To Roachie and ayone else that's interested,
The Nissan V8 goes
well. Thirsty but
well! Believe it or not it's not as quick as a my old 100 series TD Cruiser but it certainly pulls heaps better down low in the rev ban with tonnes of torque delivered from tickover. I'm getting between 6.24 kms per litre (16.03 litres per 100 kms) to 5.54 kms per litre (18.04 litres per 100 km), fully loaded in the back and towing a 2 tonne van on the bitumen and in the bush. The variation is caused by how hard I push it and I often tow the van at 100 kms or more when in a hurry. Around town and not towing I reckon it's doing slighlty better. But it doesn't seem to matter much whether it's towing or on it's own. I've never really tested it around town as I'm out bush most of the time at this time of year. But it's only done about 7000 kms with this engine in it and it is getting free up more every day so I miaght get better mileage after about 20,000 kms.
I'm saving a fortune on servicing costs. Toyotas want diamonds to service a 'Cruiser, but the Chevnissan is a far simpler beast and I'm now back doing my own servicing.
It's an amazing truck to drive in the bush even with off road van behind it. It just glides through those deep snady
creek swales that can sometimes cause a stall in mid
creek. And that's from tickover to a mild blip on the throttle to get up the other side. It's by far the best bush truck I've ever had, but I do miss that turbo 'Cruiser on the bitumen. The Nissan is not as comfortable as the 100 series 'Cruiser, but then again the 'Cruiser had only done 100,000 kms when it was stolen and this Nissan chassis had done 270,000 kms when I bought it for the conversion. Plus the
suspension on the Nissan was deliberately firmed up for hard bush work.
It's also NOISIER!!!!!! The noisiest truck I've ever driven and that includes semis, 8 wheelers, bobcats and loaders. I'm gonna have to install some serious soundproofing onto it as it's driving me mad. At 100 kms towing the van it must be like going up in the flamin' space shuttle!
The Chevynissan as a package is a far better bush truck than my Landcruiser ever was - but on the bitumen, the Landcruiser wins hands down.
I've ripped out ALL the back seating and installed 2 extra tanks - 100 litres of diesel and 80 litres of
water. I used black poly tanks and a few black poly fittings. Total cost for both was about $350.00. It's simple and it works. I've installed my own storage drawer system - that needs finishing, but again - it works.
It has 3.9 diff ratios in it but I reckon even fully loaded and pulling a 2 tonne van it could go 3.7. However ya wouldn't wanna go down to 3.7 if yer pulling any more than 2 tonnes. It would take all the fun out of it!
All in all, I'm pleased with it ,,,,,,,,,,,BUT,,,,,,,,,,,,that noise has got to stop!!!
AND,,,,,,,,,,,I still look at 100 series turbo diesels with a longing smile.
However, the 'Cruiser was not what's needed for deep prospecting work. The Nissan does that job far better.
That's about it Roachie,
CYA,
Bilbo