Have a kid looking at one and I have no friggen idea about the diesel engine. Google turns up enthusiasts and motorheads, but the kid just needs something to drive, not work on. He recently got an insurance settlement and wants to get a different rig.

So the deal is 1981 Datsun longbed truck, 97K original, garaged most of it's life, canopy protected the bed, air, manual (probably 4 speed), owner says no heat??? Broken heater? Two new tires, others good, body good, paint good. Supposed to get 40 mpg. Asking $3200

Other than a premium for the diesel, low miles, and condition, any thoughts on the diesel Datsun truck? 60 HP!

Kids $3200 would probably be better spent on a Toyota P/U with a 22R engine in it.

Just a afterthought.
Fact is I need to sell a 1985 or 6 two wheel drive with 150K for half that.

I'd pass, simply because it's 36 years old....

They were under powered in 81, and it's a 36 year Datsun. Enough said.

Everybody's favorites are the 84 Toyota's 4x4's with the solid axles. Most of them got 200,000 miles in their first life, then went around a few more times and are still going with their 7th motor.

I agree with the others. Nice rig for a collector, but not for a kid's daily driver.

Diesel with no heat not a good idea in misty western Oregon either...

Have a bit of experience with those old Datsuns, but NOT the diesels. It's age does not bother - I'm driving a bunch of trucks over 40 year of age and enjoying them. Datsuns didn't seem as tough as Toyotas of the same vintage, but were good.

Mostly a matter of condition. 97k is not bad, garaged is very good, and overall long-term maintenance is critical. A bum heating setup of that period should not be difficult to trace and fix. If it's a Yanmar diesel and has been properly used/maintained, it should be good for many more miles. If not Yanmar, I can't guess.

But, would not give $3,200. $2,500 max in my case. Hope this helps.

This is the way. Kind offer and not too much of a drive to get it.

how much trouble would it be to find parts at a
reasonable price ? for instance brakes, a water
pump, oil air fuel filters, any special heater
hoses or radiator hoses, a clutch setup ?

just a guess, but i'd think it'd be a big pita.
jmho i'd look for a toyota as posted ^ ^ ^
or an older S10 or the like for about half that
$3200.00 and use the rest for all new brakes
and tires, etc.
good luck

I think I'd pass on this one.

Refurbished, it would be a parade vehicle only.

I bought one new in '80 and drove it up the ALCAN in January. Had issues in Watson Lake finding liquid diesel. It was way under-powered. The weight of the engine compromised the front end and it ate tires. That is likely the reason for buying two at a time.

Mine also ate fuel shut-off solenoids.

Tried to hit a fox on the drive up and the fox stayed in the road and easily out ran the truck.

Pretty sure they are asking more than half what I paid new.

Now that I think about it a bit more, the alternator bracket broke late in life and all I could find were broken ones and ended up shop-making a replacement.

There are followers for every piece of machinery made. It was not truly engineered to be a diesel, so if one is after a working unit, I'd for sure look elsewhere.

Who wouldn't want one???

The kid is liking the idea of high mpg and having a small truck. I just couldn't guide him on the viability of the Datsun diesel. I appreciate the useful insights on it's reliability history. I can imagine parts would be a pita as was mentioned. It's a very clean little truck.

You all are talking to an old truck nut. I drove this one for years and gave it to one kid when it had about 70K on it. 78 Toyota with the 20R. Age doesn't worry me too much, but it definitely is detrimental in certain ways.

Explain to him how much he is going to hate the smell of diesel over time...

Toyota pickup w/ 22R & 5 spd. It should get 250k on the first engine. Though the clutch was a little week in the early '80's.

Look for an EFI model for better mpg and engine life. He should get about 25 mpg. Unless, like me, he spends 65% of his time at 80 mph. That will knock the mpg toward 22.

F·cking hilarious!

+1!!!

I'd pass on the diesel and look for a Toyota.

I owned an 80s Datsun mini-pickup. Gas, not diesel. Worst vehicle I ever had. That's a sample of one, I know. But It's all I can offer.

I miss the mirrors with the yellow chevrons.

It was very, very cold and the diesel was not flowing all that smoothly... but that is not an exaggeration at all.

+1 ... Used to be a shop here in town that did nothing but rebuild import engines. Owner said he had guys bring in Toyota trucks so rusted out that you couldn't tell the original color. Rebuild the motor and down the road they go...

in 1981 i bought one and drove it up the Alcan from Salem ORE. lost the glow plugs somewhere out in nowheres ville and left it in the shop in Anchorage all summer while fishing out of Nushagak. they could never find the problem . i finally did just before driving back . just a connector under the dash. front end would wash out tires in 2500 miles. mine NEVER got over 20mpg. had a friend that got 48mpg.
don't trust them.
better something out there for the kid Roy.

Diesel exhaust normally is the smell of POWAH!
In a datsun....not so much.

I have a 92 Toy PU 2wd w/ 22RE & 5 spd. Absolutely no idea how many miles are on it. It was falsely advertised as 70K, and that was what the odometer said in August when I picked it up for a commuter car

But the ring and pinion were so sloppy, the truck would roll a foot forward or back without moving the driveline.

It was difficult to shift into 2'nd or 3'rd without grinding gears, the clutch started slipping this winter driving through heavy snow, and it lost a rod bearing three weeks ago.

Based on over three decades of nearly continuous Toyota ownership, I would have to guess the old girl has over 300K under her belt.

I bought a parts truck with no engine for $400, and transplanted the rear axle and tranny into my commuter PU.

I took it into a reliable shop and they installed a new LUK clutch and Jasper rebuilt long block, for $4200.

It pulls any hill I point it at, at 80 plus in 5'th gear.
With a set of new Toyo Open Country 215-75-15 tires on it, it drives like a brand new pickup. But I got no payment on it, and I do not have to pay for comp/collision.

It was made to run around town,not for much off road work.

The key for me is you said he wanted something to drive not work on.

Well parts can still be found and he will have to do some work to it,it's the nature of old stuff.

As to tires the ones made today should get more miles before they scrub out.
The engines might not have 100+ horsepower but if treated right they do yeoman's work.

Don't. Too old, obscure engine. May be something like a broken heater core which is unavailable maybe. The advce on 20 and 22R is spot on. It is a billet proof engine, there are lots of parts and mechanics.

Did Datsun and Isuzu share the same diesel?




Travis

Back in those days Toy marketed a diesel pickup also.

But I have no idea who manufactured any of those engines.

ETA: It appears that Toy built their own series of 4 cyl diesels.

Well, part of growing up is making your own decisions, so he did his Google research and he and his brother went to look at it tonight. I had planned to go along but at the last minute wasn't able to go due to work. They paid $2700 for it and drove it home.

When they got home I went for a 20 mile drive to check basic function such as clutch, braking, lights, etc. Guys, I gotta tell ya after reading all that was written here about it being gutless I was really surprised. It did fantastic and it seems like the engine is a great match to this little truck. It's a very torquey little motor on the hills coming up the road we live on. The fuel needle barely moved in 20 miles. It has a heater (of course) and it works fine, but has no air conditioning.

I'll be anxious to see how this pans out. It seems like a very solid little truck. If it gets anywhere near 40 mpg I'd say it'll be great for the kid.

Nice ! I hope it's a runner for the boy.

I had a buddy with one of the Toyota's and he injected it with propane. IIRC he got 33 mpg with his 4x4.

Check it out-

https://medford.craigslist.org/cto/6051441379.html

wouldn't waste the money on it.

It ain't a Cummins that's for sure.

i just wouldn't own a mini truck, period, but thats me.

I don't know about you Roger, but my Cummins trucks don't get 40 mpg, or 30, or even 20! The idea a guy could run a diesel pickup and get 40 mpg is pretty cool, even if it is a small one.

I fantasize about little diesel Toyotas after going to Nicaragua and seeing what they can buy there that we can't get here.

Little trucks certainly have there place. Great commuter. Haul a few things and a dirt bike, maybe a dog.

Obviously not a truck with towing or hauling loads of rock/dirt in mind.

No. I don't think of that at all.

I had one of those in 4WD rocket pass me last night on the way home from Fred Meyer getting fuel... was on Hwy 199...

Almost bought one new back in 1983, but the wife complained about it being diesel..... she hated the 1981 VW Dasher Diesel Wagon we had bought that she wanted for the gas mileage... then learned to hate the ins and outs of diesels, especially in winter time in cold places like MN....

I had one in 83-84, that truck couldn't get out of its own way. Got about 22 mpg and it was stinky. It was very front heavy and plowed through turns. I can't think of a worse truck to get him. My 79 Toyota was much better but the 20R was underpowered too for highway use.

i doubt you will get 40mpg with one of those old diesels, the newer ones yes.

The no-heat sounds like a bypassed heater core because it leaks, or one that is stuck full of stop-leak which would be a hint of bigger issues.

Wonder if you could add some heavier springs to the front end to cure the tire wear?

The guy said it had no heat and had air, but it has a heater and it works fine, but has no air.

Get something newer unless you enjoy working on vehicles.

We once owned a VW Rabbit type diesel pickup. Beat the daylights out of it, and it would go well into the high 40 miles per gallon range. Would buy another if they were still made, but I'll also hold on to the Ford 350.