1969 Nissan G60 Patrol

Engine - BF Turbo Barra
Transmission - 5 Speed Manual (GQ Patrol)
Suspension - Springs 2”(GU Patrol) Gas Shocks (GQ Patrol)
Tyres - 35 x 12.50R 15LT
Equipped For - Weekend Warrior

Hey Max, We've probably seen 1-2 Nissan G60's in the wild, how did you get your hands on this one? Were you looking for one or did you stumble across it?

Admittedly it was just sort of by chance. I was only about 12 or 13 at the time working at the local KFC when we purchased the car from Alice Springs for $600. It barely even resembled a car at that point and a lot of time was put in to get it running. Until I got my license dad would drive it around on the road and my brother and I would take it down on the beach. It really was a marvel you could honestly point it anywhere and it would take you there even on the old pizza cutters. And then you’d leave it for a few months come back to pour some fuel down the carby, and off it would go.

Eventually, I brought it back to Adelaide and drove it for a good few years. Not really modifying it just sort of keeping on top of general maintenance until about a year ago when I finally decided to bite the bullet and try to do the conversion. Seeing as how I’ve had the car for so long and my dad and brother have also spent lots of time driving it I was really set on trying to keep it as similar as possible. However, I did decide to cut off the homemade roof that had been on it since we had bought it and return it to its intended soft top MWB form. 

You've done a lot of work to get the Barra engine in it - what can you tell us about that part of the project?

Well I always loved the original combination of the P40 and 3-speed box, it was slower than slow but the gearing and weight of the car off-road was really fun to drive. Unlike the FJ/BJ cruisers though which were always really popular, you’d never see any other G60s around town or on the tracks. Unfortunately mostly just in old paddocks rusting away, so I always wanted to do something different with mine because it just seemed like no one ever really did or even knew they existed at that.

I initially just thought a Barra would be cool, as similar to the original engine it to is a straight 6 4.0L petrol, and in a car as light as the Patrol it would go great. Not to mention I was pretty tired of rebuilding carbys. Once I started getting into it I knew I would have to upgrade the brakes, fuel system and reinforce the old chassis as much as I could, as well as a few other things.

After a while, I realised that if I could commit to and make a SWB GQ chassis work with the MWB G60 body I would have the benefits of a really strong chassis as well as disc brakes, coil suspension and a 5-speed transmission. In addition to this I was able to utilize the falcon power steering pump and run it to the GQ box as done in most Barra patrols. Therefore, now the old G60 even has power steering which is awesome.

Putting it on the GQ chassis was the best thing I could’ve done, it meant that I was able to use the bell housing adapter for a GQ gearbox and mate that straight to the Barra as well as all the huge benefits mentioned above. At this point I figured I may as well go all out so I decided to turbo it. I picked up a Greentop BF motor from a wrecker and a friend and I pulled it down and installed new atomic valve springs, billet oil pump gears and 1.8mm head gasket to decomp it so it could be run on 98, the head was also decked and washed. It has a pulsar 3584 turbo w/ t51r mod bolted up to a 3” stainless exhaust I made and a 50mm external waste gate sitting on a custom j pipe I also banged up.

I installed all new braided fuel lines and a Walbro 460 fuel pump as well as Raceworks 1000cc injectors. I had serious issues with space up front it was by far the biggest challenge I faced in this build. Even after using a RD28 GU crossmember which moved the gearbox back 50mm I still was barely even able to fit a radiator until modifying the body and moving the front forwards. After 3 different radiators, I finally found a working setup with a VE radiator that was able to keep the ford motor cool.

By far my favourite mod on the engine side of the car is my water to air intercooler.

I tried and failed a few different combinations with the W2A but in the end the winning combo was an esky I bought and a Davies Craig water pump. The esky is filled with about 20L of water which is pumped through a heat exchange in my rear wheel well that has two electric fans on it. This then goes through my finned water intercooler cooling the charged air from the turbo and is actually quite efficient. Lastly, I run a powertune digital dash which I made a shroud for - it is the eyes and ears of the Barra and tells me exactly what is going on with everything gauge related.

What future plans do you have for the G60? 

The car is more than I could’ve ever dreamed it would be as well as absolutely terrifying to drive in the best way possible. I’m currently focusing on trying to make it a bit more liveable by fitting out the rear more for camping and a 12V system and as much sound deadening as I can fit. I have a soft top I was given which I currently use on the roll bar that was just put on however I plan on getting a custom one made up so it can be run as it is now or a Bimini as I really like that look.

The patrol is also going to be getting a Turbo ECU in the next month or so as opposed to the NA + T one it currently has, which I’m really looking forward to as well as a retune somewhere around the 300rwkw mark. As for the overall future I’m just stoked I have been able to give this already awesome car another chapter. It never gets old seeing people’s faces and reactions when they see or hear it go past, or mates get in the car now after being in it previous to the conversion. I’m excited to get away more and get as much seat time in it as possible.  

Photos by SWBTROLL