Thread: 1959 Thames

Going Bush

Do you have a link or info.

Have a series III tray top with a non working 186 motor - so this would be the time to do it.

Cheers

Originally Posted by chuck

Going Bush

Do you have a link or info.

Have a series III tray top with a non working 186 motor - so this would be the time to do it.

Cheers

my build page Going Bush

The cheapest way to go would be using Nissan Leaf parts , unfortunally timing sucks right now as international shipping is crazy slow / expensive due to Covid, Best bet is to get onto a few facebook EV pages as smashed EV parts are coming up often now.

New favourite tool


Plasma cutter made short work of all rusted bolts.

This is the worst job on the teardown, ford used the steering box to mount the gear linkages. So you have this Rusty birds nest of linkages, arms, rods, springs and stuff, all of which hides the fixing bolts.

Rust looks bad, but I have an entire set of lower repair panels that replaces everything below the headlights

While stuck back in geelong I’ve been trying to come up with a plan for the engine and gearbox.

The engine solution would appear to be a Datsun L18, compact but critically, they are not vertical when installed and this gives great space for the carbs.

Gearbox is the problem, I either have to try and get the existing 3 speed column shift to work a four speed box, or settle for a 3 speed auto. I gather only one 4 speed auto exists from a 1984 maxima….

My other ideas included a bmw E39, but the electronics look to be a pain.

The other option is a Toyota 3tc but again, only one apparent 4 speed auto.

This could take a while

Originally Posted by Cadas

I gather only one 4 speed auto exists from a 1984 maxima….


This could take a while

Good luck finding one of those. The only 810 derived cars sold here were the Bluebirds. The Maxima derivative was sold in the US mostly. They had the L24 engine, which isn't a problem as the bolt patterns were unchanged from the 4 cyl L engines. 4 speed auto with O/D. Maybe the local Datto mobs would know of a source. Here's one OZDAT

The L18 doesn't look much smaller than a Volvo B21/23. They're a slant motor also.

Toyota!

Given gearboxes are harder to find than engines, I went hunting for that first and came across a very tidy 4 speed overdrive automatic from a corona for the princely sum of $80!

So now on the hunt for an engine….

Hi, I was reminded that I had not updated for a long time. So here goes.

Project went off the rails a bit.
Busy building this


And making sure this fitted

Anyhow. Home again and back on bus.

The problem was rust… and more rust
I was slowly cutting a van back to a pickup and this was becoming a much longer project than hoped.

Anyhow…. During a lunch break I found this
A rust free (mostly) 15cwt bus with a four speed box and an engine you could eat off. It looks wrecked because it was used as a film prop in a zombie movie… The van was driving before they stripped it (and bagged it all up).

So rusty van is in storage destined to be a pickup in a future life … so meet new van!



Now stripped and ready for welding.

This is a brilliant outcome as the buses were built for higher loads and proper cruising. The engine has clearly been professionally rebuilt and taking the rocker cover and sump off showed an immaculate engine… not a spec of black stuff anywhere, I doubt it had done a few hundred kms since rebuilt.

I will be taking head off though to check valve seats and making 100% sure of everything as this van will do some KM’s one day.