1987 Hardbody question..

I just bought a d21 for $400 but I havnt seen it in person. The guy claims it doesnt burn oil or knock, but the clutch is bad. He says that you cant start it because Nissans are unique and the clutch has to be functional for it to start. I think hes full of shit, but Im not familiar with this truck at all. Most vehicles that Ive ever seen have a switch on the clutch pedal to complete the ignition circuit, so it wouldnt matter if the clutch was bad or not, youd be able to start it but you wouldnt be able to move it anywhere.

So anyone with good hardbody experience, lemme know. Im also selling my 87 B2200 in my profile for cheap, its my daily driver but needs engine work and I dont want to get into it so I bought this hardbody instead. No the rims arnt included heh.

my pops yota doesnt need the clutch to be engaged when u start it. 86 4x4 yota.

On the Hardbody the clutch must be applied for the truck to turn over,but the switch mechanism can be bypassed. People do it all the time when installing remote starts. Regaurdless it shouldn't cost that much to have the clutch replaced(mabey $200 or so) and if you are paying only $400 for the truck and that is all that is wrong with it then you are getting a good deal.

If you are going to pay a shop to replace the clutch be prepared to pay 400-500 including parts and labor

if the clutch hydraulics are bad, the clucth wont disengage from the engine when you try to start it and the truck will try to move. That may be what he means.


I had clutch hydraulics go bad about 15 miles from my house, the clucth wouldnt disengage. I know what you are thinking, call a tow right? I just drove it, shifting without a clutch isnt that hard and every time I got to a stoplight I would just let it die, when the light turned green I would use the starter to get going and the engine would catch, made it home like that.

If the hydraulics were bad, then all you would need to to is put the tranny in neutral and its not going to go anywhere. I think the guy doesnt know much about trucks, either that or something else is wrong and he doesnt want me to start it when I come and get it.

Btw Im doing the work myself, Ive been a mechanic for 8yrs and a new clutch will probably cost me like $60. unless its a slave or master problem, then its even a cheaper and easier fix. Ill probably pick it up next weekend since im busy this one, let ya know how it comes out.

There is a couple of relays under the hood, one of them I belive is for the clutch. Until I fixed this problem it would just click like the starter relay went bad, but you probaby know more than I do so just giving another idea. Mine is a 91 (was a V6) and is fuel injected, not sure what your has.

I don't know if this will help you or not, but I DO NOT need to push my clutch to crank it. So how does the clutch need to be functional for it to start? Mine is a '94 tho...

ya who knows, if i find something else majorly wrong then he can keep it.

Whats wrong with the 87 B2200? And are there pics? I'm interested.