Rosie Posted August 9, 2015 Report Share Posted August 9, 2015 disclaimer: i'm old, i ramble on, this should probably be printed and taken to the crapper, well i hope this is where i go for help. in 1976 my step-dad bought a new 620 and though the years it ended up being the beater truck around the farm. i have it now, drove it for years, it has about 150 K on it, but it only sat 2 people, so it ended up out back (i now live in the desert). the kids are grown, seating 2 is fine now. and thru penny saver and a wild hair (that's what my wife says i get) i bought a 1980 720 fwd power train and chasis for it (it had a bad engine). it was amazing how everything fit, I think it was the only year that the 720 had a L20 engine. when i had a problem fitting the fan shroud on the radiator, there was a engine mount that moved things in the right spot. the engine oil pan hit the front diff,swap the pan from the 720 engine (and the dip stick and oil pick up). the cab and bed mounts lined up. the only cutting was on the fuel tank mount (the 720 has the tank mounted on the frame instead of the bed) and the cab where the steering gear/box is mounted (but even that has a reinforcing stamp. it seems like Datsun had this option somewhere in the world or at least thought about it). but it's hard to find parts, i'm seeing parts on E-bay, are they any good? i need a new windshield seal, the dash is pretty cracked up. need to change to bucket seats for the transfer case shifter (my son has a 90's subaru i might talk him out of). any help finding parts of decent quality, thanks Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 Hi Rosie and welcome to Ratsun. Yes I swapped a '78 620 cab and flatbed to a 2wd 720 long wheelbase truck. Pretty much dropped right on. '80 was the first year for the 720 and the last year for the L20B engine. The 720 was also the first truck with the steering box and idles arm on the outside of the frame for more room for air con, larger alternators and power steering. From '78 on the gas tank was also mounted on the frame. Parts? have a look through our classifieds and if looking to by place an ad there... http://community.ratsun.net/classifieds/category/3-datsun-parts/?sort_key=date_added&sort_order=desc Quote Link to comment
trout104 Posted August 10, 2015 Report Share Posted August 10, 2015 I would really like to see some pics of this...the one vehicle I have on my MUST HAVE list...a 620 4x4, but unfortunately up north here, probably a rare unit..but i'm still lookin Quote Link to comment
Rosie Posted August 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 i hope that this is where i go to post stuff, anyway, i wanted to try to keep this thing low (i've got the bed off to change the 720 rear end to the 620, same gearing) the front end is to low with the 620 wheels. i found some 15" wheels at summit (white spokes, ooh). under $200.00. i guess the 720 rearend is going back in. working on the pictures, thanks Quote Link to comment
Rosie Posted August 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 here's some pictures i hope. my son helped. http://i.imgur.com/16z6IDJ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/w0ffcKE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/CRPOqKb.jpg 1 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 If you right click on the picture a copy image you can past it right in the post window and it will show up. :) Good looking truck you got there Quote Link to comment
Rosie Posted October 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2015 sorry that i've been away, needed a new roof on the house. tried doing it myself, finally paid someone. but now i'm back on the datsun. i have been looking on the internet for info, one guy called the 720 a parts bin FWD. i guess that datsun just used parts that they had already made for other vehicles. he said that the front differential was a rear deferential from a 280Z. not sure where the transfer case came from, It's supposed to be a T100L. but i did get the rear differential from the 720 back on and the spare tire hoist in place from the 620 before putting the bed on. so now I'm looking for a good windshield seal before the rains start (although i live in the desert, how bad can it be, and i've got a new roof anyway) and still trying to find some 15" wheels, the 620 14" one fit but the front suspension pretty low. so far the cheapest that i've found is from summit racing, white spokes, under $200. any help with the seal would be appreciated, thanks P.S. trying to attach picture, geez, hope that it works Quote Link to comment
distributorguy Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 The windshield seals are good - there is only one manufacturer but a few prices to be found. They all come from Singapore. So either you order it cheap and wait or buy one off the shelf from a reseller. It may be worth buying the entire rubber set so none of the windows leak. Quote Link to comment
GRpufnstuf Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 The windshield seals are good - there is only one manufacturer but a few prices to be found. They all come from Singapore. So either you order it cheap and wait or buy one off the shelf from a reseller. It may be worth buying the entire rubber set so none of the windows leak. Yep, I bought the rubber bits here because I didn't want to wait for shipping. I'd say they aren't factory quality but they are pretty good. Comparable to West Coast Metric stuff (VW reference) anyway. I had my windshield replaced when I got my truck. Parts and labor were $180 or so and it hasn't leaked at all in 2 years. LOVE that truck Rosie! it's looking really good, nice work. Wheels and tires are pretty easy to find on Craigslist. That 6 bolt pattern is used by a few manufacturers ( I don't know if they all have the same BCD) I'd be shopping for a set of Toyota take offs. Seems like there'd be some AFB guys up near you taking off their Toyota's stock stuff for bigger 4wheeling accessories? Finding good used tires could save a lot of $ over new steelies and rubber. I put porsche 914 buckets in my truck. They are just about sitting on the floor which makes it very comfortable for me to drive (6'3") You can find many builds on here that have seat swaps. the easiest might be to find a later model 620 king cab with buckets and grab those? Quote Link to comment
GRpufnstuf Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 Hey Rosie! I'm headed your way next weekend for a GMC commercial filming in Lonepine. I'd love to stop by and shoot the shit while checking out your truck a bit. If you need anything brought up there from the southland I could try to accomoddate that too. doubting you'll read this in time... george Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 GM 6 bolt truck rims, Toyota, Trooper, Mazda, Ford and more (except Chrysler) all have the same bolt spacing, just make sure they are 15". Wrecking yards are full of them. The R-180 front differential is the same 'size' as the Z car but with a different gear ratio. The T-100 is unique to the 720, not aware it comes from anything else. In a pinch seal up the windshield between rubber and glass and rubber and the body with a black urethane sealer and a caulking gun. It's messy but hardens like rubber. Do NOT use silicone. Quote Link to comment
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