1970 Datsun 521(A frank'n truck)

[izzo]

Wayno. I have an 84, i can take pics if you want. running stock carb

Sure it's not for the temp sensor? Or maybe the oil pressure sensor? There is also a ground that gets connected somewhere near the intake.

[wayno]

Wayno. I have an 84, i can take pics if you want. running stock carb

Sure it's not for the temp sensor? Or maybe the oil pressure sensor? There is also a ground that gets connected somewhere near the intake.

I found that intake ground, but since the only wire connected to the carb now is the auto choke, I don't see the point of worrying about that ground wire, but eventually I will find a place for it when I get it on the road, and start cleaning things up, like the brake lines need major cleaning up, I just used the stock 720 lines and bent them around till they worked, notice I didn't use the word fit, because they don't fit, they work.
I actually don't know where the temp sensor is, but that don't matter, because the temp gauge works, so that wire got plugged back in when I put it all back together.
Other that that black wire I inquired about because I was curious about it, it doesn't matter right now, everything is working as it was before, so now I will focus on the interior this coming weekend, seat, dash, and instrument cluster.

[wayno]

OK, this is what I did today, I mounted the headlight buckets, then I started on the headlight wiring, since the 720 had square headlights, and they are wired differently that the round headlights, I had to start by rewiring the headlight plugs, there are 3 wires to the outside headlights, they are all red, but I will refer to them as solid red(no line), yellow line, and black line, the solid red wire stays the way it is, but the yellow and black line get reversed, in other words, yellow line goes where the black line is, and black line goes where the yellow line is, it's that simple unless one doesn't know that, then one has to test the wires till you find the right combination, I had forgotten, so I had to figure it out again.
Next I put the grill and headlight rings on, I had to find hardware to install them, because the former owner sold all that stuff to keep eating.
After I figured out the headlights, I started on the front park/turn signal lights, I almost put up a wanted ad for a set of front turn signal housings, then I remembered I had a 520/521 bin in the shed, so I went out and found a set of housings, so other than having to drill out 3 of the 4 mount studs in the housings because they were broken, all went smooth once I found good bulbs to test with.
The last thing I attacked was the heater box, I suppose I should have done that before I dropped the cab onto the frame, as the engine was in the way, so it took 10 times longer to do, but I got the thing in and hooked up, but I forgot to put my hand on it to see if it was warm, oh well, I will just assume it did, as I did check it for leaks, and I seen no water in the interior after a complete warm up of the engine.
So here is the proof that I did all this described above.



I then installed the lenses.

The heater box installed.

Not much room in there for my hands to connect the heater hoses, it took 10 times longer than it should have.

It's kinda hard to believe that this is all I got done today, but that is the way it goes, at least I didn't have to chase phantom issues other than the right headlight fuse getting blown during the wreck, it actually pinched off the headlight wire/plug when the wreck occurred.
Are Kotto headlights a desired headlight?

[Laecaon]

Koito is OEM.

[wayno]

So I mounted the 720 seat in the 521 today, it is not adjustable, but I made it fit without drilling any sheet metal which works for me right now.

I also intalled the 520 dash I picked up a while back.

I started figuring out the instrument cluster this evening, but I still need a 1985 Nissan 720 wiring diagram, I cannot seem to find one.


So I have a bid to do in the morning, then I will attempt to wire the dash without a 1985 wiring diagram, I will use my 1982 diagram.

[draker]

I can only find the 82 fsm that's posted everywhere.

[wayno]

I can only find the 82 fsm that's posted everywhere.

I can't find anything but an 82 wiring diagram either, and I have one on my wall.
It's a lot easier to figure out what wires do what with a wiring diagram.

[Laecaon]

I can only find the 81...

Probably should pick up a haynes manual. Amazon has them starting at just under $5. one even shipped from amazon (but used) for $6.

With all the 720 stuff you do I am surprised you dont have more resources.

[wayno]

So I just went threw my 1984 service manual and I think I found the color codes for each wire I need to find, I had to go to each different section to find what I needed, I am going to have a bunch of wires that don't do anything now, I hope it all works out.

[wayno]

So I worked on it some this evening, I successfully wired the instrument cluster, I did forget to grab the wire for the e-brake light, but the 521 never had one of them anyway, so I might just forget about that warning light.
It wasn't easy getting this working, nothing seemed to work right at first, most the issues had to do with the little light bulbs not making good contact, but once I got them all working, things came together fast.
Here is how it looks now.

This is a photo of it with the key on, all the lights work, and so does the fuel gauge, right at this moment, the truck is in the garage warming up to see if the temp gauge works.

I had an issue with the oil light not coming on, and it was very confusing to me, so I stuck my hand down there to where the sender was, and the wire had come off, I plugged it in, and all was good.
I went to the wrecking yard today, there was a Z24 block with a good fan and I hope water pump, and the fan and clutch part of the fan was damaged, so I pulled the assembly off that engine and took it to the office(Vancouver yard), and they told me $49.00 for it, I almost walked out, then I thought about how I had already pulled it, so I said fine and walked out, I think that they are wanting to much for parts now days, my issue was that the clutch fan is not removable from the water pump, so I had to buy everything, I am thinking that a new one might be about the same price, but the quality might not be.
I just checked, the water temp gauge works also.

[wayno]

So I have been thinking about this for a few hours, I have a carrier bearing issue, the rubber part is wasted, I also have an issue with the stock box sitting to far back when the wheels are centered in the wheel wells, so I was thinking that I have a 520 driveline, so if I use that driveline which bolts right into a 521, that will move the rearend the perfect amount forward to let me put the box in the proper place on this 720 frame, all I would need to do is buy or make lowering blocks that will allow me to mount the rearend a couple inches forward, is there anything I am missing?

[DRIVEN]

Should work unless there is any issue with brake hose or Ebrake cables. Both of which would be easy fixes for a crafty guy like you. I assume you are using the 521 fuel tank mounted to the bed?

[wayno]

Should work unless there is any issue with brake hose or Ebrake cables. Both of which would be easy fixes for a crafty guy like you. I assume you are using the 521 fuel tank mounted to the bed?

No, I am using the 720 frame and tank, the chassis is 100 percent 720, and that is the issue, it's a couple inches longer than the 521, so that is the reason for the gap between the cab and box when the wheels are centered in the wells.
I know that the 520 one piece driveline will work in the 521, so using that driveline will move the rearend the proper amount forward.
The e-brake should not be an issue, and neither should the rear brake line or shocks, it's only a couple inches, and the lines are all flexible, and the shocks, well I think they will still work properly, if not, I will just find a slightly longer shock.

[wayno]

I measured the 520 driveline today, it would have made no difference, it's exactly the same as the 521, it looks like it will bolt right into the regular cab/short box 720 pickup, just like the 521.
I got some shit done today, I installed my only stock box to my name, put a tailgate I bought off that 520 in the Vancouver pick and pull, put the only set of stock 521 taillights I had, it will actually run and drive I believe.
OK, so here it is.


It's sitting kinda high, so now I am going to re-install the lowering blocks I removed, I thought it would be easier to do that while the cab/box wasn't on the chassis, now I need to lower it back down, I am considering using 720 4X4 leafs also, I will measure it tomorrow and decide what I am going to do.
I also installed a bumper I have had for several years now, I bought it back when they were cheap in the wrecking yards, this type of bumper is hard to find anymore.
I have done everything needed to set up the wipers except the wiring, I will have to setup the new plug, maybe tomorrow.
Here is the back, with the mentioned bumper and taillights, they work(park, brake and turn signals), even the backup lights, but the 85 truck is set up for one bulb in the rear, so I will be getting another socket from an 85, and wiring it into the last hole in the taillight assembly, so both sections will be brake lights and turn signals, along with them being running lights, I figured out that if I cut this little nub off the 85 taillight socket, it will pop right into the 521 taillight housing, so I don't need to refurbish a set of 521 taillight sockets, which is awesome.

The box was the one that came with the 1969 Datsun 521 kingcab project, but I used a stepside box on that, so this box has been sitting around here for 5 years, I am happy to have it on something now.
I need to remove the rear bumper and drill two more mount holes in the bracket, I also need to mount a front bumper, and lower the rear like I mentioned above, the windshield has a crack, but right now I am not going to worry about that till I get it on the road.
There is a slight gap between the box and the cab, I will think about it a while, it's not worth messing with at this time.

[izzo]

That gap really isn't that bad.

Wayno, I know you don't care about the E-Brake light. But, check these out. I run these little LED lights on various things. They are cheap, work forever. It would be really easy to install one of these somewhere for an E-Brake light should you ever choose to.


https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/led-wired-bolts/

[wayno]

That gap really isn't that bad.

Wayno, I know you don't care about the E-Brake light. But, check these out. I run these little LED lights on various things. They are cheap, work forever. It would be really easy to install one of these somewhere for an E-Brake light should you ever choose to.


https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/led-wired-bolts/

I have led type lights in the dash of my 521 kingcab, I just forgot to extend that wire to where I could get to it before I taped the harness up, I don't want to unravel it now, so I will live without the e-brake brake light.
If I would have remembered to extend the wire, I would have put the light where the headlight switch used to be, as only one of the 4 holes around the radio hole has a use anymore, the heater switch is all that is left, the headlight, wiper, and 4 ways are all on the column now.
I am going to worry about getting it on the road, that little bells and whistles stuff will come later.

[Spoona_Jay21]

Remind me that if i need to drop a non-720 on a 720 frame, just to bring it to you!

cool too see progress on it

[wayno]

The first thing I did today was mark the rear bumper so I could cut and drill the mounts to fit my frame better, as the 720 I bought this bumper from hung out the rear more, so the bumper was way to far back for this build, it actually went pretty good, now I am able to lift the whole truck by the bumper instead of the frame, much easier to lift it this way.
OK, so it has a better stance now, it's almost level, and basically stock height, so for now the suspension is done.



Today I put back in the 3 inch drop blocks.

I wired the heater box for power, the fan shakes the whole truck now when on full.
I also removed the mangled clutch fan/water pump, and installed the one I bought the other day, here is the only before photo I have.

After



I now need a few parts, I need the little brackets that hold the taillight housings on on the inside, I made my own, they are not that great, but they do the job, it's not the greatest photo, but I am to lazy to go out and give it another try.

I could also use the stock license plate bracket for the rear, I thought I had one around here, but I have not found it as of yet.
I also need that 90 degree fitting that goes onto the bottom of the airfilter so I can route the valve cover breather to the airfilter.
For the most part, I have had just about everything I needed to do this build, there is a lot of shit around here, well now there is a little less.

[DRIVEN]

Looking really good. Have you test fit the front bumper yet?

[wayno]

Looking really good. Have you test fit the front bumper yet?

No I have not, I brought a valance down from the attic and test fit it, but all but one of the mount bolts were broken off, so I need to deal with that first.
I will have to make a mount bracket mount for the bumper, as this 521 is sitting on a 720 frame.
I actually worked today, so I have not done anything Datsun related except to order 3 clustergear/countershaft bearings for the transmissions around here that need them, I am buying bearings made in Japan.
I have done no body work on this truck, it was fairly straight to start with, but all I really planned to do was get it on the road, and drive it for a little while, then I will decide what to do with it, sell it, make it the work truck, I don't know yet, after I bought that wrecked 720 truck I regretted it, all I really wanted was the transmission, front brakes, and the wider rearend, and then this happened.