Project Severance Pay: Krisko's Nissan 720 Build

Ok, I've sat on my ass for too long since Texmex.. I kinda needed a break since the whole Texmex rush was in effect, but I think now that I've caught up on sleep, went out a few times, drank a few and banged a few that it's time to get back to work.

Things on my current to-do list include getting the front crossmember, upper and lower control arms torn down for a little tweaking I want to do to them. The 22's throw off all the usual geometry used for 20's. Just have to kick the lower ball joint angle up a bit, may have to make the uppers with a bit of a radius to the arms so that they will clear everything under them. I also need to cup the frame and scoot the bags into the frame for clearance.

Other than that I need to build my temporary exhaust (something I can rock until I put the 350 in) and I also need to gusset a few things under the truck. In the rear I am going to make a temporary fix and I am going to narrow the notches a hair. I've made a few test drives and the frame needs to be maybe 3/4" narrower to give me all the clearance I need to drive it.

Aside from the obvious tear down of the suspension for prep and paint, I still have a few things I am going to tweak in the process.

In the interior department, I am still up in the air on a dash. I haven't really looked for one as of yet, so if anyone knows where there might be one or a good salvage yard that may have them, please let me know.

I have ripped out all of my interior and I am about to start welding up all the holes where the interior trim pieces were. I want a solid smooth metal interior aside from the door panels and such. Other than that, I need to prep and seal the cab and lay down some sound deadening stuff and lay down some new carpet. I've already found a few places online for direct replacement carpeting.

The engine bay will remain stock for the moment. I am saving all that work for when I do the engine swap. I will smooth the rest of the firewall and build my covers for the wheels then.

I still need to get rid of this 35x35 rag top so that I may be able to get a bigger one, it's brand new and only been out of the box once. Make me an offer, let's make a deal! lol, I need my rag ordered, it's almost summer time! My lexan window should be in soon, my new custom plates are ready and other than that I think I'm kindof at a point where I should be able to start driving it once I get the parts back and reinstalled.

Time to do work.

Lookin good man!

mothr fuckr...what size of the wheels on the explorer..i have the same wheels on the daily and they would be nice on the new white yota

20inch Forte's

Well, I know it's been a while but I finally got motivated to get some stuff done. I needed a little time away from the truck to regain my social identity and to also work on some ideas I have for the truck. I have a couple of paint and interior ideas that I'll be working on soon.

I took the 720 over to my buddy's garage and we're gonna rework the front bags this weekend. Gotta cut into the frame and scoot those babies forward and in towards the frame a bit so that I can get some more lift to turn these big wheels. It'll also afford me some turning room because these big Toyota T100 calipers are hitting the bags too..

Once we get that done I'll be able to tell what needs to be done to the upper and lower control arms.. if anything.

Out back we're gonna narrow the notches a tad for clearance, replate them and finish up the stuff in the rear. After that, I'll be pulling it all apart and painting all my suspension components.

On the inside, I have the complete interior ripped out. I have bravely decided to build a complete dash from scratch.. using some pieces of my 55 Chevy truck dash with a set of Dakota Digital gauges for the 55 in the center of it all. This is going to be an adventure, but you gotta learn at some point.

Ok, so I finally swallowed my pride and let someone besides myself work on my truck.. and I have to say, he did good.

I drove the 720 over to Shawny B's place and the goal was to get enough lift to be able to turn the 22's.

Mission accomplished.

He cut into the frame, boxed it all in, cleaned up some stuff and moved the bags in and forward just a hair.. and it made a big difference.

All I need now is some different calipers (mine are T100 calipers and are huge compared to the regular Toyota truck ones) and I also need to get the upper arms shaped a little differently and made adjustable..

Here are some pitchers.. bitches.

What we started with

Shawny B

Before it was boxed in



After

The new lift





The next issue to fix..

Now that the front is done, we are going to narrow the notches in the rear to give the 22x9's some wiggle room. I am expecting my pressure switch (this thing actually hops,lol) my rear disc brakes and calipers, along with my rear lexan window soon.

Can't wait to get on the road.

Ok so, here we go again:

yes I've been slacking on my truck.. I know this.

But, I am finally back in motivation mode and have my ideas together and I think I finally have a plan for the truck.

I am currently awaiting the arrival of my EZ Wiring harness, my rear cross drilled and slotted discs for the disc brake conversion and also my front caliper brackets. I am currently looking at bulkhead fittings to run my brake lines through my firewall (my Wilwood brake setup is located under my dash).

I already have the smaller Toyota calipers for the front (the T100 upper caliper mounting bolts stuck out ridiculously far and were hitting my bags). I also already have the old school Cadillac El Dorado calipers with the emergency brake for my rear setup. Once I get it all laid out I will run the new brake lines.

Once I get the front remotely where I want it, I will have the upper control arms made to be adjustable so I can fix my camber issue. It turns just fine now that we moved the bags in.. no wonder I've never seen a 720 on 22's, it's a beeotch.

This should all get me driving. Which I plan to do soon enough.

I am also acquiring a SBC which already has a frontrunner pulley kit and a few other show pieces with a 700r (coming out of a friends car). I just need to start gathering up items for the motor swap. I plan on driving the 720 as is until I have all of my swap stuff.

In the mean time, I am planning on painting the rear suspension stuff, finishing the metal work on the cabs interior (filling in all the holes that are behind all the interior panels, the interior of the truck will be smoothed and painted except for the floor which gets new carpeting).

Once the motor swap is underway, the truck will be blown apart for bodywork, final framework and painting, the firewall will be smoothed, the dash will be built and painted.. I am still looking for a painter or at least an airbrush artist that wants to jump on this project.

I'm still laying things out but I hope to have it remotely done for it's next debut at TexMex 2012 since that was it's first show.

I know this is all talk but as you know, I will post pictures as it all happens. So shut your mouth.

I'm gonna do good..

My headers will be here today.. gonna bolt em up and finish my exhaust, install the calipers and bleed the brakes.. then I'm gonna take her around the block and see what bugs need to be fixed.

I already know I need to adjust how my steering linkage attaches to the Toyota spindles, the odd angle on the spindle makes the steering bind up when I turn really far (which I can now finally do with my smaller front calipers). Other than that I still have to get my adjustable uppers made and install some shocks.

So hopefully I'll have her crusin around Terrell this weekend. Once I get everything the way I want it I'll have her back on the road (even though my interior is gutted, but who need interior anyway right?).

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And... I've also picked out my final choice in color.

I keep seeing this on the new Dodge trucks. And I like it.



I want to do that base color, with a chocolate brown graphic like on the chevy I saw at Texmex.



The wheels will be powdercoated/painted to match. Along with a brown or body color matched sprayin bedliner and painted suspension components.

My headers will be here today.. gonna bolt em up and finish my exhaust, install the calipers and bleed the brakes.. then I'm gonna take her around the block and see what bugs need to be fixed.

I already know I need to adjust how my steering linkage attaches to the Toyota spindles, the odd angle on the spindle makes the steering bind up when I turn really far (which I can now finally do with my smaller front calipers). Other than that I still have to get my adjustable uppers made and install some shocks.

So hopefully I'll have her crusin around Terrell this weekend. Once I get everything the way I want it I'll have her back on the road (even though my interior is gutted, but who need interior anyway right?).

---

And... I've also picked out my final choice in color.

I keep seeing this on the new Dodge trucks. And I like it.



I want to do that base color, with a chocolate brown graphic like on the chevy I saw at Texmex.



The wheels will be powdercoated/painted to match. Along with a brown or body color matched sprayin bedliner and painted suspension components.

Ok, the final rendering has been chosen.

We ended up using the colors I chose, worked in some sexy simple graphics,finishedout all the mods I have planned and we now have a one off bumper in the works which uses elements from the new Toyota Sequoia.

I have to say, working with KPconcepts was well worth the money. Seeing my ideas all on the truck is a good feeling.It'shard to imagine what multiple changeswill look liketogether sometimes. I know I was a tough and picky customer, but he pulled it off with exactly the look I wanted.

I will definitelyusehim again and recommend him to anyone looking to have one made.

So who wants to see it???