The Birdman Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 G'day folks! I'm new here and I've got a project 70 521 truck I picked up a few months ago that I'm planning on working on within the next week. I used to own a 66 520 I picked up in Alabama back in 1979 that ran like a spinning top! The little 1300 Bluebird engine would not quit, and if I wasn't such a dumbass kid back then I'd still have it! I left it at a friends place up in the high desert while I was trying to cut out the back of the cab to make a crawl thru to the camper shell, and ran into divorce troubles. It sat there for YEARS! I got back to it and decided to pull the 1300 and rebuild it, wrapped it in plastic wrap and the next thing I know, (I know this sounds stupid!) but I ran into divorce trouble again! Yes, it sat again for years at my buddies place! When I went back up to try and bring it home to restart again, I found out he scrapped it! I can't blame him, it's all on me! But he kept the engine for me so I still have a piece of the ol' girl! Anyway, I was wanting to get another Lil' Datsun, and found one on eBay last spring, a 1970 PL521 with a 4x4 conversion that needed what looks to me like a bit of work, but I think I've learned my lesson this time and plan to follow thru this project! My problem is that I don't know 4x4 particulars, and the guy I got it from didn't know what the bottom half came from. I'm yanking out the engine in the next few days, I'm sure it needs to be gone thru. The head was off the block and lots of coffee cans with parts will be cleaned and looked over too. I'm posting some links to pics at this point to see if anyone here can lend a knowledgeable eye to what's living under my project, any and all help will be great! Quote Link to comment
Tristin Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 I've never seen a 4x4 521 before. That push bar is gross... Welcome to the site. 1 Quote Link to comment
metalmonkey47 Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Nice, I like 521's. My $.02, change the oil and never again use a fram filter. What front axle is on this? 1 Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 I've never seen a 4x4 521 before. That push bar is gross... Welcome to the site. Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 LOL! It sure dates the truck! I never saw one either, but always loved the Dats Trucks! The 1966 L520 was sweet! Wish I had it still! Thanks 4 the welcome! Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Nice, I like 521's. My $.02, change the oil and never again use a fram filter. What front axle is on this? Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Thanks! I liked the rounded front end look of the L520 truck more, but the 521 was too close to pass up. The filter that's on it came with it. I much prefer a K&N filter, but I use a filter magnet on every vehicle I own just to make sure no metal particles get past the filter. As for the front axle, I wish I knew!! Part of the reason for this posting is to see if anyone knows what I have as far as driveline since Datsun didn't make a 4x4 for use in America on the 521. Right now I'm going over the head since it's off the truck, cleaning parts, taking inventory, making plans. My next steps are to pressure wash all the crud off the bottom, and find some numbers that will help ID the 4x4 it's sitting on. Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 This is a Dana 60 rear axle under a 1974 Ford F250. My finger is pointing at a number cast into the housing. If your front axle has a smaller number in about the same location, it it a Dana (whatever the number is) Dana 40, Dana 44, something like that. I understand old Jeeps often donated 4 x 4 parts in a lot of 521 trucks. I also think Jeeps used a fair number of Dana axles. 1 Quote Link to comment
DatDoug Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Cool truck. Looks good as a 4x4. Welcome to Ratsun. Cant wait to see your progress on this one. Dont listen to Tristen. He is a Forever Newb that wears skinny jeans & drives an automatic :poop: 1 Quote Link to comment
Tristin Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Psh Doug... You're just pissed that you never come to shows so I can give you your feeler gauge back. The truck looks great, just that push bar looks weird. Doesn't fit the style if the truck IMO. Maybe if it was round bar like the Kiiro truck. 1 Quote Link to comment
erichwaslike Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 the front looks like its a wagoneer or cj axle. gonna be between a dana 30,35,40, or 44. any of them will be ok for this truck in the trim it has for engine and tires. not a big enough tire or engine to break stuff. looks like a good truck. i just picked up a 72 521 parts truck so if you need anything for it give me a hollar 1 Quote Link to comment
bananahamuck Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 The truck is new to you but i think this is at least the third thread on this site about your truck by different owners / finders.... Welcome, Birdman 1 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 That front axle is most likely a Dana 30, probably has a Dana 20 transfer case to go with it. Nice score :D 1 Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 This is a Dana 60 rear axle under a 1974 Ford F250. My finger is pointing at a number cast into the housing. If your front axle has a smaller number in about the same location, it it a Dana (whatever the number is) Dana 40, Dana 44, something like that. I understand old Jeeps often donated 4 x 4 parts in a lot of 521 trucks. I also think Jeeps used a fair number of Dana axles. Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Very nice! I've never been a 4x4 guy, and that is the kind of info I can use! I just repaired my pressure washer and went to work on the engine compartment and the underside to see what numbers will show up. I ran out of light as the sun went down tonight, but will go back at it this weekend. There was an awful lot of crud to get off and I think it's going to take a day or two more cleaning to get things ready to take apart. As an update, I took the radiator to a local shop for rodding and repair, got a call back that the thing was shot! He said it was so full of holes it wasn't worth saving, so I'm now looking for a new radiator. Maybe someone can confirm for me that the 521 uses the same radiator as the 510, at least that's what I've been told. I also took the head in for pressure testing and inspection, looks like the "210" head needs valve guides and a bit of welding in a few places, nothing too bad though. That's about it for the moment, but I'll post pics when things become clearer. Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Cool truck. Looks good as a 4x4. Welcome to Ratsun. Cant wait to see your progress on this one. Dont listen to Tristen. He is a Forever Newb that wears skinny jeans & drives an automatic :poop: Thanks bro! I'll post more when I've cleaned it up and can ID what's under it! Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Welcome to Ratsun :thumbup: I have a feeling that this is "nevadas" truck, but don't know for sure as most the early photos are gone in his thread, here is the thread. http://community.rat...883-1971-pl521/ Maybe it isn't, the year seems to be differant, oh well. 1 Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Psh Doug... You're just pissed that you never come to shows so I can give you your feeler gauge back. The truck looks great, just that push bar looks weird. Doesn't fit the style if the truck IMO. Maybe if it was round bar like the Kiiro truck. Yeah, the bar seems to be a focal point for comments, I'll lose it when I start taking the front end off. I'll be looking for something to replace it further down the road after I get it rolling under it's own steam! Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 the front looks like its a wagoneer or cj axle. gonna be between a dana 30,35,40, or 44. any of them will be ok for this truck in the trim it has for engine and tires. not a big enough tire or engine to break stuff. looks like a good truck. i just picked up a 72 521 parts truck so if you need anything for it give me a hollar That's really nice of you! The truck seems to be mostly complete, I will know more after it's tear down for what's needed. La Habra is a stones through from Arcadia, I'm glad there are folks close by, one never knows when that may come in handy! Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 The truck is new to you but i think this is at least the third thread on this site about your truck by different owners / finders.... Welcome, Birdman I was wondering just that! Nothing like having senior members that take notice of stuff like that! Do you by any chance remember where I might find any past owner-finder posts on the truck? I'm still trying to figure out navigation of the site and don't know what they might have posted about it. Any insight is greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 2eDeYe' timestamp='1345658672' post='744149']That front axle is most likely a Dana 30, probably has a Dana 20 transfer case to go with it. Nice score :D Thanks much! I'm glad I got it, my daily driver is a Chevy C3500 454 that drinks gas like it's never satisfied! Even after swapping the 400 turbo tranny to a 700R4 overdrive modified for mileage, it went from 11mpg to 17, but that still isn't good enough in todays economy! Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Welcome to Ratsun :thumbup: I have a feeling that this is "nevadas" truck, but don't know for sure as most the early photos are gone in his thread, here is the thread. http://community.rat...883-1971-pl521/ Maybe it isn't, the year seems to be differant, oh well. GIVE THIS MAN A CIGAR!! You found the truth! It absolutely is the same exact truck! I went thru the entire "1971 PL521" post and when pics did show up there was no doubt! The ID on the cab-door plate say the date manufactured was 7/70 so I guess the model year would be 71. OUTSTANDING! Thanks so very much! I think I'm going to continue on the other thread simply because it cries out for some closure and adds to the continuity! Many thanks Wayno, you're the man! Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 I would say that this is your thread, but it's your choice. If you choose to use nevadas thread, you will be unable to edit the title so others will know it is your truck now. 1 Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted August 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 I guess you're right. Trying to follow 2 threads on the same truck would be redundant. Quote Link to comment
The Birdman Posted April 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 Well after a long hiatus from working on this truck, I'm back. Too much crap has happened to explain the absence, but I will be trying to restart the work needed to get this thing going again. Hope you all still are around to help because I know I'll need it. Stopped at the tranny cleanup and will still be looking to go through it before mating it up to the rebuilt engine that has been sitting on the engine stand for the past year! Sometimes it sucks to be me! 1 Quote Link to comment
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