Well guys, I'm gonna go for it. The 'Cruiser hasn't turned up, other than the first sighting there hasn't been a peep out there. Even with a $1,000.00 reward. There are a lot of reasons why I and others think that it's gone fer good. But some of those reasons are between me, the insurance company and the police.
So here we go. Yesterday I had a look at 1999 2.8 turbo diesel Nissan GU ST with a blown big end. It's done 270,000 kms, is a bit grubby, but nothing that 2 days of SWMBO's elbow grease won't cure!
It's sound as a bell otherwise - as Nissans are wont to be. The only other minor prob as far as I can see is a blown rear axle oil seal. This will be replaced when the new GQ diffs go in. There's a cuppla small body scratches that have gone through to the undercoat and a small bingle over the tail light that hasn't broken the paint. Just a dent really.
Price? He asked $15,000.00 for it. I offered $12,000.00. He took it. Bargain I reckon. New tyres just before Christmas, new injectors and injection pump in January - all with receipts. As Brunswick are charging me an extra $2,500.00 'cos the engine's knacked, I reckon those bits are
mine. I can sell the pump and injectors as these go quite often on older 2.8 motors.Plus, if I really felt engeretic one day, I could be talked into taking the crank out, having a regrind, rebuild the motor and sell it as useable 2.8. Andrew also now informs me that there's market for low ratio diifs. It looks better al the time!
The Brunswick V8 comes with a replacement gearbox and two diffs.
My logic for doing this before the 'Cruiser is or isn't recovered?
Well this could be the first time in my life that Sod's Law is on my side! Consider,,,,,,I've bought the GU to do the Brunswick Bizzo on it. That is a sure fire way of attracting the "Sod's Law Effect" and conjuring up the 'Cruiser back in my driveway. The police will find the 'Cruiser as soon as that GU hits my workshop. You watch!!,,,,,,,, See? Sod's Law in MY favour!
If on the other hand " The Inverse Sod's Law" makes itself apparent and the 'Cruiser doesn't turn up, I've got a 5 week head start on getting the GU ready to go prospecting and I have a payout from the insurance company to put the money back in the bank! See I've got "Sod's Law" by the nuts! If the 'Cruiser does turn up it'll be for sale by consignment in a car yard whilst I'm out finding the yella stuff and doing what I wanna do! I'll keep the Nissan.
I'll save about $2,000.00 per year on servicing as I'll do it myself as there isn't a "Toyota - you have to have it worked on at a Toyota Dealer" type warranty.
I'll be paying the seller the bank cheque on Monday and the GU will be "tilt-trayed" to my place the same day. Spend a day or two tidying it up and getting the back of it close to being right for prospecting then "tilt-tray" it down to Brunswick for a new motor.
Bring it back and finish off with a few storage boxes and new solar panels. That'll do me until the prospecting season is over. Then I'll really go to town on it,,,,,,,,,,
Sound OK?
Bilbo (Les)