carterb Posted August 15, 2013 Report Share Posted August 15, 2013 So my daughter Victoria and I came up with a great idea! Buy a Datsun PU project and fix it up while teaching her basic mechanics. It will also give her the oportunity to earn her first ride with sweat equity since we weren't just going to give her a car. We'll go halvsies on the truck and then see what happens from there. We looked at 520/521s and 620s but eventually settled on 78/79 620KC's. The KC for extra space for horse gear, school back pack, etc. The 78/79 for the safety of front disk brakes. We looked at a couple owned by a friend but we couldn't convince him to sell them cheap enough, then we found a runner on craigslist. It was too much as well but after a couple weeks of e-mails, the price came down and a deal was struck. Please say hello to The Bruiser - our new (to us) 1978 Datsun 620 KC. 5 Quote Link to comment
PDX Matt Posted August 15, 2013 Report Share Posted August 15, 2013 Very nice, congrats! Looking forward to seeing this project unfold. Quote Link to comment
cruznude Posted August 15, 2013 Report Share Posted August 15, 2013 Right. Most definitely a good ride. GET ER' DONE! Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted August 15, 2013 Report Share Posted August 15, 2013 Nice looking base you got there. Welcome to the 620 club :D Quote Link to comment
jrock4224 Posted August 15, 2013 Report Share Posted August 15, 2013 wow that is awesome .. i hope my daughter one day asks the same thing.... but i strive to send her to school in a rhd datsun one day......so im sure i will go down this road....#following....#cantbelieveijusttypedthestupidestthingever,ahashtag... Quote Link to comment
heretic Posted August 15, 2013 Report Share Posted August 15, 2013 :) awesome. My son & I are have been building his also. Enjoy.!!! Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2013 More photos: Overall, pretty darn good condition. I had planned on dragging something home on a trailer but in the end, I think this (getting a runner) just made more sense. My wife Brenda and Victoria have gotten into horses lately and now they can use this to haul hay and tack and such until we tear it apart for paint. Victoria is not quite 14 yet so we have some time, which is good - cause I'm slow! :geek: 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2013 Wheels and tires on the truck are fairly new, but I'm not too sure about the stomper look. Fortunately, the stock steelies and a set of pathfinder rims were included with the purchase so we have some options. And hey! who doesn't like a bed full of datsun parts?! 1 Quote Link to comment
heretic Posted August 15, 2013 Report Share Posted August 15, 2013 that truck is A GREAT start.!!! 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Here are some interior shots. Or shots of the interior. Or the interior IS shot. Something like that... Actually, it's not that bad... The center console is pretty cool. Dash is all cracked up but it does have a factory tach. Are there still uncracked dashes out there? Anyone make a fiberglass replacement? Dash swap? What do you guys do with these things? Crown Royal gag bag has to go! 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Engine is stock as all get-out. HID modules and battery tie-down delete (!) seems to be about the only changes from factory. Not too shabby eh? The electric choke (is there one?) doesn't seem to work so it takes some persuasion to keep it running when cold. Once it's warm it runs great though. There is NO power however. This could be just about anything of course so we'll have to look through all the easy stuff first and do a basic tune up. The only problem to speak of is a leaky hose at the heater box. PO tried to fix it before I showed up but it still leaks. Filling the passenger side floor board with water. I'd say filling the passenger side floor board with coolant but there doesn't seem to be any. :confused: 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 After less than 2 hours of ownership, I'm already moving furniture! I guess that's what happens when you have a truck eh? This bookshelf is going to icehouse's garage. Probably already full of cokes! 1 Quote Link to comment
PDX Matt Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Looking good so far. What are the plans for it? Quote Link to comment
Janksun Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 I like the way it sits right now! Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 It looks like you can get new hoods and fenders from Rock Auto. Has anyone ever bought them? Good/Bad? How 'bout Nissan? Can you still get NOS panels? Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Looking good so far. What are the plans for it? Good question. It will be for my daughter I'll have to let her answer this one. She is very talented and artistic so I'm sure once we sit down and do some reasearch, she'll come up with something that looks great. If it were me I'd lower it as far as it would go and swap in a VG. But I think she likes the stomper look and we'll keep it L motor for her while she learns to drive. Much safer that way. This is our first 620 so we have a lot to learn. I like the way it sits right now! Thanks! I think Victoria does too. Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 Question: How do you know when you need new shifter bushings? Answer: When, even though the shift knob looks like this: The actual shift pattern looks like this: 7 1 Quote Link to comment
Janksun Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 Could you post pics of what the process for replacing that is? I had the same problem in my 620 and don't know what to do to fix it Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 Here are some interior shots. Or shots of the interior. Or the interior IS shot. Something like that... Actually, it's not that bad... The center console is pretty cool. Dash is all cracked up but it does have a factory tach. Are there still uncracked dashes out there? Anyone make a fiberglass replacement? Dash swap? What do you guys do with these things? Crown Royal gag bag has to go! There are un cracked ones but they are getting harder to find these days. Steroid offers a fiberglass replacement dash with no glove box cut out. Some guys will just fill the cracks smooth it out and bondo over to smooth it out. It looks like you can get new hoods and fenders from Rock Auto. Has anyone ever bought them? Good/Bad? How 'bout Nissan? Can you still get NOS panels? I have read the fenders will need some fitment. Not sure on the hoods. Quote Link to comment
collision and customs Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 I'm so f'n jelly. SSS Blubird in u'r driveway. WOW! Quote Link to comment
collision and customs Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 It looks like you can get new hoods and fenders from Rock Auto. Has anyone ever bought them? Good/Bad? How 'bout Nissan? Can you still get NOS panels? NOS parts body parts are gone. Wish I could get my hands on my ex wifes 79 KC I built for her. She worked at So. Tacoma Nissan back in 97. Rebuilt the KC with NOS core support, inner fenders,hood,outer fenders, doors and door glass. have no idea what happened to that truck. Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Could you post pics of what the process for replacing that is? I had the same problem in my 620 and don't know what to do to fix it It's really an easy fix. I looked under the shift boot expecting to find worn bushing. Instead I found NO BUSHINGS!!! There are supposed to be bushings on each side of the shifter as seen in the photo below: All it takes is a pair of these: Or if your pin is toast, or if you are missing the plastic bushing on the end of the shifter as well, you may need all of this: Which includes the following: 32854-24900 32849-H1010 32855-H1010 32861-N4200 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 NOS parts body parts are gone. Thanks for the reply. --carter Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Well, in addition to fixing the coolant leak in at the heater core. It looks like I have a more serious one in the engine compartment... I noticed a puddle under the truck this morning. When I got home tonight I investigated and found that it is leaking from the side of the block: This is a freeze plug? Is it as easy to replace as it appears? Do you replace with a normal knock in brass plug or another like this with the bolt in the middle? Or does turning the bolt expand the plug and fix the leak? Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Looks like I need one of these? http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1261316&cc=1210149 Do I have the size right? Quote Link to comment
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