and carrier bearing.

[izzo]

I had a kidney stone once. Hory shet that was terrible.

[Laecaon]

This truck is getting some some pretty decent work done to it. Should be pretty cool when all said and done.

[Rjawm]

I had a kidney stone once. Hory shet that was terrible.

Shit sucks, and to know I have 3 more possible sucks even more.

This truck is getting some some pretty decent work done to it. Should be pretty cool when all said and done.

Thanks for the compliments.


Currently the c-notch and wrap up of the entire rear section is on hold. An unforseen issue with the use of the e-brake caliper option on the rear disc kit combined with the slightly narrower Toyota rear end is leading to a possible frame contact problem. Bigger problem is that if I try to just clearance the frame for the bracket it's located right at the aft end of the c-notch which could lead to a weak spot in the frame. This leads to the re-thinking of the whole rear frame section. Which means I will likely have to do the one thing I've been trying to avoid the whole time, remove the bed. Not because it's too hard to do, just because it's a PITA I was trying to avoid.

Once again, racecar.

[Rjawm]

Between Christmas, a vacation to Maui the first part of January, and yet another kidney stone work kinda came to a screeching halt on the truck as of late.

Lots of armchair planning the next move has been happening though, so as soon as everything aligns again to allow some progress to be made a solid plan of attack has been laid out, lol.

[510freak]

A plan is better than no plan

Dang holidays anyhow

[Rjawm]

Had some time to get a few things done on the truck, not much of it pic worthy. The biggest thing was being able to put a set of wheels and tires on it to set it down and check the frame clearance on the e-brake brackets. It's gonna be close but I think I can get away with some slight hammer adjustments and they'll clear the frame just fine.

Did an HID upgrade to blind people properly. To be honest, I did get proper housings with the internal reflectors to keep the glare down and make the bulbs work the way the were intended. They are also a true Hi/Lo HID setup. No pics of them on yet but I'll get some when I can.








And I couldn't remember if I had posted a pic of the 240sx brake master once installed, so here it is, lol.

[Rjawm]

As I posted earlier, I have a plan laid out and finally got to start on it.

Spent roughly 6 straight hours yesterday cutting and grinding to remove what had been 2 days of fabbing and welding of the rear half of the frame.

Spent today picking up steel, refilling gas bottles, buying some new parts, and grabbing some parts at the wrecking yard. Oh, and what I didn't pick up locally for the new stuff, I ordered on Amazon last night, haha.

Most of the ordered stuff will be here by next Monday, so next week should be busy.

[DRIVEN]

FUCK!!!!

[Rjawm]

FUCK!!!!

Yep, pretty much covers how I felt, lol

[DRIVEN]

If you've ever met me you know I live like a trucker. My time's comin and every time I see someone posts a pic like that I experience serious shrinkage.

[Rjawm]

Went out to the shop today to cut out the plate for boxing the frame. Opened up the brand new Victor torch set up I bought a little over a year ago to use it for the first time, this is what stopped all work.



For those that don't know what the problem is, here's a pic from the outside of the box. Take a close look at fitting on the gauge.





So needless to say, with no working torch, no work could be accomplished. Instead I get to try and email the seller on Amazon and hope they can help me even though it's out of warranty.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

[DRIVEN]

Oxygen fitting on Acetylene regulator?

[Laecaon]

Thats a fun one...

[Rjawm]

On the torch regulator situation, they sent me an adapter free of charge to "fix" the issue. It works but I'll probably take advantage of the 5 year warranty through Victor at some point to exchange it later.

On the truck, got the steel fit and welded out to complete the frame boxing. Now to layout the C-notch location and the upper shock tabs, once the crossmember is welded back in.





A few other things were completed but I didn't get pics, yet. The custom steering wheel, stereo (still have to install sub and amp), interior windshield mount antenna, and a custom wire rope dome light (I'll get night time pics to do it justice lol).

[Rjawm]

First, pics from the last post, well except the stereo and the antenna, because they're boring lol.

Steering wheel



EL wire neon dome light, one pic with flash to see what it looks like in 'daylight'. It's tied into the factory dome light assembly so I could keep the switch to choose on/off/door pin. Only reason this even works is because of no headliner at this time, once a headliner is found it'll be removed from the roof and used under dash or seats maybe. Figured what the hell for now.





And now the work completed today. Reinstalled crossmember and rear brake softline, shock mounts, and new shocks. Using 720 lower u-bolt plates because it made the repositioned shock install much easier.




Hoping for c-notch tomorrow.

[Rjawm]

Getting close to wrapping this up and hitting the road soon.

[flatcat19]

Getting close to wrapping this up and hitting the road soon.

I wish I had a welder and some skills.
I'd love to do the same to the 521.

[Rjawm]

I wish I had a welder and some skills.
I'd love to do the same to the 521.

It does make it easier to get projects done for sure.


So...I started the reassembly process of the rear,
got the new steel painted,
installed the new shocks,
installed the one correct e-brake cable RockAuto sent me and am waiting on the correct second one to make it here,
installed the fuel tank after modding the mounts to raise it up a little bit,
and then shit hit fan for my goal of trying to drive it this weekend,
the driveshaft is a 1/2" too long and completely my fault.

I ran it back up to the shop in Bellingham first thing this morning but I'm not super hopeful about them being able to get it done in time; they were pretty slammed for the day. I really need it by tonight to have enough time to give the truck an on the road shakedown before driving down to Everett on Friday to hang out with friends for the weekend.

[Laecaon]

Oh to have a lift.