620 to 520 disc brake swap?

[javelin520]

hey guys new to the site new to datsuns but i am in love with my 66 single headlight. i have my 520 pulled the j13 sold it bought a 79 620 with the l20b cause i like to get outa my own way(sorry purists! the j13 went to a great home in california) so i want to put the disc brakes from the 620 on my 520,any suggestions? i have heard this is possible

[wayno]

Anything is possible if you throw enough time and money at it, but it is not a bolt on conversion.  :crying:

It is not an easy modification, lots of jury rigging, fabrication, and there are issues to be dealt with down the road.

I did just this back in about 2003, I fought it for a couple years till I figured it out, then it was great for a while till things started happening, like the upper control arm(UCA) bolts breaking when I hit the brakes on the driverside.

If you really want to know how, I can explain it to you, but why don't you give a couple other options some thought.

Option 1

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/11459-disc-brake-kits-521520320620/

Option 2

Fact is, what I would do is put your 520 cab onto the 79 datsun 620 frame, but that is something I am familiar with, as I have a 66 520 on a 1986 720 frame, here is that build, it has actually been on several different frames till I found one that made me happy.

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/27671-1966-datsun-520-kingcab-project-act-2/

If you want to ask me anything, just ask, I like describing all the stupid shit I have done, and tried to do.

This is a photo of my 521 with the 620 disc brakes on it hauling some wood.

[highdesertdatsun]

Ebay item 190806226274 this might be what your thinking of?

A Ratsun member makes this kit. Beebani is his name.

Would like to see picks of L20 in 520 references on my own

truck. I may wish to upgrade engine someday and I like L series.

but its a very tight fit ive learned from members here.

[wayno]

Ebay item 190806226274 this might be what your thinking of?

A Ratsun member makes this kit. Beebani is his name.

 

No, I am talking about the Mike Klotz kit.

Here is the link again.

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/11459-disc-brake-kits-521520320620/

 

Here are some of the things that need changed when putting 620 balljoint/disc brakes on a 520/521.

The lower bushing is narrower than the 620, so you have to add washers to take up the slop, or have a 620 bushings pressed in the 520/521 frame.

Two sets of upper 720 control arms(UCAs) need to be purchased then cut and welded together in such a way as to end up with an UCA for each side that is 3/4 of an inch longer than a stock 720 arm.

I suppose you could shorten the lower control arm(LCA) 3/4 of an inch instead of lengthening the UCAs, but I have never tried doing it that way.

The 520/521 UCA mount bolt holes need to be drilled out and threaded for the 720 UCA mount bolts.

The metric brake line fittings need to be figured out, I just put metric fittings on my 521 brake lines.

And this is very important, when you put the UCAs on the truck, you put the right side on the left, and the left side on the right, this gets the upper balljoints back where they need to be.

[yello620]

As other have said, the parts from the 620 will not just bolt on and work properly.

 

The information is all over this forum.

The search function is your friend, there is even a topic for this stuck at the top of a page.

[onunez65falcon]

this is what i did on my 65 520

[javelin520]

Dang why cant anything with these trucks work in my favor! i appreciate all the info and the ebay conversions seem pretty good.But i have been doing some measuring between the two trucks i have and it seems like it would be pretty easy to swap the front of my 620 onto the back of my 520 frame cus the 620 is a longbed. i have read on here a few times that the 620s are wider but everything except cab mounts look the same.has anybod done this?

[wayno]

Dang why cant anything with these trucks work in my favor! i appreciate all the info and the ebay conversions seem pretty good.But i have been doing some measuring between the two trucks i have and it seems like it would be pretty easy to swap the front of my 620 onto the back of my 520 frame cus the 620 is a longbed. i have read on here a few times that the 620s are wider but everything except cab mounts look the same.has anybod done this?

 

I am not sure what you said here, are you talking about putting a 620 cab onto a 520 frame?

Are you talking about connecting the front half of a 620 frame to the back half of a 520 frame?

Please make the quote above more clear/understandable.

[javelin520]

i have a 620 parts truck but its a long bed so i want to try to cut the frame from the torsion housing forward off the 620 and graft it onto the 520.every thing seems to measure out except the cab mounts.i have done subframe swaps on other cars and trucks just would like to get the go ahead from somebody that knows these things

[javelin520]

Ebay item 190806226274 this might be what your thinking of?

A Ratsun member makes this kit. Beebani is his name.

Would like to see picks of L20 in 520 references on my own

truck. I may wish to upgrade engine someday and I like L series.

but its a very tight fit ive learned from members here.

thanks. there is an ole boy on here that has an extensive build on how to do the l20 swap. i want to say his name is jerry? im no good at this forum stuff but he is from here in az. from tolleson i believe its kinda by phx i think.

[javelin520]

Ebay item 190806226274 this might be what your thinking of?

A Ratsun member makes this kit. Beebani is his name.

Would like to see picks of L20 in 520 references on my own

truck. I may wish to upgrade engine someday and I like L series.

but its a very tight fit ive learned from members here.

ah my bad i followed that thread on the nicoclub forum you cant just google charlie69's 66 520. or datsun l20 in 520. the guy is an amazing fabricator lots of pics and bumps you will run into

[wayno]

i have a 620 parts truck but its a long bed so i want to try to cut the frame from the torsion housing forward off the 620 and graft it onto the 520.every thing seems to measure out except the cab mounts.i have done subframe swaps on other cars and trucks just would like to get the go ahead from somebody that knows these things

 

Now I understand, personally I would just shorten the 620 frame to the length you need and then use the 620 standard cab e-brake cables/system, as I believe it will work without mods.

I have never used a 620 frame before, so one must keep that in mind, I use 720 frames, as they have a power steering option.

[javelin520]

Now I understand, personally I would just shorten the 620 frame to the length you need and then use the 620 standard cab e-brake cables/system, as I believe it will work without mods.

I have never used a 620 frame before, so one must keep that in mind, I use 720 frames, as they have a power steering option.

thank you for your info and advice i will probably end up shortening the longbed. just seems easier

[Charlie69]

ah my bad i followed that thread on the nicoclub forum you cant just google charlie69's 66 520. or datsun l20 in 520. the guy is an amazing fabricator lots of pics and bumps you will run into

 

Thank you Javeline 520 for the kind words.  Just trying to help others avoid the problems I have worked through with the help of other Datsun owners.

 

Here is a google search link for Charlie69 66 520:

 

https://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=Charlie69+66+520&oq=Charlie69+66+520&gs_l=hp.3...34032.37010.1.38624.7.7.0.0.0.0.169.907.0j7.7.0...0.0...1c.1.8.psy-ab.1n-A7Driu5Y&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.44697112,d.b2I&fp=39e1e4d0175b3f36&biw=1280&bih=588

 

The link to my build thread on Ratsun is below in my signature.

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Just clip it with a whole 720 front frame clip. The key is balljoints and improved suspension geometry, not just disc brakes.

 

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/34698-320-balljoint-conversion/

[ol' 320]

Stoffregen Motorsports installed a 720 clip w/balljoints and discs on my 320. (See link above) I cannot emphasize enough the quality of work Matt does. Beyond first rate:)

 

Now…. drivability. This modified 320, with the balljoint suspension, will cruise all day at 90 mph and stop RIGHT NOW! The 320 weighs so much less than a 720 that this is like putting a big brake upgrade on a disc brake car. Ride quality improved immensely and, God forbid, parts are still available!

 

This is not the cheap way to do this, but it is the "right" way to do this.