Compact trucks advice| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

93EXCivic UltimaDork
6/25/12 5:07 p.m.

So in the very near future I am going to be shopping for a little truck after I get moved into a new place. Ideally I would love a Datsun 520 or 620 or old '70s Mazda (that I could one day drop a rotary into) or something similar but finding a running one for cheap seems unlikely. Currently I have an app on my phone which has searches set up for Courier, B1600, B1800, Mazda pickup (and truck), Datsun 520, Datsun pickup (and truck), Toyota pickup (and truck), S10, Sonoma, Jeep Comanche, Chevy LUV Dodge Dakota and Ford Ranger. Any trucks I missed and any of them to avoid? Also the older imports, in a manual are they column or floor shift? I do have reasons for wanting a compact and no an XJ type vehicle won't work.

mtn PowerDork
6/25/12 5:09 p.m.

Mazda REPU--Rotary pickup out of the box.

92CelicaHalfTrac MegaDork
6/25/12 5:15 p.m.

Mitsubishi MightyMax, Nissan Hardbody, Mazda B2200/2600

93EXCivic UltimaDork
6/25/12 5:17 p.m.

mtn wrote: Mazda REPU--Rotary pickup out of the box.

Even if I could find one I didn't think it would be sub $1500 cheap. Am I wrong?

93EXCivic UltimaDork
6/25/12 5:18 p.m.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Mitsubishi MightyMax

I forgot about those but I have had two people I know have major problems with those trucks. Is that usual?

92CelicaHalfTrac MegaDork
6/25/12 5:21 p.m.

93EXCivic wrote:
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Mitsubishi MightyMax
I forgot about those but I have had two people I know have major problems with those trucks. Is that usual?

Couldn't really tell you, to be honest.

Also: Isuzu

ThePhranc Dork
6/25/12 5:46 p.m.

VW had a little truck.

ThePhranc Dork
6/25/12 5:47 p.m.

And the Brat.

shadetree30 Reader
6/25/12 6:14 p.m.

I have a 94 Ranger with the 2.3 and 5 spd that has 290,000 miles with no rust.That's just my experience and YMMV, of course.

Good luck...BTW, should you find a VW Pickup, I have a set of wheels/tires; VW folks refer to them as the "Spider" wheels in good shape.

Ian F UberDork
6/25/12 6:47 p.m.

93EXCivic wrote:
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Mitsubishi MightyMax
I forgot about those but I have had two people I know have major problems with those trucks. Is that usual?

I drove these trucks when they were new as a parts runner. We beat the friggen crap out of them. The carbed version would do 90+mph in 3rd gear.

I've been casually looking for one as a LoCost donor.

Mazdax605 Dork
6/25/12 7:25 p.m.

93EXCivic wrote:
mtn wrote: Mazda REPU--Rotary pickup out of the box.
Even if I could find one I didn't think it would be sub $1500 cheap. Am I wrong?

There is one in OR for sale at $950 right now on the RX-7 forum.

integraguy UltraDork
6/25/12 7:44 p.m.

Unless you live somewhere VERY close or in a region where rust NEVER occurs...you aren't going to see one of these trucks you are looking for. And if you do happen to find one, it probably won't be cheap.

I moved from western Tn. a year and a half ago, an area not known for rusting vehicles, and the oldest Nissan pickups I ever remember seeing...in one piece, were 720s. Mighty Maxes were actually more "plentiful", LUVs? Not in the 21st century. B1600, 1800, 2200 trucks? Nope.

But, if you do live, say...on the west coast, a 620 should be findable(?). The magazine Project Car had one that they recently completed a suspension makeover on. They wanted to "transplant" a late model 240SX-SE suspension to a 620. And, not to be outdone, they decided they wanted to do a second 620 as a SR20-DET powered "parts chaser/sleeper. So, if you live in the "right" place...

Otherwise, your only choice for vintage is a Comanche or S10. Even '80s Rangers are hard to find now.

mndsm PowerDork
6/25/12 8:05 p.m.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Mitsubishi MightyMax, Nissan Hardbody, Mazda B2200/2600

B2200+ F2T....... it's like a Repu, but with torque!

z31maniac UberDork
6/25/12 8:16 p.m.

You should finish ONE project before picking up the next.

Mazdax605 Dork
6/25/12 8:17 p.m.

My REPU has torque.

93EXCivic UltimaDork
6/25/12 9:46 p.m.

z31maniac wrote: You should finish ONE project before picking up the next.

Not going to be a project. I am dumping the MB for that very reason but I really need a parts runner and such.

93EXCivic UltimaDork
6/25/12 9:47 p.m.

integraguy wrote: Unless you live somewhere VERY close or in a region where rust NEVER occurs...you aren't going to see one of these trucks you are looking for. And if you do happen to find one, it probably won't be cheap.

Rust isn't too much bad in around here. I have seen a few of these trucks. S10, Dakota or Ranger look most likely.

92CelicaHalfTrac MegaDork
6/25/12 9:50 p.m.

In reply to Mazdax605:

Not f2t torque.

Mazdax605 Dork
6/25/12 10:11 p.m.

How do you know?

Ranger50 SuperDork
6/25/12 10:28 p.m.

mndsm wrote: B2200+ F2T.......

I wonder how bad the bolt up is.... B2200's around here are either all at once or nonexistant for purchase at less then Challenge prices, nearly rust free too.

92CelicaHalfTrac MegaDork
6/25/12 10:30 p.m.

Its the same motor just turbo and fwd. Throttle body and distributor is really the only issues.

92CelicaHalfTrac MegaDork
6/25/12 10:32 p.m.

In reply to Mazdax605:

Touche... Dont know if you did a motor swap or something.

Over 300wtq is a boost controller away, i should be around 400wtq at the challenge.

mad_machine MegaDork
6/25/12 10:40 p.m.

makes me wish I had gotten my hands on my late grandfather's courier when he died. Instead my cousin "bought" it (never paid a dime) from my grandmother and had it killed and crushed in a matter or a month

mndsm PowerDork
6/25/12 11:02 p.m.

Ranger50 wrote:
mndsm wrote: B2200+ F2T.......
I wonder how bad the bolt up is.... B2200's around here are either all at once or nonexistant for purchase at less then Challenge prices, nearly rust free too.

From what I know, use a b2200 bellhousing, tII FC trans and never have driveline issues again.