BigBadBuford Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 I'm a new forum member and I'm looking to buy a Datsun or Nissan 720. Growing up we had an '82 Datsun King Cab and have always liked these trucks.I've been searching for one for a while and found one that I'm considering buying. It is an '85 King Cab 4x4 ST and the guy is asking $1800. Overall the body is in decent shape - it has a little rust starting on the driver's side wheel well and the passenger side of the extended cab is dented in a bit but think it could be pulled out and look decent. The frame looked ok as well - just some surface rust on the end of the frame rail on the driver's side. Interior is fairly nice - little rip on the driver's seat and the driver's side door handle is falling off (think the screw just fell out) but all the gauges and electrical items work with the exception of the radio - it turns on but just plays static.The biggest thing I'm worried about are the mechanicals. The truck has 270k miles on it. It drove a little rougher than other 720s I've driven and it clunks pretty bad on and off throttle. I think either the motor / tranny mounts or u-joints are shot. The trans also grinds in 3rd gear unless you are very gentle. The brakes worked ok but the pedal felt a bit softer than some other 720s I've driven too. Engine seemed good and oil looked clean.Overall it doesn't seem like a bad deal - but not sure if this is a fair price for the truck. Are there other things I should look at on a vehicle with this many miles? I like that it is all original and one owner but the miles and the mechanical issues have me a bit concerned.Any comments appreciated!Thanks!John 1 Quote Link to comment
84720FourWheel Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 Pictures are worth a thousand words. That being said I think 1800 is too much. The transmissions are a bear to get out without pulling the engine, if it needs service, and it may need rebuilt if the PO used gl5 and ruined the syncros. For reference I bought my truck for 950 dollars in good mechanical shape but needed a lot of body work. From what you've said it needs both. Unless you can get it on the cheap, like 500 to 900 bucks, I'd walk away. With that many miles it likely needs it's second front end (ball joints, tie rods, ect) and that work gets expensive fast, even if you do it yourself. If you are willing to drop the cash, they are a very rewarding truck to work on, and with proper maintenance it'll run indefinitely. 3 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 I'm with 84720. The clunking is probably just front suspension needing rebuilt. It will be $500 plus to rebuild the steering and suspension with good parts. $1800 in decent running shape is on the high side of average where I live. Get some pics posted though and we cab help more. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 On and off throttle is likely the drive train. Most likely is the carrier bearing rubber isolator (or doughnut) has rotted away and the driveshaft is no longer firmly supported and will flop around and vibrate. Very seldom is it the actual carrier bearing. Next would be very worn U joints then sloppy differential, very worn shocks and then engine or trans mount loose/broken. Soft brakes could be the auto adjusters on the back are seized and there is too much shoe travel. 1 Quote Link to comment
84720FourWheel Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 4x4s don't have carrier bearings. Might be u joints or rear end. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 Oh mang... Yeah, transfer case. :blush: 1 Quote Link to comment
BigBadBuford Posted July 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 Thanks for the info so far. Here are a few pics from the original ad. I don't have a picture of the dent on the passenger side or the undercarriage. The passenger side dent is on the bottom half of the extended cab, the guy said he backed into it in the driveway.. it isn't creased too bad so think it shouldn't be too bad to pull back out, or I could just leave it as is. The guy did mention it had new rear brake shoes put on recently - they were put on when it passed inspection a month or two ago. He also said that the transmission was rebuilt at some point in its past and that the 3rd gear grind started after that. I've looked at a few other Datsun and Nissan trucks since I started looking a few months ago. I saw a 620 with an amateur paint job that was lowered and modified fairly heavily for $3000, an '84 King Cab 2wd that was good mechanically but was starting to rust pretty good along the bed seam, an 86 King Cab 4wd that supposedly ran and drove but was totally rusted out - frame and body for $850, an '85 2wd that had a decent body but was lowered and modified and needed some engine work for $2200, and an '81 King Cab 2wd that was extremely rusty and drove terrible for $1500, and an 84 4x4 missing the transmission for $550. As you can see the prices are all over the place here so not really sure what they are worth and they don't come up for sale too often here. I live in PA and I've looked at the trucks here, in MD and VA (this one is in VA). I liked this one since it was very original, the body was the best out of the ones I've seen (except possibly the other 85 in MD), and the interior was in pretty good shape for its age. The extra options like ac (unfortunately doesn't work), power windows, locks, etc are nice even though this is the total opposite of the spectrum compared to the 2wd base model w/ no options that we had growing up. As I mentioned in my first post my biggest concern are the mechanicals - don't want to get it home and have any more surprises. Thanks! John 2 Quote Link to comment
bilzbobaggins Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 How long has it been for sale? Looks fairly nice though. If it's been on Craigslist for some time toss out a offer that's low but not stupid low. I'm not very good at this myself. Z24 motors are common enough even on this coast. I've had a hard time myself finding the short 5 speed transmission locally. As I've been typing this I've decided I would offer 900 and let it go at that. Just my two cents Jef 1 Quote Link to comment
BigBadBuford Posted July 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 $1800 was my lowball offer. It was for sale for a month at $3500. I originally told him I wouldn't go higher than $2500 but lowered the price after seeing it in person. Don't think he would go any lower since he didn't want to do $1800 initially. I may just pass it up if the consensus is that it is not worth it. 1 Quote Link to comment
84720FourWheel Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 He's wanting Toyota prices for that. Go to Nada guide, I think 720s are only worth like 2-3 grand in excellent shape. I'd probably be okay with 1100 bucks for that one. But that's because it's my favorite Nissan color, and it has the fender flares which id gladly pay 200 bucks for. 1 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Where I live, that truck would pull $1600 or so, if it didn't require any IMMEDIATE work. But with near 300k on the clock, I think more in the $1100 to $1300 is ok pricing. Not amazing, but acceptable. 1 Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Another opinion that $1800 is still steep for that kind of mileage. If the body was pristine, that'd be another story. 1 Quote Link to comment
720inOlyWa Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 I paid $350 for something very similar. Just sayin’- waiting for a better deal is worth it. Heck, you waited tis long. These things blow head gaskets and get sold out as scrap all the time. Keep looking for a cream puff. That truck needs a ton of work. 1 Quote Link to comment
Gradyfest Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 It looks pretty nice by the photos. All the options and a great looking color anyways, with a kool topper! To be that old and look even that good someone really loved driving that truck and did a damn decent job of taking care of it. I guess that explains why he wanted so much at first. $3,500 for that with those miles is ridiculous! He's just in love with it. Everyones situation is different, just like what they would pay. If you can't stop thinking about the truck and can visualize yourself happily driving it millions of miles with nothing but love and smiles for it, then pay $1800. Drive it home, crack a beer, and smile while you stare at it in your driveway. Because that's what money is for, happiness. If you're still not sure, rent a cylinder and radiator pressure tester from your local parts store and adjust the pricing according to the tests. I've never had a seller refuse me to do the tests. Oh... And it's old, exspect surprises for a while. When they pop up though, use this site, do it right; and be done with it. 1 Quote Link to comment
BigBadBuford Posted July 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Thanks for the replies. I decided to pass on it for now and wait for something nicer. I was really torn on it, but the last two vehicles of this vintage I bought blew a head gasket and dropped a valve shortly after buying them so would like to get one as nice as possible. I'll definitely have to stick around especially once I do find one, seems like a nice place with a lot of knowledgable folks. 2 Quote Link to comment
Rhino13 Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Thanks for the replies. I decided to pass on it for now and wait for something nicer. I was really torn on it, but the last two vehicles of this vintage I bought blew a head gasket and dropped a valve shortly after buying them so would like to get one as nice as possible. I'll definitely have to stick around especially once I do find one, seems like a nice place with a lot of knowledgable folks. You'll find the right truck. I paid $1900 for my first 720 and it was great to me for close to 2 years other than a few minor issues. My second was a diesel I paid $500 for, and my current one I paid $800 for and its had some issues, but it's got 508,000 miles and still has pep... We'll see ya when you get your hands on a Datsun! This is an awesome community, very helpful people, you'll almost always get multiple replies to any question within the day. Good luck on your search! 1 Quote Link to comment
BigBadBuford Posted July 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Last week I thought I had finally found the 720 I was looking for - showroom condition 38k mile '85 King Cab for $4700. It was in NC and I am in PA and I was working with the guy to set up a time to pick it up and the guy had told me whoever got there with the money first would get it. I was ready to leave that night and he called me back and told me he was going to hold it for a day for another guy instead so another one slipped through my fingers again. That night another one came up for sale right down the road from me. It is an '85 standard cab 2wd with 100k miles on it. Out of the ones I've driven it is the best running and driving one - engine ran well, brakes felt good, front end was tight and clutch and transmission were good. Only thing I didn't like about it was no power steering. Overall it is in good shape, the body is straight with a few quarter size spots of rust just starting in random points on the body. The frame is rust free. The paint isn't in the best of shape though - it has been touched up in a few spots but is overall dull - not sure that buffing would fix it - and the paint on the roof is starting to peel. The interior is nice with the exception of a some wires hanging down under the steering column - I think it was from the radio the current owners put in. This is a very low option truck - I think the only option it had was a/c - it had no factory radio, rubber / vinyl floors, no center console, etc. Although the truck is currently inspected it would need new hoses and tires shortly - they were both dry rotted pretty bad. The battery would also need to be replaced - it had to be jumped when I drove it. The guy was asking $4500 which is way too much, but he did say he'd take $3250 for it. Think that is still on the high side considering it isn't the exact model I'm looking for (really wanted a king cab), but these don't come up for sale near me in decent shape very often and I'm getting burned out driving down south then striking out. If I got this truck I would like to do a few things to it but not sure how big of a deal it is. First I'd like to add the center console around the shifter - I see you can still get them new. Are they hard to fit in a truck that wasn't originally equipped with on? Also - some of the trucks have extra cowling under the dash on the passenger side that covers up the a/c equipment - I'm not sure if this truck didn't have it or it was taken off at some point. Was that piece standard and if not are they hard to get? This truck didn't have a factory radio - it just has a storage bin there. The guy put a radio in the glove box - he said it wouldn't fit where the factory radio went. Does the dash need to be modified or do only certain stereos fit in the factory location? Also, I'd really like to have power steering - is it hard to retro-fit onto a truck that didn't have it from the factory? Thanks! John 2 Quote Link to comment
Rhino13 Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Hey John, looks like a nice truck! Considering where you're at, you'll obviously pay more than us guys out west since they're everywhere here, but that price still seems a bit high. As for parts, I think it would be more worthwhile to post a wanted ad in the classified section and you'll pay a quarter or less than you would for new parts. There should be holes for the center console even if it didn't come with it, but you will need the small metal bracket that holds the front in place. The extra piece of cowling, do you mean the long dish that covers the heater core box? If so then same thing, there should be holes there. Any radio you get that will fit in a standard slot will work in the 720 where the radio should be. I've seen one with a fold out touch screen in there, and I have an original Pioneer Super Tuner in my truck, so there's no reason to put it further away from reach in the glove box. Edit: you may want to pull up the floor mat to check for the holes, then poke holes in the mat, it looks like there's no holes. 1 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 The two interior pieces you speak of are easily installed in any 720. The screw holes are there in every truck, so it only takes a few minutes. I've installed both in tricks that didn't have them. Be aware, there are two versions of center console, they are matched to the two lengths of transmission used. For that truck you would need the console with change holder, for the long shaft transmissions. With radios, many of them are too long to seat fully in the dash board. There is an air duct that crosses behind the radio opening that takes up the space. Also, many radios fit the factory opening, but many don't. Searching build threads, you will find a lot of people have hacked up dashes from POs fitting radios. 1 Quote Link to comment
Brohemius Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 The interior is very clean, the body seems to be in good shape, and it has relatively low mileage. Nice truck, that said i think the price is a bit high also. If that truck calls to you, and you cant stop thinking about it... Buy it, its for you. 2 Quote Link to comment
BigBadBuford Posted July 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 Thanks again for the info. I went and looked at it a second time and I had to pass on it for $3250, it was just more than I wanted to spend on it. I noticed there were a few more rust spots lurking under the paint and the driver's side door was worse than I remembered. It looks like it has a bit of filler put in it before and was starting to fall out where it was rusting.. looks fine in the pics but in person it doesn't look that great. I'm going to give the local body shop a call and see what they would want to fix up those spots and try to price out some tires (looks like 14 inch light truck tires are almost impossible to find anymore) and put together an offer I'm comfortable with - I'm thinking something in the $2750 range. Just for fun here is a pic of the truck I'm trying to replace - this was from 1984. Thanks! John 1 Quote Link to comment
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