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My new project 67 520 truck


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I have been on Ratsun as a lurker for years as I have 2 67 datsun Roadsters. I took the plunge and picked up a 67 520 this past weekend from the original owners nephew.  I was so happy about the deal I got I didn't bother to look closely to the engine.  I did check and it is not stuck.  The guy said he started it within the last week by putting gas in the carb(I am starting to seriously doubt this).  Once I brought it home I put a battery on it and went to crank it over and there was nothing, not a sound.  Since then I have been running around buying all the parts for a proper tune up.  I have just realized that it is not the stock J13 but an L18 engine.  This is good and bad as I have to return the parts but I have a bigger motor to work with.  I noticed that the PO notched out for the radiator to fit and it also explains why he has hood pins instead of the stock latch.  The hood itself was notched to clear the top of the radiator as well. The intake manifor looks like it has some JB weld or some goo all over it.  Are intakes hard to find? Expensive?  Can you run SU carbs on the L18 as I am more familiar with them.

 

My first question is how do I know if it is an early or late L18?  Secondly, it appears as the drivers side motor mount is not bolted up but looks like it is close, does the L18 bolt up on the same motor mounts?  You will have to bear with me as the trucks are not my area of expertise, the roadsters are.  Any ideas as to why the car won't even try and turn over?

 

Here are some pics of me picking it up.  I have removed the tool box and am waiting for a friedn to come over to help lift off the ladder rack.  The truck is so solid and straight it is amazing.  It has 2 small spots of rust starting on the bottom of the passenger door and a couple minor dents to pull out.  The interior will need some work but it is smaller and cheaper to replace then my Roadsters.  I will take some engine and interior pics tomorrow and post them.

 

I also attached a pic of my 67 Roadster driver before and after.

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Well I got her running this morning, sort of.  I got it to fire but it appears the carb is stuck wide open.  I checked the choke and throttle linkage and neither are stuck.  It starts right up and proceeds to rev until I shut it down.  I have a friend in town who is a master with the Roadster carbs so I imagine he will be able to help me with this one.  What carb came on the L18?  I wanted to price rebuild kits so I can do this right.  I took some pictures of the engine, which is a mess with wires everywhere, and the interior.  I also included some pics of the stock steel wheels I plan on restoring and running with the stock hub caps.

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That is a crazy intake manifold setup, look how long them runners are!

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That is a weber carb, it's not stock, either rebuild that one, or just buy a new one.

BTW, them intake extensions/runners are not stock, did the maker put their name on them?

 

I'll buy them runners if you ever want to sell them.  :lol:

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  • 3 weeks later...

So I have been working on the truck a bit.  I replaced the brake master cylinder and rebuilt the clutch master, put on a new resistor, coil, plugs and wires on it and installed a new waterpump and flushed the radiator. I had the weber carb rebuilt as well.  The distributor cap I put on it feels like it is loose.  I bought a cap, rotor and points for the L18 I thought was in it but the cap didn't fit!  I grabbed the cap I ordered for my nephews 65 truck and it fit!  I am confused as to why the cap and rotor I ordered is too big.  I am new to the trucks and the early L series motors but I thought that they were similar enough that the cap, rotor and points should be interchangeable.  I will be double checking the markings on the head to see if there are markings I can have you all check out.

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Here are some new pics of the progress.  I also found some stock wheels and hubcaps locally and restored the wheels.  The hubcaps just need cleaned and polished!

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These are my favorite wheels/caps, but they are not stock to the 520 truck, these came on 1979 620 trucks, maybe on the 1978 620 also, those are also 620 hubcaps.

The photo below is what 520 wheels and hubcaps look like.

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These are my favorite wheels/caps, but they are not stock to the 520 truck, these came on 1979 620 trucks, maybe on the 1978 620 also, those are also 620 hubcaps.

The photo below is what 520 wheels and hubcaps look like.

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Thanks for the infor on the wheels.  They are very similar to the stock Roadster wheels and hubcaps.  the hubcaps in your picture are almost identical to the Roadsters.

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Thanks for the infor on the wheels.  They are very similar to the stock Roadster wheels and hubcaps.  the hubcaps in your picture are almost identical to the Roadsters.

 

The roadster hubcaps have a shape all there own, the circle in the middle is not flat like the 520 hubcap, they might look a little like a 520 hubcap from a distance, but they are not even close in my opinion, the photo below has two 620 hubcaps on the right, and two roadster hubcaps on the left.

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The 520 hubcap looks like it should have a "DATSUN" sticker in the flat spot in the center.

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That is a crazy intake manifold setup, look how long them runners are!

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That is a weber carb, it's not stock, either rebuild that one, or just buy a new one.

BTW, them intake extensions/runners are not stock, did the maker put their name on them?

 

I'll buy them runners if you ever want to sell them.  :lol:

What are the extra long intake runners for wayno? Do they do something for performance some how?

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beautiful 520! i want your rear wheels.... hope too see this go far =P

If you're talking about the huge dished ones with the ridiculously wide tires on it come to Vegas and bring $50 and they are yours!

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  • 2 weeks later...

I finally got a chance to get some work done on the 520.  I replaced the water pump, coolant hoses, thermostat and gasket, brake and clutch master cylinders, rear brake cylinders, hardware, hoses and shoes. I have the starter at a rebuild shop ready to pick up tomorrow.  I plan on putting the rear shocks on next and then move to the front to replace the brake cylinders, hardware and shoes then the front shocks.  I will keep you all posted and provide pics when I can.

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I finished the front brakes and shocks yesterday.  I put new hoses, cylinders, shoes and hardware on.  I even put new urethane sway bar bushings on as the ones that were there(sort of) were either mush or missing.  I wanted to take it for a drive to see how the clutch and brakes were but the starter I had rebuilt was dropping 3 volts at the solenoid so I had to take it back to the shop.  I even got the rear shocks on this past week.

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  • 1 month later...

I have been steadily working on this project so this is where it stands now. I have stripped nearly all the paint off the cab, removed the bed for soda blasting, removed seat and rust converted the floor pans then undercoated them, got her running right, and even have it so it moves under it's own power for the first time in over a decade.  I cleaned and undercoated the frame cut out the few small patches of rust and welded in replacement pieces and am ready to start the bodywork.  I am hopful that it will be done in time for JCCS next month.  I am looking to bring her down with a for sale sign in it!!  I will add photos tonight when I get home.

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  • 3 months later...

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