Frank-en-stein 521

[plnfixr320]

So with my son being 14 his interest in what his first car would be started growing. We started cruising the ole internets and found something that he had a vision for. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He saw these pictures and said that thing looks cool. So after some phone calls we borrowed my buddies trailer and headed to northern CA to grab it and a Toyota rear axle. 

 

 

 

Loaded up and headed back home. It was a 20 hour day with lots of windshield time. We got quite a few thumbs up on the 99 south that day. We made a dinner/gas stop in Bakersfield....at 11pm that was a FREAK SHOW. My buddy that road shot gun still laughs about some of the things we saw. 

 

The next day we snapped some more pictures and off loaded the remains. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[plnfixr320]

The kid took to reading the pennysaver weekly. He found a Toyota steer axle and a top shift transfer case out in Newberry springs so with $200 in had we hit the road again. 

 

 

 

 

Then the cutting began

 

 

 

 

[plnfixr320]

The boy wanted a visual of his goal so he stuffed one of my spares in the wheel well. 

 

[plnfixr320]

For his birthday he found a set of wheels on craigslist so we went and got them and he mocked up the front axle.

 

 

 

 

 

[plnfixr320]

Next he found some BMW lights that would up the lighting and the looks so $50 later.

 

[plnfixr320]

Caught him "test fitting" my extra parts.

 

[plnfixr320]

We ordered up some front leafs and some hangers. Grandpa had bought him a grinder his birthday so the front suspension brackets had to go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[plnfixr320]

For a power plant a Toyota 22r was picked up but we had to take the other one he had as well. So two engines for $100 and they were local. 

 

 

[plnfixr320]

Cruising the internets again we found a NorCal guy with an IFS box, power steering pump, lines, reservoir and cooler. He wanted beer for so we met him in Johnson Valley and turned a case of 805 into this.

 

[plnfixr320]

We stumbled on a deal we couldn't pass up on a frame. Found a Toyota frame for $250 in Vegas. After considering that we are using Toy engine, trans and dual cases we figured that it was going to be cheaper and easier to build body mounts verses the entire back half, engine mounts etc.

 

 

So on the road again, on the Sunday that 2 guys were supposed to fight in Vegas. 3 am we were north bound.

 

 

 

We were loaded and headed home by 7am.

 

By 10 am we were home and by noon this happened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Grandpa, his uncle and a school buddy we got the cab set in place. 

[plnfixr320]

The 521 has moved indoors for now. We have a G52 trans and forward shift crawl box that will hopefully be going in next weekend with the spare 22r. 

 

 

Taking a test drive with the dog.

 

 

Grandpa had some extra room on the waterjet at work so these happened for the rearend

 

 

Shackle angle is horrible right now, keep in mind we have to move the axle to set the wheelbase. These are just to roll the thing around for now.

[plnfixr320]

With the hopefully good engine torn down it was time to do some cleaning. 

 

 

 

 

[Charlie69]

Nice work!  Man you have raised your son well!

 

By they way you do not have any spare parts, your son has extra parts you might get back when he is done building his truck.  That is only if he does not use them.

[datson4life]

Very cool!

[plnfixr320]

Thanks for the positive feedback. We were not sure that a dual case crawler would fit in here to well but hey it's a saved Datsun. The truck was cut up to become a drag racer or something before. Since it was already hacked apart I told him you can do whatever you want and not feel guilty because at this point you are saving it from being scrap. 

 

Joking today we said that if all the inches of lowered suspension on this site are added up, that's how much higher his truck probably is. So the universe is averaged out now.  :rofl:

[jefe de jefes]

Cool build. Looks like things are moving along nicely.

Scoobie snacks !

[Jester]

Very nice start!  I'm glad to see your son doing all the work too. THAT is cool! 

[plnfixr320]

Very nice start!  I'm glad to see your son doing all the work too. THAT is cool! 

 

I told him that I will not build his truck. I will however match every second he works on it 100%. He should end up with something he knows inside and out and is proud of. 

[Ed-datsun521]

Damm !

[Jester]

Your doing a great job Dad!  :thumbup:

[plnfixr320]

Your doing a great job Dad!  :thumbup:

Thanks. I don't think I am half as good as my dad was but I try to do my best. 

 

 

We didn't get much done last weekend. The engine doesn't fit that good. Looks like we will have to move the fire wall back a bit. It would be helpful to know how think the radiator is off the core support so we can plan accordingly. If anyone happens to have a junk radiator we could borrow for mock up that would be ever better-er. 

 

This weekend we have parts to work with, we have the motor mounts and dual t-case cross member. We hope to get the engine, trans and cases in along with the cab position a bit more decided on. I am thinking we will have to do a 4" doghouse to get it all to fit, time will tell.

 

Hope to have picture progress by Sunday. 

[4perrev]

That's good stuff right there. Welcome to the house. Not sure where you are in Cali, but if you're around fresno, there is a 521 dropped off on May 19th that looks good. Might want to check it out if you need something. Your son is kickin' it well!!

 

PICK-n-PULL Fresno

Fresno, California 93706

[datzenmike]

Thanks. I don't think I am half as good as my dad was but I try to do my best. 

 

 

We didn't get much done last weekend. The engine doesn't fit that good. Looks like we will have to move the fire wall back a bit. It would be helpful to know how think the radiator is off the core support so we can plan accordingly. If anyone happens to have a junk radiator we could borrow for mock up that would be ever better-er. 

 

This weekend we have parts to work with, we have the motor mounts and dual t-case cross member. We hope to get the engine, trans and cases in along with the cab position a bit more decided on. I am thinking we will have to do a 4" doghouse to get it all to fit, time will tell.

 

Hope to have picture progress by Sunday. 

 

 

What about mounting the rad in the back of the truck with electric fans? Less chance of poking holes in it off road and more room in front. Doesn't look like the truck is going to be hauling anything in the back anyway.

 

What leaf springs are you using? I just kept the top one and added F-150 leaves below for the 9" lift on my 620.

 

Steering was a cross rod to the passenger side to a modified steering knuckle on top of the axle. This eliminated the terrible bump steer from steering the driver's side.

[plnfixr320]

The front springs are trail gear 4" springs for a Toyota. The rears are out of a '98-ish F150. We haven't removed any leafs from the packs yet, once we get the thing full weight we probably will. This will be a street truck 95% of the time so the radiator will be in the front. We are not into high speed desert stuff so rear mount radiators don't do well. The slow trails can cause air flow and cooling issues with it in the back.

 

We are located in Victorville CA. kinda far from Fresno unfortunately. 

[Jester]

I would suggest mounting the engine and trans at least, then set the cab on and see how thing line set. Get an idea of where the tires are in relation to the fender arc. As odd as it sounds, a wheelbarrow tub works good for a fire wall.

You may want to see what it would take to put the stock Toyota radiator in too. Not sure how the height would work. 

What year is the frame?