Wrecked my truck

I've been driving an old 1992 Nissan pickup for a while. It's had its share of bumps and bruises. It's been a work truck for my dad, who used and abused it, and has recently become my beater truck.

Today, I was driving along, and the car in front of me stopped short. I couldn't react in time to steer out of the way (trust me, I tried, I ended up hitting her anyway).

I'd consider the truck pretty much a total loss. It's not worth much, but still runs fine, save for the busted radiator. Up until the moment of the crash, the AC still churned out ice cold air, even on 100 degree days. However, the body wasn't pretty to start with. I slid into a tree a while back, which prompted me to just cut the damaged bed sections off and keep driving it.

I figure that if I were to repair it, I'd have to replace 2 fenders, the hood, the bumper, the radiator support, pull the inner fender out, replace the AC condenser, the radiator, and probably a bunch of other parts I'm not thinking about like lenses and things that got crushed that I can't think of at the moment. Running total in my head is several hundred bucks, after just putting about $500 in it getting it to the point where it was reliable.

I really hate to just junk the thing, it still runs fine. Maybe this is a reason to build a locost? It's a shame that we're back to a one vehicle family now.

i like the thought of a locost donor truck, but i think the z24 boatanchor would make it not worth it. or does that have the ka24e?

Nissan made that body style for at least 10 years and they are dirt cheap and all over the place.

I'd camp on Craigslist looking for a non-runner with a decent body - either swap the body parts to yours or put your drivetrain into the good body. For $500 +/- you could have a truck that will go for a long time.

Rust is the only thing that will kill them. Don't get me started on the '94 4x4 I bought brand new! It was barely broken-in mechanically before the frame became unsafe.

In reply to Strizzo:

I don't have the z24, I have the ka24e.

I might just sell the parts as a package to a locost builder, since I don't have the tools to build one.

Anyone want a locost donor hardbody?

I have a locost and a hardbody. You should do it.

G

I think I'm gonna end up having to sell off the drive train to have the money to buy something else.

KOREAN PARTS!!!

My first hardbody (87) was totaled twice and was rebuilt each time with korean parts cheap. If it is only the radiator, then the frame should be OK and you could easily put new ones on.

If you do sell it, I have a Doug Thorley header kit for a KA truck

By the time I buy the overseas parts, I'm in for a lot. My pricing was considering Chinese parts.

Actually, most of the damage was caused by the bumper failing. It wasn't as solid as it should have been, and I knew it. It was a cheap Chinese unit. The metal was just way too thin to hold up to such an impact. The stock bumper took a MUCH harder impact and was only dinged up a little bit. It was also built out of a much thicker and much stronger steel.

My wife and I have agreed that the truck needs to be parted out, but we don't have an emegency fund to replace it. We've concentrated on paying off bills instead of saving, so we took a gamble and lost. We're going to see about a signature loan for about $2000 so I can buy another truck. I'm considering a Jeep J-10 right now. It's what I want: a 4x4, a truck, and a Jeep. It's also old, so I should be able to keep a roll of safety wire and fix anything that ails it. I've read that I need to be wary of rust, but that it's pretty much like any other AMC.

Well, I have had some time to think about it, and I think I'm gonna end up fixing the truck.

Anyone have experience with the harbor freight 8000 lb. come along?

VanillaSky wrote: Well, I have had some time to think about it, and I think I'm gonna end up fixing the truck. Anyone have experience with the harbor freight 8000 lb. come along?

First thought is "Eek. 8000# of pressure on a cheap cast offshore part."

Second thought, though, is "well, probably the rest of them are made in the same place, just painted different."

I'm in for the experienced replies.

I've done the same work with a 2000# one, but the price difference is insignificant. I've never had a casting or a stamped part fail, but I have had bolts fail. Grade 8 hardware seems to correct this issue. I was just wondering if anyone actually had one of these.

Oh dude. I just clued in. You're on Infamous Nissan, no?

Yes. That is me. I don't really fit in with that crowd, but the info can be pretty okay at times. Back when I had my truck ready for lowering, I started accumulating parts. I've sold off just about everything except a fender, an air cleaner, and a fiberglass roll pan. I'll reuse the fender, but I'm not sure the roll pan is even worth anything. Bolt-on pans suck.