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

[Gradyfest]

 

wow ,how did you ever find this thing, what a beauty.    It reminds me of my truck when it was brand new.  It was on the show room floor.. they had to move some cars and open the glass doors so I could drive it out.. I was the happiest 19 year old kid in Colorado... now I am 49 years old and my truck is barely hanging on from day to day...but I want to try to keep it going ,but I don't know.... I am trying to get it through emissions right now....  If you want to help me keep my 720 on the road,  I could use that catlyitic if your not going to use it.  don't know if it will work on my 84, but I assume it will.  I....great find on your truck... hope you have it for 30 years............  970   405    4062  

 

 

Thanks blackbomber! I've met a few guys that sound like you since owning the truck, it never gets old. I love hearing stories like yours. Guys telling me how it "brings them back." Many moons ago I was walking out of a Casino loaded, pockets fat, and my number three man by my side in case shit went off; I got close to returning to the blue bomber (I think I'm gonna call it that now, got that from you blackbomber, thanks;) when I spot a cop standing by my truck just starring... After approaching on the side of him to benefit me, he nicely went off telling me how kool she was, and how it brought back so many memories. Not coming off as a threat anymore, I called off the back up and signaled my man in the trees to stand down. I could of had a dead body in the bed, but he was so memorized by the truck that it would of went unnoticed. And that's when I decided to make the blue bomber stock, all stock, and nothing but stock. So help me Jebus! What the hell was I talking about? Oh the exhaust, after finding out from datsenmike that the old cats can burn the ZDDP oil that I run just fine, I have to keep it brah. The ZDDP oil wont effect the cat and I get to keep it OG, gotta do it. Sorry man. Don't give up on it, make it pass! Side note; Does anybody have a OEM 720 antenna for this frickin' hole of mine?!?

720s at my pick your parts are bones or non existent so far. I would also love to find replacement DATSUN mud flaps. Since a dog who probably lived a full healthy life, and still passed away two decades ago (classic bitch!), left his mark by chewing one of mine to shit.

Then while I'm at the begging for parts stage, I would love to find an emblem for my damn ugly emblem-less grille, all naked, shitty, and disgusting looking...

[nismo24096]

Hey man glad you liked the radio, sorry I didnt detail it out before packing it up, I was kinda rushed to get it done in between all the craziness thats going on at work right now. I will keep ya posted on the wiring harness as soon as I get a chance to mess with my truck again...

 

PS it looks great in there.

Lee

[Gradyfest]

I love the radio nismo24096, it's not a pure match to the 1980 version it would of had in it, as we found out by the plugs not matching, but only an expert would notice. I can live with that for now, until I find an exact 1980 radio some wonderful day that is. So since you brought it up to masses friend, I will share the radio challenge: The radio is '82, and the plugs in the back differ from the plugs in my truck. Hmm... Maybe mine were cut and replaced, or I am missing some other plugs tucked in the dash? Don't think so. Well then, maybe there is some kind of connecting double male headed wire in between? Unlikely. Then I got a photo from Wayno showing the back of a '81 OEM radio. The plug styles look similar to each other but in different locations, but not like mine, ok. This has me thinking that since the 1980 was a year with one off details and parts, especially the 4x4 (I was recently told my front differential is actually the rear end of a 280Z car, Is that true?) That with my one year L20B engine run in a 720, means I obviously have a one year wiring harness, and probably one year radio plugs. If so, I would think that mine look like the ones in a 620 then? Here's some photos to get on my level:

Front of Waynos 1981

Back of Waynos 1981

Front of my 1982

Back of my 1982

Wires in my truck, antenna not shown.

WTF?

[wayno]

As I am recalling now, when I pulled that radio and wiring harness out of that diesel truck, the radio harness was basically separate from the main harness except for one or two wires, i recall keeping the radio harness with the wiring harness, but it was almost a stand alone harness.

When I look at the 1982 Datsun diesel wiring diagram I have on the wall, it has no designated radio harness/plug in it, but it does have a plug that has an illumination wire between the cigarette lighter and the illumination knob, which has a couple wires with green in them that make me think they are for the radio.

[oakrun]

i thought that harness plug looked familiar.  my 78 280z has the same radio harness.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/datsun-280z-am-fm-radio-a-perfect-10-With-All-Plugs-/111532591725?hash=item19f7dc4a6d&vxp=mtr

 

with all datsun things that radio is used on many late 70's and early 80's datsuns.

keep checking in the boneyard and you'll find a harness.  The harness  you need plugs into those plugs you have coming out

of your dash.

[Gradyfest]

You're right Wayno and oakrun. I am just missing the radio harness. A couple ratsun members are looking for me. I'll get it all eventually. Update with some oics!

Before (with the newer Frontier rims and tires that rubbed the frame with this wheel) still on.

After; had a good buddy re-chrome that SOB for me. Taillight with it's mysterious permanent white drip and those hideous mudflaps are the next eyesore in the rear.

[Gradyfest]

Also, I hit 42,000 last night... Mixed emotions over the odometer rolling in front of me everyday.

[Charlie69]

Here is a link for a downloadable 1980 720 wiring harness diagram pdf link

 

http://www.datsunforum.com/Datsun_Wiring_Diagrams/Datsun%20720%20Pickups/Datsun_720_Pickup_Wiring_Diagram_1980.pdf

 

I looks like to me you are missing the for lack of a better term the radio sub harness.

[Gradyfest]

Thanks Charlie69, that'll surely come in handy. So ah... I bought another DATSUN!!! This one is older than mine and even more mint.

 

1976!

 

 

"This model may be either yellow with orange wheels OR orange with yellow wheels," How fucking fun is that!  :frantics:  The 70's were like gambling everyday in America apparently. I don't know which one I'd prefer, hard to tell with out seeing them. I wonder which one is more rare than the other, that's the one I am going to say that is in there. ;) This Monogram Datsun model is now one of the oldest things I own... Hey, I'm not a damn baby boomer. I also still like to play, you're dead or a boring ass loner if you don't at any age. I kind of want to open it and drive across the living room carpet going "vroom vroom," but it's like a DATSUN relic now. Plus, it actually looks pretty damn kool on the shelf just as a vintage box.

[Gradyfest]

Thanks to member skyc110 and the classifieds I got myself a mint grille and emblem, still in the boxes! Here's the photos from the seller.

 

They came out of Saudi Arabia! Still had some sand in the boxes when I got them.

 

Before. It was half ass painted black in the past and was beginning to chip and show the faded plastic underneath.

 

 

After!

 

 

You can see what the sun does over time. I'll be keeping an eye out for some new old stock or nicer used end pieces now too.

 

 

Don't know how I missed this until now, but I'll be looking for another one of these as well.

 

 

Next eye sore up front is the little bend in the bumper.

 

[Gradyfest]

I'm always looking for mint parts that are nicer than the ones on my truck, the parcel tray is one of them. But I do like my one of a kind "stitched up" tray though...

 

Before

 

 

After

 

 

Also, I just have the radio screwed in their, not hooked up. The collection of bolts and nuts I gathered at the pick your parts places came in handy again. I'm still missing the radio harness. But was sick of looking at the empty slot.

[wayno]

If I see any blue trays that are in good shape, I will grab it for you, but blue is a tough color to find around here, we have mostly black and tan.

Also the trays come in two different versions, thin and about an inch deeper, I like the deeper ones, they hold more stuff to roll around when one takes a corner fast. :lol:

I'm always looking for mint parts that are nicer than the ones on my truck, the parcel tray is one of them. But I do like my one of a kind "stitched up" tray though...

Before



After



Also, I just have the radio screwed in their, not hooked up. The collection of bolts and nuts I gathered at the pick your parts places came in handy again. I'm still missing the radio harness. But was sick of looking at the empty slot.

[Gradyfest]

I know one of you with a good eye noticed the knob on the glove box. I can't reuse the whole piece because this is off a later model that was badged a NISSAN and the key is different. Haven't put much thought yet into how to get the plastic off the metal. It's pretty solid. Maybe heat...

 

[Gradyfest]

Rad, thanks Wayno. You're to good to me brother. I know you'd have to pay for it up front and I would be quick to get some cash out to ya. I'd want you to make your cut as well, like you should for your effort, and would be nothing but happy. You let me know if there's anything I might be able to do for ya in the future. Or we can maintain this beautiful parts for cash relationship we have as well. I'm an artist with OCD and its always the worst looking thing that I am focused on with the truck. I know the souls of the vehicles I acquire are very pleased with me because of this and take care of me back with trouble free miles.

[Gradyfest]

Now for some bad, what I've been hiding under the dash cover. It's sad, viewer discretion is advised.

 

 

 

 

The holy grail of finding pieces for my truck, more than the quest for the original steelies was, is probably a mint blue dash. I would just about kill a guy for one. If any reader has the blue bombers donor dash, please don't hesitate. I just about bought another 720 just for the dash in it a few months ago. But it was just cracked less.

[wayno]

The dash is even harder to find without cracks, they are very hard to find unblemished, and unfortunately when you do find a perfect one and install it, they crack, every dash I have ever had cracked when I put it in a truck. :(

They do make an aftermarket cover for the 720 dash in blue and lots of other colors.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coverlay-10-720-LBL-Light-Blue-Dashboard-Cover-/311099612983?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item486efb5f37&vxp=mtr

[Gradyfest]

I like that blue dash cover. That might be my New Years present to myself. I think it'll look better than the cloth cover that's on it. Do you know anything of the quality and fitment Wayno? I like the price

[Gradyfest]

So I went out with great hopes and aspirations today. I had the whole day planned to head north slowly hitting up pick your part places. It would be all planned on the way to a Craigslist post of a guy that is parting a 720 and has the DATSUN mud flaps on it still, I text him to confirm. I hit up three pick places on the way and there were no 720s or even Datsuns to stare at. Kick the fucking dog! Only a D21 and a pathfinder, what the funk. Then the guy with a fresh Craigslist post from just last night and a text back this morning totally flaked on me. Up town funk you up. My mediocre haul from a day of just looking good in the slow lane. I don't really go over 55mph anymore.

 

 

Best part of the dollars that went into today is that little machine screw. It is the same threads and what I'm sure held down the radio in the dash. I happened to pick one up from the floor board of gutted 720 a run ago and that's whats holding the radio in for now thru the ash tray. It has three spots for machined screws to hold it down all together. But two of the three is definitely better than one, even though it doesn't work yet.

[wayno]

I don't know anything about them, I just knew they existed, you might start a thread asking if anyone has ever bought one, I don't think that should get you in trouble, your not asking to buy or sell anything, your just asking if anyone has ever bought one and what they think of it.

Shipping is expensive, costs about as much as the cover to ship it, but if I were to find a perfect blue dash, I am sure it would cost way more to ship than that cover costs with shipping, size does matter, and a complete dash is big.

 

I like that blue dash cover. That might be my New Years present to myself. I think it'll look better than the cloth cover that's on it. Do you know anything of the quality and fitment Wayno? I like the price

[Tinman]

I don't know anything about them, I just knew they existed, you might start a thread asking if anyone has ever bought one, I don't think that should get you in trouble, your not asking to buy or sell anything, your just asking if anyone has ever bought one and what they think of it.

Shipping is expensive, costs about as much as the cover to ship it, but if I were to find a perfect blue dash, I am sure it would cost way more to ship than that cover costs with shipping, size does matter, and a complete dash is big.

The dash covers are an OK solution.  I have one for my blue dash.  However, in hot climates it will warp a little.  Still, better than what I had before.

I actually have a flawless brown dash that I have hoarded for many years, but I dare not install it because, yes, it'll probably just crack in short order.  Was planning on doing my interior in brown with leather seats, soo....  But so far I haven't gotten to it.

[wayno]

When you installed your cover, did you epoxy it everywhere, or just around the edges?

I have a perfect black dash for my 720 that used to have a perfect dash, but one day I seen a giant crack over the instrument cluster, I am not going to install it in the truck unless I get it to DD status again.

The dash covers are an OK solution.  I have one for my blue dash.  However, in hot climates it will warp a little.  Still, better than what I had before.

I actually have a flawless brown dash that I have hoarded for many years, but I dare not install it because, yes, it'll probably just crack in short order.  Was planning on doing my interior in brown with leather seats, soo....  But so far I haven't gotten to it.

[Spoona_Jay21]

I am AMAZED! this is the most amazing Resto I have seen to date. And i used to hang out with muscle car dudes, so thats sayin somethin.

 

I love the attention to detail you are giving each piece, honestly Inspires me to go out and to this to one of my cars! (even though none of them are worthy... LOL!)

 

Keep up the good work man!

[Gradyfest]

Thanks Spoona_Jay21! And it's comments like yours that make me love this sites members and want to share even more! Cheers buddy! It's 2015!

[wayno]

I went to the north wrecking yard today, only tan and black interiors, black ones dash was great except for the radio hole.

The tan one had the rare thin bumper, but it was slightly bent. :(

The tan ones kick panels were shot if you reading this Spiff.

I seen a blue tray, but it looked like crap Gradyfest, and it was the narrow one anyway, I have no idea where the blue tray came from.

[Draker]

There was a blue one here in Eugene. If I recall.. the dash was good, but had some ugly thing glued to it. Tray was good.. I was just looking for it now, it may have been crushed already.