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Forum newb and his 34K original miles '80 Datsun 720 4x4


Gradyfest

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What's up Datsun fans,

Like the title preceding this, this is my first time joining a forum, and I am the recent proud owner of a 1980 Datsun 720-D Reg cab Lng bed 4x4 L20B with an unbelievable 34K original miles (34 year old truck with 34 thousand miles as I'm typing, twilight zone anyone.) In just the hours of owning it, my wife and I have fallen deeply in love with this mini truck. It doesn't have power steering or A/C, and merges onto interstates making semi trucks move over slow, but that makes us love it even more. I am the third owner and all previous owners have been die hards at keeping this gem all original, so original they were almost hurting it. I just recently was the first one to crack all the bolts post factory to replace the original fluid in both differentials (royal purple GLA-5,) and transmission (Valvoline GLA-4,) it was green! (Maintenance was all drain and fill plugs, unbelievably fun and easy to work on compared to anything I've ever wrenched.) Also just today, I replaced all the original coolant (rusty water,) and hoses with Gates brand replacement rubber. Also done by me was the fuel, air, and oil filters (Wix and K&N,) with fresh royal purple oil to match, all the general maintenance I do to a acquired vehicle before driving it daily. The plugs, wires, and everything else on the spark side was done recently by the previous owner and checks out. The only other "general," maintenance I do and have not done yet, but is in order, is changing the transfer case fluid. FYI, the biggest noticeable difference thus far has been the K&N air filter, not surprisingly. The original exhaust has a leak off the manifold connection, and a few leaking rot holes post cat, including a dime size hole in the bottom of the muffler. I have found and ordered what appears to be a 1990s NOS brand name Grizzly long tube header off ebay that will pass my torsion bars, and will be replacing my entire exhaust off the block to follow. The truck is a clean So Cal survivor but will be titled in the smog free Midwest. Giving me an idea of future dual Weber carburetors. I want to build a "hot rod," out of this truck, staying with original looks and only adding clean top brand bolt ons, that bring it to the modern day drivability hp ratings while keeping it naturally aspirated. I post this because I want to share my experience with this Datsun and pick the brains of y'all, I cant keep my excitement just to myself! I would love to know what everybody thinks of my build, and hear what advise can be given. The exhaust is what I would appreciate feedback on the most right now (next fix.) The header is on the way, but will I have problems deleting the catalytic converter, and what brand muffler does an expert recommend? I really, REALLY, don't want a loud muffler. If something exists with a deep, quite tone, with out the "fart cannon" sound, that would be ideal. I already am aware that my truck loses a half an inch post exhaust stock, and to maintain the same diameter going in as out on the build. I haven't even thought about modifying other things that might need done yet, like brakes... Regardless, all feedback is welcome and I hope to be welcomed into the forum. I know pictures are where it's at and will get some up soon. I'm so excited, I know I'm forgetting something...

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Photos... http://community.ratsun.net/topic/691-how-to-post-pictures-and-keep-online-photo-albums/

 

 

 

Hopefully a 1990s grizzly header is for a 1980 4x4 720 only, as this is the only year the L20B engine was used in this truck. Has to be a 4x4 header as the torsion bars are different from a 2wd. And don't accept it if not, you'll never get it on otherwise. Actually for the cost time and disadvantages of a header I wouldn't even bother with it.

 

Use a stock muffler and pipe they are more than adequate. I think the 720 had a 2" down pipe, if not and you are replacing it you could have a 2" one made and a muffler inlet to match and you can simply leave the cat out.

 

The truck is slow because of the weight of the 4x4 equipment and 2 liter engine. All other years used a larger motor to pull them.

 

Welcome to Ratsun... you have arrived.

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Alright I give in. I've been trying to add photos for y'all for a couple hours now (forums already eating up my Sunday,) but to no avail. I have followed the directions on the forum and started a photobucket account. I got as far as pasting the URL in the Image property window that pops up after clicking "image," but nothing works! Hitting ok, cancel, or trying to close the window, nothing responds! I have to go to the previous window on my browser to escape the trap! I'm trying ladies, gents, others, and cant wait to show these photos. I will try again later... I might be missing something...

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Alright I give in. I've been trying to add photos for y'all for a couple hours now (forums already eating up my Sunday,) but to no avail. I have followed the directions on the forum and started a photobucket account. I got as far as pasting the URL in the Image property window that pops up after clicking "image," but nothing works! Hitting ok, cancel, or trying to close the window, nothing responds! I have to go to the previous window on my browser to escape the trap! I'm trying ladies, gents, others, and cant wait to show these photos. I will try again later... I might be missing something...

Can you paste a link to your photos, any link that will get me to your photos, I can publish them for you if I can get to them.

 

 

NOTE

I wish you guys would quit posting links to that post photos on Ratsun link, the freaking thing is out dated and only confuses people.

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This is starting to blow balls real quick... A guy cant even copy and paste in this little reply box? Is it because I'm new? I just want to share, and plan on posting a lot of photos, but it seems I'd have better luck slaying a dragon at this point. I appreciate the help wayno! But it's a major pain in the ass to type all the links... I'm going to try and hit them all at once by posting the link to the album (boy it would be nice to just copy and paste right now, WTF'in stone age.) http://s1172.photobucket.com/user/ShaneG/slideshow/ Hope you can work with that and post the photos on here wayno!

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I tried to post photos and everything was going well, then it said I wasn't allowed to post for the reasons a,b, and c, I didn't read it... Can you post the 5 new photos I put up on my photobucket account from that link please wayno? If you can put them up in the order they went up, I'll explain now (Sorry to bother wayno, I'm tryin'.) http://s1172.photobucket.com/user/ShaneG/slideshow/ 

Photo 1: I opened the passenger door and see some stuff sticking out from under the seat, parts! Photo 2: Bad news, I discover this grille emblem is not for my truck. It doesn't fit and I think it's for a 620. Anyone need/want to buy this? Photo 3: The battery tie down hardware is original, no more ghetto ass tie down! I wish I found all this earlier though, I already have all the battery tie down stuff on the way, new OEM from nissanpartszone.com. Also, underneath the battery, I installed a OEM black plastic battery tray from ebay.  Photo 4: I usually wire wheel/brush all threads on a job, but at a minimum put a few swirls of copper anti seize on the threads (any brand is good enough I'm sure, I just like the "twist stick type," that is Loctite.) Anybody who's worked on a vehicle in/from the mid-west, knows this is a must if you want to take it apart down the road without a torch and die grinder. Photo 5: Lastly, while seeing what ebay had to sell for my truck, I came across a 1980's Datsun truck brochure still in the plastic and had to have it. On top of being the first year of this body style, first Nissan 4x4, only year with the durable 2.0, and what I'm discovering as rare functional hood vents, I've discovered that this truck is a standard model. Standard because of the four speed, instead of five, and lack of A/C. Then on page thirteen I see my truck! I like it without the rear bumper better, and although I think remaking the sport stripes would be kool, the wife thinks otherwise. But what I would love to find is four original 4x4 only "circle steelie" rims and center caps, like in the photo, matching the spare and original look! I would be highly interested if any readers of this have some just, layin around... I think the ones on my truck now are off a Frontier???

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Since you were able to send the photos to me via a message, you should be able to post them to your thread, maybe that last photo was the issue, as it was copied from somewhere else.

When it said you were not allowed, did you try "more reply options"?

Sometimes in the past I have had to go to the "more reply options" and just post it from that window.

By the way, if you quote my post, you can write whatever you want in between the photos, describe parts, say what you want about any of the photos, it will be like you posted it, except I will have been the one that posted the photos.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Datsun17_zps64c2ad31.jpg

I noticed this little problem under the hood! I followed by taking a hydrometer to the battery and adding distilled water where necessary. It was low in a few cells and rose to fair across the board, optima is in the future.

Datsun13_zpsd4adc377.jpg

Fixed! I splurged and got the gold coated terminals. I also spray everything with electric contact cleaner first and sand fresh shinny metal where contact is made. Then finish with dielectric grease or battery terminal protect-ant to prevent future corrosion and resistance.   

  

Datsun12_zps3f179e1d.jpg

Also, took a wire wheel dremel to all three grounds to finish electrical maintenance. When done I notice a spike on the volt gauge, and even the beeping sound in the dash before starting has gotten loud and crisp! :) Big shout out to 

KiloTango1200

for getting me back by releasing the secret to posting photos!

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Man...That is a SUPER nice truck! Someone did a nice repaint on that thing, and those wheels look great! Is there some Datsun vault in California people are dragging these things out of ?! Geez... Those side shots are why I like the 720 the best :) .. That and the headroom :P

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Story I got from the second owner was this Buzzbomb: The original owner bought it in 1980 and put it in storage five years later with 30K on the odometer. The gentleman passed away and the estate kept on paying it. The second owner then came along. He had sort of a hobby collecting original classics found in storage I guess (He also had a sweet low mileage yellow first generation Honda Civic for sale, like the one Sookie in Trueblood drives,) and after seeing the miles on the Datsun, had to have it. Being in outside storage it needed a paint job, which was the first thing he did. That was all seven years ago he tells me. It also took him that long to get a title for it is how the conversation ended. Correction, he told me to never buy a vehicle without a title was how it ended... Yes sir. It checks out, as the title issue date was a few weeks before I bought it. I can't imagine waiting seven years for a title! But hell, people with car payments are still worse off and title-less longer usually... So according to that story, it sat in outside storage for twenty two years! In the background exchange, he also told of piecing together interior parts off ebay from sun fade and bricks sitting on the dash and seat. The bench seat in it is mint and from a '81. Ok, I got some photos piling up from work that's popped up, check, check, check it out now!
Datsun23_zpse5caf919.jpg

This is an older one I came across that shows how corroded and prone for failure the OEM coolant hoses were. Had a nice crunch when you squeezed them. This is the bottom one that I cut to speed drain that sucker. The top, hotter one, was worse.
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I didn't like how low my oil pressure was from the Royal Purple 10W-30. I then started educating myself on the appropriate oil. I realized a heavier weight in my climate is advised, and backwards to my thoughts at the time, the heavier oil would actually raise the oil pressure. I also rediscovered the fact that I have a flat tapped cam and the best thing for it is good old fahioned ZDDP. Then I found it... What I'm sold on as the best oil for this engine, hands down. I realize the zinc will destroy the catalytic converter overtime, but as stated earlier, the entire exhaust will soon be replaced. So no problem mang!
Datsun25_zpsff8ce46b.jpg

I don't know what oil was in it before I put in the Royal Purple, but this is the highest pressure I've seen. Side note: The 5-10 second delay in the oil pressure gauge is scary at first... I avoid the gas pedal until the gauge shows max pressure at idle. This photo also shows the higher reading on the Volt gauge I achieved! Before it wasn't even to the half way line.

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I've been having the same issue lately. I haven't installed the oem oil gauge yet, but my idiot llight stays on for 5-10 seconds, and you can heard the valve train rattling like crazy. That and the mother truckin' alternator that I've fixed repeatedly still screeching....

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