Yesterday's concrete removal netted two full light-pickup-truck loads of concrete—this is one of them. Given how the truck drove, I'm guessing this was right around the truck's 1400 lb. payload capacity....
The center high-mount stop lamp, or CHMSL, is the 3rd brake light fitted on all modern automobiles. ...except my truck, which had a CHMSL from the factory, but which was somehow removed at some point prior to my purchase of the vehicle. The whole assembly—the socket, lens, and gasket—is all...
Alas, it looks like I need a new center carrier bearing on the truck, as the current one (similar to the donut-shaped item wrapping the driveshaft at right) is so worn out that it lets the driveshaft wobble at speed. I had exactly the same problem on my Talon, again...
It turns out that there aren't too many different types of camper shell handles, and if some jackass happens to drill through the lock on yours (as happened to mine before I bought the truck) you can actually find decent (and inexpensive) replacements on the information superhighway. I bought this...
The filaments in this bulb are still intact, but the top half of the bulb has been smoked with a dark layer of carbon deposits. I pulled this out of the truck on a lark, since I've got the camper shell removed and I may as well look for damage...
My truck only came with three camper shell clamps (see the empty spot?). After some of that internet shopping, I've now got a complet set. Also, my riveter is too wide to attach the replacement shell handle to the door. So tomorrow I'll have to go buy another rivet gun....
I dunno. I guess I'm just a little disinterested in these new license plates....
...that my snowboard fits behind the seats of my truck. It's a squeeze but technically it's back there. Why put the snowboard in the cab, you may ask, when I have a camper shell on the truck bed? Well, the lock on the shell is a bit questionable, and on...
In addition to the passenger-seat dismantling required to run audio lines under the carpet, I hit another snag in replacing my stereo: none of the machine screws holding the mounting brackets to the factory radio would come out. Even with penetrating oil, a hammer, and a ton of torque, I...
Apparently installing a new stereo requires me to remove my passenger seat. This reminds me of when I had to remove my wiper blades to replace my clutch. ... actually, I had to remove the passenger seat because I ran an auxiliary input line into the center console underneath the...
I bought a new head unit for the truck last week and almost all of the pieces have arrived. I've got the deck, and wiring harness, and the antenna adapter. ...but I don't yet have the rear aux input adapter, which I ordered off of eBay since the $20 retail...
Unlike the many other light pickup trucks I looked at, the Nissan I eventually bought had really little broken on it (and with only 72k miles, that made some sense). But it's still a fifteen-year-old truck, and it had a few parts in need of replacement—most notably the alternator, thermostat,...
The stock stereo in the Nissan doesn't quite cut it. For one, it doesn't have an aux input, and for two, the volume knob doesn't work particularly well. So I bought one of these, a Kenwood KDC-MP242 on deep discount. No HD radio, but it seems to have everything else—including...
Rob E. brought up a good point about style and comfort in interiors of 1990s import mini-trucks earlier. This was somewhat of a concern in deciding what type of vehicle to buy, but I assumed it certainly couldn't be any worse than the ergonomics in my '85 4Runner, which got...
The Nissan is my first V6. Ever. I've owned a few straight sixes and a bunch of four-bangers, but never a V6 until now. It's also my first Nissan but that's not at all surprising. It is the first H-pattern 5-speed I've owned since 2001 or so (as equipped in...
Well, I solved that problem. I just bought this 1994 Nissan Hardbody (yes, that's the actual name) XE V6 with an extended cab, 5 speed, and 4WD. The XE is the lower trim level, so it lacks power windows and the sunroof. I actually like both of these omissions, since...
Now that I've unloaded the Ford, it's time to scratch that used car itch I've got. I'm in the market for a light truck with 4WD and decent (although not necessarily tow-worthy) power. The F-250 was a little on the porky side so I'll probably stick with medium/mini trucks. I'm...
