New World Datsuns...

K_trip » Thu Apr 16, 2015 12:49 pm wrote: What are the odds of getting your first Datsun back?

Side note, my first car was '79 210. 40+ Datsuns later, I'm right back where I started.

Wish it was the same 210, though...

flatcat19 wrote: Be jelly.

I am. Very much.

Sweet 40 plus

I hit triple digits 15 years ago(510s owned)something like 160 some odd have gone through my hands

510freak » Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:39 pm wrote:Sweet 40 plus

I hit triple digits 15 years ago(510s owned)something like 160 some odd have gone through my hands

I'll never sniff that.

As for 510s, I just got #26 and #27. I was kind of guessing at 40 total..

The count so far...

27 510s
6 Zs
7 210s
3 610s
1 710
2 B210s
3 1200s
2 A10s
2 620s
1 521

So somewhere around 54...

But I also spread the love around. 15+ vintage Chevys, 20+ old Toyotas, etc. If I knuckled down and applied myself I could have maybe hit triple digit Datsuns...

And to get back on topic, you'd never know it from my 510 obsession, but at heart I'm a 210 guy. That first car really made an impression on me...

HEY! Where's the fucking updates?!?

Ooo...that was fun. No wonder ya'll kept at it.

flatcat19 » Thu Apr 16, 2015 11:39 pm wrote:HEY! Where's the fucking updates?!?

Pushed it around the parking lot today? Does that count?

I'm gonna be doing that to the 620 tomorrow.


Just need to find my tire pump.

Got the L20b out of the donor truck and up on the stand...




Got most of the external bits off...




Gonna pull the head and pan off next weekend and see what the inside looks like...

I have a decent condition A87 head to replace the smoggy smog head on it now...

Awwwwww giggity! I like where this is going

izzo » Sat May 02, 2015 11:45 pm wrote:Awwwwww giggity! I like where this is going

Still waffling on dogleg (keep stock console) or long tail...

I suppose I could always just put a 4spd in it...

Are there any other consoles that would let you run a long tail that wouldn't look out of place?

DRIVEN » Sun May 03, 2015 8:25 pm wrote:Are there any other consoles that would let you run a long tail that wouldn't look out of place?

This is a good question that I had not thought of.

280Z might be able to be melded with mine to get something acceptable? Good call.

Need to look and see if maybe I can do something like this as well...



Need to measure and see where the shifter would come out so I can see if that's possible...


FYI, even the stock shifter is kinda close to the e-brake handle, so I can't go too much further back...

And after rereading flatcat's 521 build thread, he mentions using the late 720 "shorty" 5spd with an L bellhousing.

I just swapped the 620 shop truck from a 4spd to a 5spd, so that means I now have a spare longtail 4 speed that could donate it's bellhousing to this project, if I can find that magical stumpy 5spd...

i think the 2wd single cab 720s had the shorties. if that helps. or so I was told. IDK if you're on face book, but if you are I can point you to one of the largest most helpful ma fuckers there is with 720s. His name is Patrick smith, he is in las vegas and dude KNOWS his 720 stuff.

izzo » Sun May 17, 2015 1:09 am wrote:i think the 2wd single cab 720s had the shorties. if that helps. or so I was told...

Best I can gather from way too much research is that you are correct. Standard cab '83-85 720.


A few ruminations I'd be curious to hear people's input on...

I keep trying to convince myself that since the car is so "close" to a runner that I'd be satisfied to put in an L20b/5spd and be happy with it as is. But the more I think about it, the more I think I should build it the way I really want it, even if it's more labor and takes a little longer. So...

1. Thinking I will play a little shell game and use the L16SSS engine I was going to put in my 4dr 510 for this car, then save the L20b for the 510. The L16 will be a little more rev-happy, and fun for what I want to do with it, which brings me to...

2. I'm thinking full blown race car.

There is a reason why I gave you this car.


Because I wanted to see what you do with it. Read that again a few more times.

I want to see what you come up with, oh lover of the Sunny.




Get after it already.

I am not exactly sure about what year the short shaft 5 speeds came out, but I know they can be found in the 1985/86 2wd regular cab/short box 720 trucks, they may have them in the 1983/84 also, but I have never seen one myself, or I wasn't paying attention.
I have used the 1980 longshaft 4 speed front case to make a L block 5 speed transmission, both short and long shaft transmissions, so I know that year case will work, I also have a pre 1980 5 speed out back with a diesel front case on it, so I suspect that the early long shaft 5 speed transmission front cases will also work on the 720 transmissions, but I never have used an early one myself.
The dogleg 5 speed should work good in a car, as that is what they were made for, so if you have one or can find a good one, I would not hesitate to use it in a car, but I would not load the car up like in the "grapes of wrath" and use 5th gear for long periods of time.

uberkevin used the bell housing from a 75 620's 4 speed to do his.

flatcat19 » Sat Jun 06, 2015 12:38 am wrote:There is a reason why I gave you this car.

Because I wanted to see what you do with it. Read that again a few more times.

I want to see what you come up with, oh lover of the Sunny.

Get after it already.

Alright then. Tear down commencing very soon.

wayno » Sat Jun 06, 2015 1:54 am wrote: The dogleg 5 speed should work good in a car, as that is what they were made for, so if you have one or can find a good one, I would not hesitate to use it in a car, but I would not load the car up like in the "grapes of wrath" and use 5th gear for long periods of time.

I won't beat it to death. I've built 4 different 510s with doglegs that gave me zero trouble, two of which were behind L20bs. The trouble with a dogleg, is finding one...

flatcat19 » Sat Jun 06, 2015 2:46 am wrote:uberkevin used the bell housing from a 75 620's 4 speed to do his.

Yeah, I have a '77 longtail 620 4spd we just took out of the shop truck. If I can find the stumpy 720 trans, I'm set.

Probably just going to come down to what I can find first. Either the hybrid stumpy box, or 77-79 dogleg.