Newbie Datsun 521 owner in San Diego, CA

[armycook]

Sorry I don't have a place, tools and skills to fix it.

 

But I can cook a bad ass meal for a whole battalion while running and chasing bad guys with my ever faithful rifle.

 

But anyway I'm new so be patient with me. I'll get there soon.

[banzai510(hainz)]

Don't need a rifle.

Just a Airforce Combat controller with a GPS/Radio and a AC130 over head.

 

just read that and learn . I knew nothing about cars even dough I worked on F15s in the Airforce.

[armycook]

Ah the mighty airforce. Heard you guys ride bicycles for pt tests. But anyway yeah I'll read into it don't worry.

[banzai510(hainz)]

Heard you guys ride bicycles for pt tests????

 

No smoked cigarettes and Beer/wine fest in Germany(bitburg)

[armycook]

That's awesome!

[banzai510(hainz)]

if you can work a Multimeter and wasy mention what yiu did to the vehicle youll be able to fix your own 521 pretty ez.

 

most proplems are near the fuse box or privous owner bypassing/messing with wires.

 

the rest is general maint. oil ,new antifreeze and grease the drive shaft and KINGPINS up front.

convert to a electronic ingintion or a electric conversion.& a weber carb.

 

buy spare brake, clutch masters and slave clinders from rock auto.com

[armycook]

Yeah I got a guy in Los Angeles selling me parts I'd need and I have an idea what rare/ extra parts I'll buy. The previous owner neglected the truck sad to say but it'll get there. I'm just glad I found this dude that's gonna sell me his spare parts.

[earlyvws]

Hey I can verify armycook statement. I was Active Duty Air Force and yes we rode a stationary bike hooked up to a heart monitor for a PT test.

 

Later I was Army National Guard and PT test were way more frequent and a lot more difficult.

[armycook]

Hey what's up buddy! I served a total of 8 years. 5 years in the Navy as SH-60 helicopter mechanic. I knew I can do more and I got tired as a support guy so I reenlisted and went in the army but that was the time everybody was getting involuntary separated because war in Iraq is over and Afghanistan is almost done too. My only option is to become a cook as per "Needs of the Army" I took it willingly and worked with the 1st infantry division c/O 94th combat engineering battalion. I injured my knee, tore up my shoulder and had a surgery so I'm back as a civilian in San Diego. I thought learning how to mess with these highspeed trucks would keep me busy and young :)

 

Every branch in the military got a specific special role and one will have to work with each other to win and protect our nation.

 

Anyway I'd love to meet more Southern California Datsun owners!

[earlyvws]

High speed. A term I haven't heard in a while. Too funny. I did a total of 10 years between the 2 branches.

 

I got to say Army was a whole new level of crazy. I wished I had know more when I was younger cuz after the Army I wished I could of gone back to Air Force as a Combat Controller as mentioned by banzai510.

[armycook]

Got new white walls. They're never used and old. Just have to clean it to be white again. It is slowly becoming the truck that represents me :)

 

The guy that sold me his transmission and doors last night was scratching his head asking why I want my truck to look like a ratrod.. Guess you can't please everybody. But I need to drop and tuck in the tires and this highspeed's good to go!

 

I can't believe I drove from San Diego to Norco then downtown LA and back in one night. This truck is a bad ass!

 

 

 

[armycook]

Oh and I also got chrome side mirrors. It isn't stock but better than plastic. Maybe get a rectangular peep mirror later but this will do for now. Not bad for $10.00

 

[armycook]

So I'm off to research this website what's the best replacement shocks short enough to accommodate the new height this truck will have . I'd love to get airbags but can't afford that now.

[banzai510(hainz)]

Dude its only a 521. your not that low. cheap gas shocks worked for me for LONG TIME.

Dont dump to much money in it. Best 100buck is a electronic ignition or conversion.

 

Knowing what I know now the torsion bar really doesnt bounce around to much to need really stuff or special shocks in my opinion.

[armycook]

Not that low now. You can read it again. "New height it WILL have". I mentioned airbag so maybe that's a hint that I'll lower it?

 

I'm not into the usual 521 tricked out truck that most of you have here. I got white wall tires and it's going to have a distinct old look for my business I'm running. I'm building a ratrod and I'm not planning on spending too much. I do have friends that does a lot of metal work so that's a great way to save.

 

I'm not gonna get cheap shocks that will keep blowing every 2-3 months. And I already got the electronic ignition last weekend with the passenger door to replace the cancer door it has. I have a list of what I want done to it.

 

I know the worth of the truck and not because it's my first time having a 521 doesn't mean it's my first time owning a vehicle.

[armycook]

Anyway I'll just keep reading the old threads. And do my research. Thanks for having me here.

[bananahamuck]

I think your kinda  taking Hainz-es comments in the wrong way.  He doesn't edit for diplomatic sounding sentences like normal humans do. :D   Think of his answers as if you two are standing in a garage BS-ing with someone you have known for a long time ,, that's how you have to read them. 

[armycook]

Well maybe. I'm not worried about it. Thanks.

[joeyk803c]

Don't take it to heart. What you will have to do is figure out how low you want the truck. Then measure for axle droop, ride height and go from there. As long as you know the decompressed length, and compressed length you can find shocks pretty much anywhere. Oreillys (hint hint), etc. 

[armycook]

No not at all. I just reply the same way how people will talk to me. It's the internet and site is free so you get a lot of extreme personalities and demographics.

 

I've been doing a lot of homework about my setup. It's a really nice way to keep me busy and keep my mind working. The truck is sitting really high in the rear because of the huge bias ply white walls. It's tilted really so it has more pressure on the front than usual. I'm thinking of slowly converting the front and rear suspension to a newer toyota or something. Not too worried about the shocks after reading a lot of stuff here. I see a lot of people suggesting the ford pinto but didn't clarify in detail.

[armycook]

Thanks Joey

[wayno]

No not at all. I just reply the same way how people will talk to me. It's the internet and site is free so you get a lot of extreme personalities and demographics.

 

I've been doing a lot of homework about my setup. It's a really nice way to keep me busy and keep my mind working. The truck is sitting really high in the rear because of the huge bias ply white walls. It's tilted really so it has more pressure on the front than usual. I'm thinking of slowly converting the front and rear suspension to a newer toyota or something. Not too worried about the shocks after reading a lot of stuff here. I see a lot of people suggesting the ford pinto but didn't clarify in detail.

Do your self a favor, when it is time to buy front shocks, ask them to bring in 2 sets of shocks, 1 set for the 520/521, and 1 set for the Pinto, compress both of them and you decide which is shorter, by the way, one set is for a car, and the other for a truck.

[armycook]

Roger that. Thanks Wayno.