1985 720KC SD25 4x4

[Knugcab]

Well, if the compression test shows good results and the pump timing ain't off, I will look into that.....
I have some plans to install dual batteries so there will be some more power for something like that too.

[plenzen]

These engines were notorious for horrible cold starting. -10C and not plugged in and they would not start.
The dual batteries is a plus for sure but, a good 800+ CCA single will run it.
The Yanmar engines that it comes on only have single battery. however, they are a DI engine so it's the only thing it has to run.
Difference between night and day on mine for sure.

Coming up on 400,000 km on mine and it will still go when cold. Doesn't like it much but goes. Takes 3 or 4 tries now to keep running at -15C. It will fire and quit and fire and quit etc.

Once started and run it is good for the rest of the day, and, about 6 hours on a cold soak and it complains again.
Not sure what your elevation is where you are but I am at 4600 feet here and that plays a role too. Very dry air as well. Not much humidity here especially in winter.

Good luck. Let us know how you make out.

[Knugcab]

I'm pretty much at sea level, living by the coast, however the air is not very humid here either...
Living in northern Sweden, I guess the climate is quite similar to Canada in many ways.

[Knugcab]

Had to use 150 grit to get all the old flaking clearcoat away, but it's getting closer to paint anyway....

[Knugcab]

Primer on some of the filler and the grinded down rustspots, so maybe I paint the cab tomorrow if the weather is good.

[Knugcab]

Got lots of work left on front fenders and on the bed, but at least the cab is painted now.

[plenzen]

Looks great.

Just going to leave it OD green or "cammo" it up a bit with some black ?

[Knugcab]

Well, if I get the other colours (light green, tan, black) as surplus anytime, I may go for a complete M90 camo (as shown here from the Swedish military handbook on camo painting vehicles), but as it is now, I've only got the dark green....which is the one the Swedish military are using as the base colour (on non camo painted vehicles).


Sanding the tailgate...



Welded the holes for the tailgate handle, it was broken anyway...



Removed the rear pan, it was so ugly anyway after the chain came loose when I tried to pull out a forklift that was stuck...



Primer....



...and paint!


Started working on the flares.... Lots of work left but at least one of them is in place now.

Parking here was hard to resist....

[plenzen]

Tailgate came out nice. How are you latching it closed ? Something inside ?

That old mini seems to be in pretty decent shape !

[Knugcab]

The inside sheetmetal ain't there, so I reach the levers to the locks from the backside.....I will do something better later I think.
Since I told the previous owner to keep the canopy (yuk) as a doghouse, I don't need to be able to open it from the outside.

[Knugcab]

First, I apologize for all the dead pictures after Photobucket gone nuts.


A friend was sending his Escort to the junkyard so I took the seats out of it, I think that they can be mounted lower than the Mazda 626 seats that is in it now. The Mazda seats are mounted as low as possible but that's not enough.

Also, they are the same colour as the rest of the interior which of course is a good thing, the Mazda seats are blue.

[Knugcab]

Chrome door handles is not right on this army green paint, so I gave them some black paint. Will probably dry more flat than this.
I actually tried "Plasti-dip" (actually some cheap knockoff) this time, I really don't like the hype about it, but since you can never get paint to stick to chrome it feels better if I can take the whole thing off and do it again when it starts to peel....

[Knugcab]

It's getting dark outside so the mocha colored headlights have to go.

Cheapest halogen alternatives I could find. "World tech made in Taiwan" does not sound very great but getting four Hellas or something like that was a bit over the budget..... Sure, the lights are cheap but I still needed 4 of them.

I will try Osram Nightbreakers since they have a quite good reputation, though I am still not completely convinced that they deserve it. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Well, at least I guess that the light output will improve a bit...

And even though the truck itself is ugly, it improved the looks a bit too, strange enough.


I was going to put the washer nozzles back when I suddenly did remember why I didn't do it before, they were broken.
As always when rare car parts breaks, Volvo parts can be adapted to fit...
Took those from my S70 that is going to the junkyard and carved a bit in the plastic, so now I finally have a working washer again.

[plenzen]

New lights
Clean windshield


Your getting serious about this whole "seeing where your driving" thing ain't ya ? ☺

[Knugcab]

Keep in mind that I live even further north than you do.....
It's getting VERY dark now...