Redemption? flatcat's 521

[flatcat19]

Ummm...no.



But that is one hell of a sexy saw.

[flatcat19]

Had the truck towed to work yesterday to make it easier to finish the brakes.


Really glad I did. I would have had a really hard time at home doing all I had.
I didn't get any pictures-but shit was 44 years of fucked up.


I can easily say I am a solid 63.2% through the job. If not wore.
Shoes, springs, adjusters, cylinders, bleeders, and drums on.

To finish...bend lines and bleed. I will have to shorten at least one of the lines.

So close. I got to start working on it at 5 tonight. Had to shut down at 7:30 to clean and close.
Tomorrow will be the same schedule. Wednesday and Thursday off. I can go in Wednesday night if need be.


So fucking close!!!

[DRIVEN]

Unfuck always takes 10X longer than normal repair.

[flatcat19]

True story.

Really hoping I can be finished tonight.

[flatcat19]

I drove The Green Machine home today!!!!

[510freak]

with brakes I hope

[flatcat19]

Brakes just make you slow(er.)


Yeah. Got the lines installed and bled.

Took one pump before pedal. Couldn't adjust the fronts. Probably just as bad as the rears were.


Driving home...stepping on the pedal would send me to the left lane quickly. So I will need to address the fronts soon.


As long as she is driving. We move in 2 weeks. Good to go for temporary travels.

[Laecaon]

That is what I hated about my friends 521, no amount of adjusting could balance those front drums.

Where ya movin?

[flatcat19]

From Benton City, WA to Pasco. Gets me in the town rather than in the sticks. Closer to everything, including work.

Kevin's 521 would never adjust when he had drums.
Savings plan in the works to do the front disc swap.

[DRIVEN]

I'm tellin ya, the Klotz kit is the single biggest bang-for-the-buck on an early Datsun. Only close second is a 5-speed swap. You won't regret a disc swap. Ever.

[flatcat19]

Best bang for the buck is also the most expensive of all the swap kits.


But that is the plan. I want to support all the work Mike has put in. Will not steer away from his parts.




With that...WTB 720 hubs and calipers.

[DRIVEN]

I know it's not cheap. But neither are hoods, fenders and bumpers. Seems hard to justify a brake kit that costs more than most of us like to pay for entire Datsuns but it really is worth it. Made my brother's 521 actually fun to drive.

[flatcat19]

I've ridden in Ed's 521 with 4 wheel discs. That was the entire reason for wanting a 521.


That was a blast! He had Beebani's front and rear.

[Laecaon]

Seriously, post on some Yota 4x4 forum asking for their seized front stock calipers. See just how close it is...

[wayno]

All I can say about 521 front drum brakes is that you adjust them like any other drum brake and then get used to what they are, mine always pulled ever so slightly to the left, it was very predictable, counter clockwise spin in an emergency stop every time, but I got sick of it very quickly.
I found a 521 frame with a disc brake conversion at the wrecking yard back around 1999/2000, I bought it and modded the frame for what I needed for the work truck, the first test drive was a complete fail, the truck was in the wrecking yard for a reason, it was likely the disc brake conversion, so over the next couple years I played with it, learning from their and my mistakes, I finally figured it out one day, and the truck was a dream to drive after that day.
The way mine was converted was cheap, it had a 620 balljoint/disc brake setup on it with a lengthened set of 720 upper control arms, once the lower and upper arms are on and adjusted right, any of the 620/720 front brake assemblies will bolt right on, I currently have the dual piston hardbody disc brakes on it that I bought from Yello620, all I had to do with what he sold me was change one of the hubs, as my early 521 rims would not mount to the late hardbody hub that was on one side, I used a 1981 720 hub and it has worked great to this day, I got a good deal from him, it was under $200.00 dollars for everything and it bolted in, even the brake lines were SAE.
I can tell you how to put a balljoint 620 front end on your 521 for fairly cheap, but it will take some fabrication and a set of 720 upper control arms along with drilling and tapping the upper control arm mount holes to the 720 bolt size, it is a must to drill and tap them holes, the 521 bolts are not strong enough for the balljoint/disc brake conversion, at least they are not strong enough for the way wayno drives.
BTW, who ever did the conversion on that frame did one thing right, they removed the 521 LCA bushings, and had 620 disc brake/balljoint bushings pressed in, if you were to use your 521 bushings, you will have to add washers in the front/back to take up the slop.

[K_trip]

I've ridden in Ed's 521 with 4 wheel discs. That was the entire reason for wanting a 521.

That was a blast! He had Beebani's front and rear.

I've got Beebani's front and rear on my 620 - it's the best upgrade on my truck to date - period.
I still need an E-brake -- You won't regret the time and money spent going that route, ever!



I will also add that I've got several of Mike Klotz parts on my 620, too.
All top notch, and he's a top notch guy to deal with - even when he's swampped!

[flatcat19]

I've ridden in Ed's 521 with 4 wheel discs. That was the entire reason for wanting a 521.

That was a blast! He had Beebani's front and rear.

I've got Beebani's front and rear on my 620 - it's the best upgrade on my truck to date - period.
I still need an E-brake -- You won't regret the time and money spent going that route, ever!



I will also add that I've got several of Mike Klotz parts on my 620, too.
All top notch, and he's a top notch guy to deal with - even when he's swampped!

Talk to him in person. What a treat that was.

[flatcat19]

So the guys over at the other site, being the whores that they are, keep asking for pics.


This being NWD-ya'll get first crack at updates.
Small photo dump and re evaluation of where I stand with the 521.






Sitting tough; looking good. I love the way those K5s fit.






Installed some peep mirrors. Both sides. Not terribly happy with them.




But they're a million times better than what Sergio did.



Sergio has some AutoZone special mirrors screwed into the doors right over all those holes.
Problem...the mirrors were placed to close to the driver making them unusable. Fashion only.
Tsk, tsk.





I've asked a handful of times-yet to get an answer...what size are the bumper bracket to frame bolts?\

This...



...needs to go on, now!


So...as we stand...

Driving The Green Machine to work tomorrow. We'll see how things go.


Things to do:
Install rear view mirror
Stickers!!! (I have no clue what happened to the NWD stickers Eagle gave me.)
Invest in lots of Top Ramen to aid in buying front disc brackets.
Adjust front brakes until disc conversion is a reasonable possibility.
Weld holes on fenders and doors from the 14 sets of mirrors that have been previously installed.
Swap, swap, swap. L18/19 and 5 speed.
Bug Kevin and Ed for parts promised.

I'm sure there is more to the list, but we'll call it good for now.
Immediate goal was to be running before we move. Goal accomplished.

[DRIVEN]

Why the fire extinguisher so close in pic #3?

[flatcat19]

Cuz we're moving.