flickertheory

Hi all! Quick update that I've managed to find a great one from New Zealand on eBay. I've been looking for the right one for awhile, and as of 2021 they seem to pop up in one way shape or form every 2-3 months.

That'd be awesome, thanks FGF! If you do make it out there and the owner is interested, feel free to put me in direct contact with them--whatever's easiest!

Great travelogue! Love that particular two-tone combo with the body-coloured flares—wish we got those in North America too. Totally singular, definitely a head-turner for anyone with even a passing interest in trucks, especially as the years tick past! Great you were able to get it back and give it a good home.

Oh wow! Think they might be open to parting with it? I've had an eBay notification set up for awhile, but if you happen to hear of anything please keep me posted!

What a twist! Love that story, and what a great way to honour your friend too. Gotta see a photo of the two units side-by-side when you get back with it!

Finally got this installed today after weeks of coordinating shipments and waiting. One of the junkyard L brackets was bent so I had to enlist a body shop's help, but dodgy corner bolts aside I'm pretty happy with the outcome. It'll eventually need paint to match, but for anyone who tackles this in the future, here's how it was all sourced: Rock Auto still has the black '93-'95 bumper face bar and end caps (all non-OEM) as of early 2021. The face bar is cheaply made and somewhat poorly stamped (didn't perfectly line up with the brackets), and arrived scuffed; reading through Amazon reviews it seems that's par for the course. I found the plastic bumper inserts and indicator lights on eBay, also new. Seems Nissan changed the plugs on the indicators between generations, so these had to be spliced with the wiring from my old '87 indicators, but that was minor. All of these parts arrived without brackets and bolts, so it was off to the junkyard for those! These came from a Pick n Pull unit in Calgary. And that's it! Now to find a new hood... j

Hi all! Do these non-domestic clinometers ever make an appearance here? Square dash, red plastic (for an 87 two-door) as in the photo would be the holy grail! Any leads appreciated.

Guys, thanks for all the great input. I'm in awe of the knowledge on here. I've managed to track down the correct mounting brackets from a junkyard '94, and have the indicator lights now also. Lucky for me that junkyard unit also had the OEM brush/grille guard, so that should offset at least some of the decorative qualities of the bumper... And yep, I've prioritized the fuel leak -- turned out a hose was the culprit!

Thanks for chiming in @nunya, that makes sense. Any idea if the bumper-to-frame brackets from the '87 front bumper might be compatible with the '94 bumper also? And yeah, I had a similar suspicion, @gamellott. It's a strange design if they didn't intend for them to be used for fog lights, but I guess cutting the insert gets it done. Looks like I just have to find those plastic trim bits to fit around the insert now. Though I wonder if this can be replicated with something else. Trial and error time!

Awesome tips, thanks @Slartibartfast! Some essential info to get me started, will update this later in the month once everything's come in!

Wasn’t sure which forum to put this in, but took a swing given that we're talking about a newer bumper. I’m in the midst of restoring my 87 Pathfinder “Aurora”. My original front bumper was rotting pretty badly even before getting dinged up recently, so I’m using this as an excuse to swap in a bumper from a newer WD21. Since the junkyard pickings near me are meagre, I’m going all-new. What more do I need beyond the bumper face, ends, inserts and indicator lamps? Any further trim? Any additional brackets or hardware for installation to compensate for the newer bumper style versus older body? Any tips appreciated! Next up: fender flares, a new hood, addressing a fuel leak, some upholstery work inside, and an eventual 5 speed conversion!

This is fantastic! Really cool to see the whole evolution, thanks for documenting all the steps along the way.

That's it exactly, it was the lock-up solenoid that wasn't operating properly. New wiring solved the issue!

Chiming in a little late with the (most unusual) solution. I coaxed my truck back to Vancouver and to my local mechanic, who spent a couple of days diagnosing the eventual issue...which turned out to be electrical! Typical... The transmission control module under the rear passenger-side quarter panel trim had been scorched in a past mishap (the less said about that the better), and the wiring wasn't conducting properly. So in short, whenever I shifted into reverse and let off the brake, a short somehow caused the brake light to kill the engine as it went off. And pulling out the related brake light fuse from the fuse box killed the engine entirely. Running a relay to keep the brake light on permanently somehow solved the problem. Obviously not a tenable long-term solution, so instead they just ran new wires and I had my reverse back! Mysterious, but I'll take it.

Thanks guys, appreciate the ideas! The AT fluid is new (~4000km) but was on the low side, although a top-up hasn't changed anything. Speaking with my friend, we think it might in fact not be a transmission issue at all. Will update this once I've found out more...

My '87 auto (three speed) SE has just lost its ability to reverse. The gear engages, but as I let my foot off the brake it just lurches at the point the truck would (normally) start moving back and stalls. If I keep 50% pressure on the brake, I can get it to creep back slowly, riding that threshold before it stalls. All three forward gears work fine. Interestingly, switching the transfer case to 4L and the auto gearbox to R, it works somewhat. There’s a rough judder as I let my foot off the brake at the point that it stalls in 2H, but then I’m able to use the accelerator freely to reverse in 4L. Switching the transfer case to N and the gearbox to R, the engine revs without issue. Has anyone come across an issue like this before? I’m in the wilds of northern BC 1500km from home, and my main concern at this point is making it back to Vancouver without triggering anything further. There aren't any mechanics up here who can take a look at it, but chatting with an auto wizard friend back home it's unlike most of the transmission issues he’s come across. We're totally baffled.

Great tip, thanks @Slartibartfast!! Couldn't find the number on the rims without taking them off (plus their insides coated in so much brake dust and grime!), but my truck was assembled in October 1987 so I suspect it may have been a later-in-87 model. Fingers crossed for compatibility; I'm looking to buy 'em tonight!

Been on the lookout for lego rims for my '87 SE for ages and I've found a potential '95 XE donor here in Vancouver with them. It looks like that truck was a 2WD though, as the front two hubs are missing their "AUTOMATIC" caps. Any fitment issues you guys might be aware of putting 2WD rims on a 4WD?

Ha! I'll probably never know for certain, alas. But I like the working theories.

Good intel. That would make sense. I didn't know they were modular but this might send me searching for a replacement to match. Gets me wondering whether the odometer might have been messed with by the previous (original) owner, or if it may have come with the new unit. Interior is really clean and the engine purrs, but the body is Canadian-interior rough. No logged mileage on the Carfax at any point either.

Anyone seen this before? The speedometer on my (new-to-me) '87 has a white backlight and everything else has the amber we all know and love. Would love to match 'em up but not sure whether it's a bulb issue or a coloured gel filter or something...

Great tips, thanks @nunya! Interesting to know the D21 grille is such an easy swap. I'll definitely be investigating that more too...

Wow @nend, that thing is MINT! Gorgeous paint; love the stance. So beautiful. I applaud you. And I'll second @Slartibartfast, those rims are the right mix of loud and tasteful.

Thanks for the great welcome everyone; I'm so stoked to be part of this group! Most of my photos in the weeks I've had her are either on the back of tow trucks or at various mechanics, alas. Lots of gremlins to banish before she's in reliable driving shape (a suspected ECU problem scuttled my 1000km drive back home to Vancouver from Calgary midway). But I guess that's to be expected knowing she's been sitting idle for most of her life. One owner, almost never driven, before appearing at a salvage auction last month as part of an estate sale. The interior especially is a time capsule back to an 80s dealership. I can't wait to give her a great home. I'm not sure the existing bumpers are much use anymore, unfortunately. They're the sites of more rust than anywhere else on the body (especially the rear bumper with its aftermarket towing package) and are pretty rough.

Hi all! I've just acquired a beautiful 87 SE after years of searching high and low for the right unit, and I'm excited to be joining this community of fine folk. The truck has been barn-kept for most of its life and is in decent condition (79k km on the odometer), but I have my eye on replacing the bumpers and front grille. Anyone know if these later 90-95 WD21 parts will fit an 87? Chrome/silver? The compatibility searches on RockAuto seems to think not, but I figured best to take this to the true experts!