1967 Datsun 520 that needs an engine and transmission!

[tablebeast]

I just picked up this 67. The cab is very nice with near perfect doors. Fenders are decent with one little dent in the middle on the passenger side. Quarters, rockers, frame, floorboard all have minimal rust. Only a few tiny rust holes anywhere! Even the bed, which is covered in surface rust has very few actual holes. Someone cut out the grill and at one time had swapped a rotary engine with 5 speed trans in it. Currently it has no engine or transmission. What should I do about that? A friend has a 20r and a 5 speed with only 80k on it. I also just bought an 80 720 with the L20B thinking I might do an engine swap or even complete frame swap, but the 80 is just too nice already!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Draker]

Get those rear bumpers chromed and you'll be sitting on a stack of cash. Minus the stack you spend on chrome of course.

[wayno]

An L20b will fit, but it is tight, if you go that route, be sure to set up the heater core first, it's nearly impossible to pipe it after the engine is in there unless you relocate the outlets, which is what I did in my 520 project.

That front bumper is intimidating, would not like seeing it behind me.

[Dolomite]

Whatever you do, don't put a non Nissan/Datsun engine in it, it's already suffered that indignity once. It deserves better. L20b would be cool, cheap, and at least close to period correct. But it is your ride so do what you like.

[tablebeast]

If I can find a decent L20B, Z22 or even L16 I'll be happy. But I really do love the 20R. It is just the perfect small truck motor. I am wondering how well it will fit. This thing is going to be a Rat ride anyway, so I don't think it really matters. Anyone on here with a Yota power Ratsun?

[Charlie69]

Put the 1980 720 Chassis under the 520 .  Wayno is an expert at this.  Use the 1980 720 wiring harness also.

[tablebeast]

I was thinking about mating the two cabs together like a clamshell so that I could use the firewall (including pedals, heat, wiring, brakes, and steering column) of the 720 and mate it with the dash of the 520. I've seen this done many times when folks put Dakota or S10 frames under hot rods. Trim both to fit, weld them together and patch up any empty spaces. Oh yeah and add new floors because neither one is that great. For the grille I was thinking about using the 720 grill and building a new surround for it as a nod to the guts sitting under it. 

[wayno]

A regular 720 column(not a tilt column), bolts right into the 520 like it is stock, you use the 520 hardware to mount it, but this option is only when you are using the 720 frame like I did on my 521 recently, read this thread, I just dropped a 521 cab/box onto a regular cab/short box 1985 720 frame, I used everything 720 except the 521 cab, box, heater, wiper system, and instrument cluster.

http://www.nwdatsuns.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=1168&view=unread#unread

[MicroMachinery]

Don't paint it.

[Charlie69]

Follow Wayno's thread and you can do it.  This will give yo many upgrades over the stock running gear.

 

L20B

5 speed

Possibility of intermittent wipers

Newer wiring with blade fuses

Front disk brakes

Power brakes

 

To name a few.

[tablebeast]

Don't paint it.

For "paint" I was thinking about taking it down to mostly bare metal (with some nice patina in the nooks and crannies), patch up the holes leaving the welds showing, and then matte clear coat the fucker with this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/Eastwood-Matte-Clear-Urethane-Paint/dp/B003NTNPHU

[Charlie69]

I put a 1980 720 heater & AC in my 66 520.  I considered using the floor, the firewall, and cowl vents from the 1980 720 but it would have been more work than doing a new firewall and tunnel.  There is a lot of information in my thread, I hope some of it will be useful for you.