1970 Datsun 521(A frank'n truck)

[wayno]

So I had a big hole where the column came threw the firewall, so I made these.

Then I cut a piece of rubber the same shape I bought at Parkrose hardware, then cut one slit in the rubber to get it around the column, and I cut the metal piece diagonally also because I should have made and installed this piece before installing the column, but anyway here are the parts installed.

If I ever remove the column, I will redo this with uncut pieces like I should have done, as the pieces are already made.
Now it should not be so drafty around my legs, there was definitely a leak when I drove it last.

[Charlie69]

Wayno I believe you have a truck that has a 2 wd 1980 720 chassis under it. Measure the front spring bolt center to the center of the axle. Then measure the 85 the same way.

It has been a while but if I remember correctly the 1980 axle center is about 2" forward of what the 85 is. I am not sure of this. I think it might be in the placement of the spring center bolt.

[wayno]

Wayno I believe you have a truck that has a 2 wd 1980 720 chassis under it. Measure the front spring bolt center to the center of the axle. Then measure the 85 the same way.

It has been a while but if I remember correctly the 1980 axle center is about 2" forward of what the 85 is. I am not sure of this. I think it might be in the placement of the spring center bolt.

That 1985 cab has always been on that chassis, I had to cut into the floor boards on the rear mount bolts on both sides to remove the cab because the nut inside that is supposed to be captured was spinning free in there(no access), also the front nuts by the pillar for the door mounts were loose.
The frame number matches the title, and that was definitely an 85 box/cab, but who knows what the leafs were off of, but the rear wheels look centered in the wheel well on this 85, so I would guess it also had the stock leaf springs.

I never heard of the leaf springs being different on any year, they are all interchangeable from 1966 threw 1985 as far as I know, the pin in the leafs are more towards the front(off centered), but they were all made that way.

[Charlie69]

You are probably correct I will measure my 86 KC chassis and 19820 regular cab chassis to verify the spring center bolts are positioned the same. I also have a set of 1985 regular cab 4x4 leaf springs I will measure. I am thinking you are correct though.

Love this build Wayno!

[Laecaon]

well supposedly in the 83 model year and on, single cabs had their cab lengthened barely... Im not sure where went, like did they make the frame longer? Or did they make the bed shorter? Im guessing the frame is longer, and that is why you had a gap.

[wayno]

well supposedly in the 83 model year and on, single cabs had their cab lengthened barely... Im not sure where went, like did they make the frame longer? Or did they make the bed shorter? Im guessing the frame is longer, and that is why you had a gap.

In 1983 they made the regular cabs a few inches longer, and the box a few inches shorter, that is why you cannot use an early longbox or short box on a late model cab(not enough room), or if they buy a late model box for their early regular cab, there is a gap, all kingcabs/boxes are the same no matter what year.
There have been a few threads on this in the past over on Ratsun, mostly one pops up when someone buys a box, and then asks why it don't fit their truck.

[wayno]

OK, I was falling asleep on the couch because there was nothing good on TV, so I got up and went out to the garage and did a few things to the truck, I put window channel felt in the drivers door because it was rattling real bad, I used some extra 510 felt.
Then I drilled a hole in the passenger side fender well on the top front inside corner for the fuel neck for filling the tank, it was the easiest avenue, I kept the piece I drilled out just in case I change my mind, so I can weld it back in.

Here is what it looks like inside the fender well.

Then I put a gas door on the driverside, it was missing the door.

I tried one of them spring loaded gas doors, but it didn't seem to fit properly, so I put a stock bare of paint one on and then just sprayed some primer on it, I will hit it with some paint to keep it from rusting over the next couple days.
So at the moment the gas thing is taken care of, I am considering taking it on a 100 mile drive tomorrow, but I would hate for it to break down 50 miles out, so I may bail on that idea till I drive it around locally for a few days.

[DRIVEN]

SPOTTED: Sherwood PickNPull

Any idea who drives the tan 521 that was across the aisle from you?

[wayno]

SPOTTED: Sherwood PickNPull

Any idea who drives the tan 521 that was across the aisle from you?

Datwifey and Brody were there, but I think their 521 was white, I didn't see a tan one.

[Ni10]

Thought Jen and Brody lived up around Seattle .


and yes, their 521 is white not tan.

[DRIVEN]

The one I saw was all the way at the end on the right. Backed in. Stock hubcaps were painted red with rat-n-wrenches stenciled on them. I thought it was tan but maybe I'm remembering wrong. I wanted to park down there with you guys but the lot was packed. Ended up all the way at the other end.

[wayno]

That was Jen & Brody's truck, their Maxima was right next to the 521, they live in Evert WA, they needed 520 parts real bad I guess, so they came all the way down here to get them.

[Laecaon]

Yea, I have spotted them at the Sherwood yard before. Pulling tail light stuff and some other small trim pieces from a 521. This is when we were searching for 720 4x4 stuff.

[wayno]

Today I went an bought some flex pipe and put that resonator in the mix, it is way quieter now, I also went by the PNP and grabbed a couple taillight sockets off a hardbody, and wired them into my taillight setup, now both red sections are running lights, and when I hit the turn signal both sections blink unless I step on the brake, then one side blinks and the other side is the brake light, it just works better this way, as it is an 85 wiring harness.
So I had to install another instrument cluster the other day because I couldn't get the speedo to work, well I am not happy with the indicator lights on this cluster, they don't work worth a shit, so now I am going to have to remove the cluster and clean everything to see if I can get the lights to work dependably, I have one turn signal that works half the time, the oil light seems to work, and so does the ign light, but none of the others work, and the temp/fuel gauge power works intermittently, I like my gauges to work.

[wayno]

I put the door locks in today after having a set keyed, they work great.

[DRIVEN]

Matched set of working Datsun door locks? Luxury!

[510freak]

Matched set of working Datsun door locks? Luxury!

So true

[wayno]

They have another set of matched locks at the lock shop, but they only had one key for it, the guy said if I left it there, he would see if he could find another key that will fit it that is close enough to work, or he will see if another one can be ordered in, the key itself is $8.00 for that set of door locks.
The set of locks I installed today, the keys were cheap for that one.
I have lots of sets of door locks, but ones that no one has used a screw driver on are hard to find.

[wayno]

So I put some cheap door cards on the truck today.


Here they are done.


I also put a drivreside seat belt in, it is the middle lap belt in the 720, I am going to have to find another tan middle belt for the other side.

I suppose I should have cleaned the door cards before I took the photos, but I am lazy.
The heater works really good in this truck, it's cooking me unless I roll down the window.
I still need to fix the floor pan on the passenger side, it's just not on the top 10 right now, going golfing tomorrow.

[izzo]

even dirty door cards are better than no door cards. no door cards bug me lol