New member with a new 620 KC

[reelmagic]

I wanted to drop in and show off me and my "almost" 13 year old son's new project - a 1977 Datsun 620 King cab.  He wants this truck as his first vehicle, although it's tough for me to give up as I have always wanted a 620.  I'm an old school mini-trucker from the late 80's early 90's.  Back then I had a 1989 Mazda standard cab - but always wanted a 620.  A friend of mine had this Datsun 620 shipped to Florida from Phoenix back around 2004.  After falling on some hard times he asked to park the truck in my yard, as we live on acreage - that was nearly 4 years ago.  A couple of months ago while cutting the yard, I texted him that he needed to do something with it as the Everglades is no place for a Datsun to sit and it was starting to take its toll.  Well he gifted me and my son the truck and now we have our first project together.   

 

We got it running on some fresh gas, although a bit rough.  Once the clutch fluid did it's job the transmission seemed ok.  My friend had a new exhaust put on it, with a header, Flowmaster, and two tailpipes - it sounds like my '67 GTO - not anything like a rice burner!!  He also had a weber put on the original manifold.  It is currently sitting on 18" wheels (which are badly pitted),  with 3" lowering blocks in the back.  Dash is in good shape, no cracks.  The rest of the interior is in good shape as well - except that the seats are missing.  He had taken out the original buckets to put in SRT4 seats, only problem is I only have one of those as the other seats were lost somewhere along the way.

 

We're putting together a plan for the truck.  At this point I see smaller wheels on the truck, probably 16", and more drop.  A tastefully done, on the modern side, black interior. Color for the exterior is still up in the air, maybe a lighter blue, possibly white.  But first things first - get her running smoothly and stop the rust that has started in the last couple years (which is too bad as this thing had NONE when it got parked).  Looking forward to this project with my son and the Ratsun community!!

 

[Z-train]

I wanted to drop in and show off me and my "almost" 13 year old son's new project - a 1977 Datsun 620 King cab.  He wants this truck as his first vehicle, although it's tough for me to give up as I have always wanted a 620.  I'm an old school mini-trucker from the late 80's early 90's.  Back then I had a 1989 Mazda standard cab - but always wanted a 620.  A friend of mine had this Datsun 620 shipped to Florida from Phoenix back around 2004.  After falling on some hard times he asked to park the truck in my yard, as we live on acreage - that was nearly 4 years ago.  A couple of months ago while cutting the yard, I texted him that he needed to do something with it as the Everglades is no place for a Datsun to sit and it was starting to take its toll.  Well he gifted me and my son the truck and now we have our first project together.   

 

We got it running on some fresh gas, although a bit rough.  Once the clutch fluid did it's job the transmission seemed ok.  My friend had a new exhaust put on it, with a header, Flowmaster, and two tailpipes - it sounds like my '67 GTO - not anything like a rice burner!!  He also had a weber put on the original manifold.  It is currently sitting on 18" wheels (which are badly pitted),  with 3" lowering blocks in the back.  Dash is in good shape, no cracks.  The rest of the interior is in good shape as well - except that the seats are missing.  He had taken out the original buckets to put in SRT4 seats, only problem is I only have one of those as the other seats were lost somewhere along the way.

 

We're putting together a plan for the truck.  At this point I see smaller wheels on the truck, probably 16", and more drop.  A tastefully done, on the modern side, black interior. Color for the exterior is still up in the air, maybe a lighter blue, possibly white.  But first things first - get her running smoothly and stop the rust that has started in the last couple years (which is too bad as this thing had NONE when it got parked).  Looking forward to this project with my son and the Ratsun community!!

 

Get rid of the header & the flow bastard-they are doing NOTHING for you.How many cylinders was your GTO running on when you made the comparison?

[reelmagic]

My GTO runs just fine thank you.  Whether it does nothing for me or not wasn't really the point just listing whats on the truck and saying it sounds like a V8... and it does.  I don't think the exhaust system on the L motor is going to make it a screamer, one way or another.

[Z-train]

No 4 banger sounds like a V-8.Especially a 400 CI Pontiac. Anyhoo......Your exhaust as sits actually hurts the performance of the truck.Headers are point-less unless you are living above 5000 RPM all the time.Factory headers(manifolds)exist,not un-like the Ram-Air manifolds for 67-69 Firechickens & 69-72 GP's.They don't leak,they flow well(for most applications) and don't hit the ground. Flow Bastards also have a negative effect on power. But if you like the sound-that's your call. If you do a search on all I've posted here, you'll find plenty of info to read.

[GRpufnstuf]

Hi Reelmagic, and welcome to you and your son.

 

Is that fishing 'reel' or film 'reel'? Another reel I'm not thinking of?

 

I'm glad you're losing the wheels. Giant chrome wheels are everywhere in Los Angeles and I would love to never see them again.

 

Your truck looks super straight. Did 9 years sitting cause much rust?

 

If you like the exhaust's sound keep it.

A little loss of power won't hurt a first time driver ;)

And if you want to significantly up the HP the cheap route will probably be an engine swap down the road.

[]2eDeYe]

Welcome aboard. That is a great looking truck, should provide you and your son with lot's of quality time.  :)

[BlackBird620]

 

If you like the exhaust's sound keep it.

A little loss of power won't hurt a first time driver ;)

And if you want to significantly up the HP the cheap route will probably be an engine swap down the road.

 

I'm with GR on this if you like the sound its your preference I love the sound of mine and some people never believe that a 4 banger can sound like a v8 but my bros 86 ranger does my l20 did and my ka does its all in the cams and header

[Hooligan]

Father son projects are one of the best ways to spend time together. The truck looks like you're off to a good start as well

[datzenmike]

Not that I agree with Bill (Z train) but never heard  an L or any other 4 cylinder ever sound like a V8, loud, yes... like a V8... no.

[K_trip]

- removed -

[BlackBird620]

Not that I agree with Bill (Z train) but never heard an L or any other 4 cylinder ever sound like a V8, loud, yes... like a V8... no.

There are very few people that will spend the money to mod a 4 banger that far out but my family likes the uncommon power builds

[Z-train]

No 4 banger anywhere on this planet sounds like a V-8.As there are 4 less cylinders,it is flat impossible.Can it sound good?Can it sound nasty?Yes.

[Farmer]

Welcome to the site.  Projects are fun

[GRpufnstuf]

BLACKBIRD! I'm genuinely laughing out loud...

 

a quote from:

 

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/55723-blackbird-620-ka24de/

 

Can't find anyone that will guess its a 4 banger everyone swears its a v8 till the see the video then they say its a sound over

[reelmagic]

Thanks everyone.  We are slowly making headway. As I said before, we got her running previously off a 5 gallon fuel can running to the fuel pump.  Today we dropped the old fuel out of the gas tank which other than smelling old, was actually clean.  No trash, and surprisingly no water or separation.  We put some new gas and fuel filter in it, but we had a hard time keeping her running this time.  I could get it to hold high RPM for a while and then she would just die like it was starving for fuel.  But the fuel filter seemed to have fuel running through.  Also at one point she idled with no problem, so I took it for a drive around the yard and she did ok until it returned to starving (or what seems like starving).  I actually think it may be a gummed up carb as it is very inconsistent.  

 

As for the body, this truck was nearly perfect before getting parked.  The time in my yard has taken its toll but nothing I can't get under control.  The hood is the worst and of course its right on the leading edge.  There is some rot near the cab corner on the drivers side and on the rear bed corner on the passenger side.  Those are the worst of it, anything else is mostly surface.  Once we getting her running smoothly we will attack the rust to get it stopped.

 

As for the sound, I was just making an observation.  Does it sound EXACTLY like a 462 cu in Pontiac V8 - probably not.  Funny thing is my Dad was over checking it out today.  He's an old school Chevy and Pontiac guy,  he is currently working on turning a '57 Chevy truck into 4x4 with a big block (full frame off).  Anyway once we had the Datsun idling and running right (for 15 minutes), he walks to the back and says "Damn this thing sounds like a V8".  Thought that was funny.  After checking with my friend who gave it to me he did tell the camshaft was changed which accounts for some of the loping in the exhaust.   I am not sure what grind, but I believe it came from Comp Cams.

[Z-train]

If you want to change the stick,call Rebello.His will work.