Description

Nissan L60, L60-U, KL60-U 1968 Service Manual

I have been turning wrenches for 28 years, and when I see an aftermarket manual that claims to cover a 1968 Nissan Patrol, I know better. This is the real deal: an OEM service bulletin published April 1968 by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in Tokyo. It is 28 pages long and covers the L60, L60-U, and KL60-U models. If you are trying to restore one of these Patrols or keep it roadworthy without chasing phantom specs, this is what you need on your bench. Not a scan of a scan. Not a third-party reprint. A factory document.

Model Variation Table – Know Which One You Have

Section 1, starting on page 1, lists every variation in the 60 series. Left-hand drive L60 with canvas top. KL60 hard top. L60-U for the U.S. market with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards compliance. The table breaks down wheelbase (2.2 m), seating capacity (6 persons or 2 + 400 kg), and top type. If you are swapping parts between a G60 and an L60-U, this table keeps you from ordering the wrong transfer case lever or door panel. I have seen guys bolt a RHD steering box into a LHD chassis because they skipped this page. Don’t be that guy.

Main Model’s Specifications – Page 2 and Beyond

Section 2 lists the actual engine specs for the Nissan Model P engine. Compression ratio, displacement, firing order, oil capacity – all in imperial units as printed for the U.S. market. This is the page you tab when you are rebuilding the cylinder head. It also includes chassis number ranges: (L)60 starting from 20001, (L)G60 from 10001. That tells you whether your Patrol falls into the update batch. The U.S.-bound L60-U and KL60-U got the air pollution control device (covered later in section 7). You need those numbers before ordering any emission-related parts.

Performance Curves of Nissan Model P Engine – Torque and Power Data

Section 3 gives performance curves. Not a generic chart – factory measured curves for the P engine. This matters when you are tuning the carburetor or checking valve timing after a rebuild. You can cross-reference your dyno pull against the factory curve and see if you are losing 10 hp from a clogged exhaust or a bad cam. A Manual Transmission may share the bellhousing, but the power curve tells you where to shift for peak torque. Section 4 runs through running performance curves – fuel consumption vs. speed – which helps diagnose a rich mixture or dragging brakes.

Major Modifications – Safety and Steering Changes

Section 7 is the meat of this bulletin. It covers reduced minimum turning radius (page 18), transfer control levers and hand brake lever altered for RHD only, front doors and pillars altered for improved crash protection, and safety features. For U.S. models, there is a dedicated sub-section on the air pollution control device (page 23). That device is a crankcase ventilation system that must be present for legal road use in certain states. The manual shows the routing, the check valve, and the connection to the intake. If you are missing it, you will fail visual inspection in California or any state that follows CARB. Nissan Xterra 2005 Service Manual – OEM Factory Spec won’t help you here – this is Patrol-specific.

Equipment Variation – What Came Factory on Yours

Section 6, Equipment Variation, lists options that were available per model: different tire sizes, spare wheel carriers, rear seat configurations, and top materials. If you are trying to keep it original for a concours restoration, this section tells you what was bolted on from the factory. The difference between a canvas top and a hard top changes the door hinge adjustments and weatherstrip part numbers. Do yourself a favor and verify before you buy aftermarket seals that leak because they were designed for a different model year.

Air Pollution Control Device – U.S. Market Only

Page 23 goes deep into the evaporative and crankcase emission controls fitted to the L60-U and KL60-U. It includes the PCV valve location, hose routing diagram, and the specific restriction orifice size. I have seen backyard mechanics remove this system thinking it robs power. On a P engine that is tuned correctly, the power loss is negligible, and you risk sucking dirt into the crankcase without the closed system. You also risk a fine from the EPA if you are operating on public roads. Keep it intact. The factory bulletin gives you the exact parts to order from Spare Parts Bulletin No. L-68-420.

Source Validity – Factory OEM vs. Aftermarket

This is an original Nissan service bulletin, not a third-party compilation. The publication number is 78051 (50302010). The copyright stamp “Printed in Japan” and the date “16th April 1968” are on the first page. Any aftermarket manual that claims to cover the 60 series will either omit the U.S.-specific safety modifications or guess at the torque values for the transfer case bolts. This document came from Nissan’s engineering department and was distributed to dealers. You can trust the turning radius reduction specs (from page 18) when you are setting toe-in after replacing steering linkage. Automotive Industry Overview may mention historical safety standards, but only this bulletin gives the actual chassis alterations.

General View Section – Diagram Reference for Beginners

Section 5, General View on page 12, provides exploded diagrams of major assemblies: engine, transmission, transfer case, front axle, and body panels. For a beginner working in a home garage, these drawings are the difference between bolting a water pump on correctly and stripping the thermostat housing threads. The manual also includes an appendix (section 8, page 27) with fastener torque tables and standard part numbers. Nissan Patrol Model 60 Series Service Bulletin May 1967 covers earlier changes; this one picks up where that left off.

FAQ – Two Questions I Hear Often

Does this manual cover the P engine rebuild?

Yes and no. It covers performance curves, specs, and the air pollution control device. For a full engine teardown, you need the separate Nissan P Engine Service Manual. This bulletin focuses on the 60-series chassis modifications and U.S. compliance.

What is the torque spec for the transfer case bolts?

Page 27 appendix lists standard fastener torques. For transfer case specific values, refer to the factory transmission supplement — this bulletin does not repeat every bolt spec.

There is a NISSAN STANZA U12 SERIES Quick Reference Index that might look similar, but it is a different platform. Stick with the Patrol-specific bulletins for the 60 series. Access the Factory Manual from AutoRepairManuals now, and you will have the exact documentation Nissan sent to dealers in 1968. No shortcuts, no third-party rewrites. Just 28 pages of factory engineering that will save you from chasing the wrong part number or torquing a head bolt to a guess.