New Datsun 521 Pickup Project

1965-1971 Datsun 521 forums. All 520 and 521 topics and discussion can be found here.
LaughingBull
Posts: 526
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:03 am
Car: 97 240sx
72 521
77 620
74 cb550
76 cb550
Location: Lawrence, KS

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Picked up a lil something couple weeks ago, thought I'd share. Could use some cleaning. currently looking for some wheels. I know the ones I want, just hard to find.

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Rev_D21
Posts: 6897
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2003 9:49 pm
Car: 1986.5 D21 LB HD 2WD V6 5Speed
1991 D21 Reg 2WD Auto
1995 D21 Reg 2WD 5Spd
1996 D21 Reg 4WD 5Spd
2012 Versa 1.6S 5-Speed
Location: Somwhere in Western NY
Contact:

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Wish I could score a project like that around here. Most of them, if not all in NY, rotted away due to road salt.

LaughingBull
Posts: 526
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:03 am
Car: 97 240sx
72 521
77 620
74 cb550
76 cb550
Location: Lawrence, KS

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Theres a bit of surface rust on the undercarriage, but it looks like whenever the truck was repainted they must have cleaned up and redone the undercoat on the cab, few small spots flaking off. Crawled all over trying to find some cancerous rust and couldn't. Hard to find something like this in the midwest as well.

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nevertheless
Posts: 1379
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:12 am
Car: 1993 240sx hatch
1995 Nissan D21
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Contact:

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lucky mofo. Subscribing.

67 411
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:52 am
Car: 1967 datsun 411 sss wagon 1975 datsun 620 king cab 4x4 and a 1971 521

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Looks good nice find, what are your plans for it.

LaughingBull
Posts: 526
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:03 am
Car: 97 240sx
72 521
77 620
74 cb550
76 cb550
Location: Lawrence, KS

Post

Switch to a balljoint disc brake set up in the front. Truck came with a spare l20b, need to decide between that and a ka motorset. ka would have more versatility as far as ac condenser for the under dash ac unit and possibly power steering. The l16 in there now idles real high, I noticed the carb was from an l20b so I'm not sure if it was rejetted or anything before it was dropped on the l16. I'll prob pull it off and check it. But definitely brakes first. Never had a four drum brake system before, and have had a couple oh s*** moments, especially after driving the 240 with z32 brakes.

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Rev_D21
Posts: 6897
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2003 9:49 pm
Car: 1986.5 D21 LB HD 2WD V6 5Speed
1991 D21 Reg 2WD Auto
1995 D21 Reg 2WD 5Spd
1996 D21 Reg 4WD 5Spd
2012 Versa 1.6S 5-Speed
Location: Somwhere in Western NY
Contact:

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Just whatever you do please don't turn it into a YO-YO-YO low-rider.

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RB521
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 1:02 pm
Car: 71 Datsun PL521
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Contact:

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VERY clean little truck you have there man! ill definitely be checking back to see updates. :D also, does anybody find D21's comment about not turning it into a lowrider a bit ironic, considering his avatar? hehehehe

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Rev_D21
Posts: 6897
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2003 9:49 pm
Car: 1986.5 D21 LB HD 2WD V6 5Speed
1991 D21 Reg 2WD Auto
1995 D21 Reg 2WD 5Spd
1996 D21 Reg 4WD 5Spd
2012 Versa 1.6S 5-Speed
Location: Somwhere in Western NY
Contact:

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I would fix it if I was any good at Photoshop.

LaughingBull
Posts: 526
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:03 am
Car: 97 240sx
72 521
77 620
74 cb550
76 cb550
Location: Lawrence, KS

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Sold my cb750 for some spending money. Prob lower it some, but not low rider low. Think this weekend I'll pull the bed and clean up the frame etc. underneath. love your truck rb521.

67 411
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:52 am
Car: 1967 datsun 411 sss wagon 1975 datsun 620 king cab 4x4 and a 1971 521

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I say go for the ka swap

LaughingBull
Posts: 526
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:03 am
Car: 97 240sx
72 521
77 620
74 cb550
76 cb550
Location: Lawrence, KS

Post

Keeping an eye out for a motorset, I'm sure a wrecked 240 will come up sooner or later. In the end I think it would be cheaper than rebuilding the l20(I'd have to find a five speed as well), and less hassle sourcing parts for my end goals.

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Charlie69
Posts: 256
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:01 pm
Car: 1966 Datsun 520
Location: Tolleson AZ

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Do the KA, The l20B is not that much more power. Or do a VG Or VQ and really make it a fun drive.

Check this out
post5997303.html#p5997303

I like the rims what size are they?

LaughingBull
Posts: 526
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:03 am
Car: 97 240sx
72 521
77 620
74 cb550
76 cb550
Location: Lawrence, KS

Post

I'm 90% sure I'll do a ka, just looking for one now. Don't have the wheels yet, still looking. I am really set on them though, just gotta keep searching. I really like that 4 link suspension on the sr520. This weekend I pulled the ac compressor and its bracket off.
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Also was going through parts looking for the original carb, found these mirrors not sure if I wanna use em, but the ones on it right now are about useless.
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Also have the radio and original speaker not sure if they work, but does anyone know where the speaker was mounted? the wires are not even a foot long on each so it musta been fairly close.
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LaughingBull
Posts: 526
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:03 am
Car: 97 240sx
72 521
77 620
74 cb550
76 cb550
Location: Lawrence, KS

Post

Have a little update, got parts together for a 5 lug swap. Using d21 spindle and brakes with a late 80's toyota hub up front, and picked up a 76 toyota 4.11 rear end for the back. measured out at 54" wms to wms so around 2" wider in the back then stock. Shouldn't be to bad will just need to play with wheel offset some. In the end I'll have 5x114 lugs so wheels choices will be infinite.

LaughingBull
Posts: 526
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:03 am
Car: 97 240sx
72 521
77 620
74 cb550
76 cb550
Location: Lawrence, KS

Post

So its been a while since I updated, project is moving along. Picked up a KA for $50, did a full rebuild all new parts. Sitting on a stand right now. Pulled the l16 from the pickup. Camera is dead so heres a few pics I snapped after getting parts back from the machine shop.
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Also been working on the suspension. I'm trying to get a coilover set up to work, and mounting an s13 crossmember so I can use rack and pinion steering. Since I want to use the ac compressor on the ka I need to get rid of the stock steering box. I am using custom arms and a mix of spindle and brake parts from toyota and d21 pickups. The idea in my head is to flip the d21 spindle to attach to the rack and pinion. Still have to figure out a new way for bump stops as well as steering wheel option. If anyone has ideas let me know, they are more than welcome. Also if someone could get me some detailed pics of the d21 steering system that would be great, as that might be another option, although I know the box is mounted on the outside of the frame, and I hear its impossible. Again I'll try to get more pics but as of right now heres the only one I have.
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Jefe De Jefes
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm
Location: Fresno County, California

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Nice rig.
The speaker mounts to the inside of the firewall , under the glove box. There should be 2 holes there for the speaker mounts.

LaughingBull
Posts: 526
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:03 am
Car: 97 240sx
72 521
77 620
74 cb550
76 cb550
Location: Lawrence, KS

Post

Been a while since I last updated, a few pics of what I've been working on. Still working out the rear suspension, after that will start cleaning everything up.
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