skyshadow Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 Hey guys, I just bought a 1973 620 for myself. First Datsun I've owned, But not the first project car. The truck is a field find. Got it for $750 delivered out of Texas. Motor is locked up, side windows busted, some body damage. But, the rust is minimal. I have planned a full restore with a SR20det under the hood. I'm here for all the expert advice on doing such a thing. (For example, Can Am box, engine mounts...etc?) I'll try to keep everything documented and photographed, I know I like following builds via pics. Anyways, Here are some pics of the truck as is. 5 Quote Link to comment
distributorguy Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 Texas trucks rock! Nice find!!! 2 Quote Link to comment
red13 Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 Nice, I have been doing a ground up restore on my truck. I started a facebook page with tips and links i have used. So feel free to check my build,and that page 2 Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 man that guys should have given you the truck to clean up his yard olddatsuns.com read the Tech section 2 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 Cool truck! Welcome! 1 Quote Link to comment
Leche Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 Hell yeah, nice find! 1 Quote Link to comment
difrangia Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Import all the Datsuns ya can to OKlahoma. Nearly all that were here back in the day got used up and recycled. As Banzai suggested: http://www.olddatsuns.com/620tech.htm And this is helpful: http://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsun620/Datsun620Index/tabid/2305/Default.aspx Steve 2 Quote Link to comment
skyshadow Posted October 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Thanks for the encouragement and links guys. The Olddatsuns link looks like it will be especially helpful. Kind of sucks how many links on the tech page were dead though. Red13, Whats the name of your Fbook page? Any word on how to obtain one of the mythical Can Am boxes? 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted October 27, 2015 Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Thanks for the encouragement and links guys. The Olddatsuns link looks like it will be especially helpful. Kind of sucks how many links on the tech page were dead though. Red13, Whats the name of your Fbook page? Any word on how to obtain one of the mythical Can Am boxes? PM user: Icehouse 1 Quote Link to comment
red13 Posted October 27, 2015 Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Thanks for the encouragement and links guys. The Olddatsuns link looks like it will be especially helpful. Kind of sucks how many links on the tech page were dead though. Red13, Whats the name of your Fbook page? Any word on how to obtain one of the mythical Can Am boxes? https://www.facebook.com/Hackers-Hack-Up-1973-Datsun-620-Rebuild-1854433418114441/ 1 Quote Link to comment
skyshadow Posted October 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Following that Fbook page now. Messaging Icehouse now. Thanks guys 2 Quote Link to comment
red13 Posted October 27, 2015 Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Been trying to make sure I add stuff to it. I am sure I forgot some stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment
mcordero8 Posted October 27, 2015 Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Nice find. Looks like a good project truck. What year is she? 1 Quote Link to comment
skyshadow Posted October 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 Nice find. Looks like a good project truck. What year is she? Oh, sorry. I didnt post that. It's a 1973 1 Quote Link to comment
skyshadow Posted October 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2015 The guy who sold me the 620 said instead of junking, I should sell any and all parts I will not use. Things like the trans, engine, radiator... etc. Told me they are not easy to come by so I should sell instead of trash. Is that true? My last project had a 305 with a 400 trans and I couldn't give those away. 1 Quote Link to comment
red13 Posted October 30, 2015 Report Share Posted October 30, 2015 The guy who sold me the 620 said instead of junking, I should any and all parts I will not use. Things like the trans, engine, radiator... etc. Told me they are not easy to come by so I should sell instead of trash. Is that true? My last project had a 305 with a 400 trans and I couldn't give those away. ucan sale them and if they are in decent shape. Assuming its stock has the L16 in it with the short tail 4 spd. few people are looking for such setups. I want good gas mileage so I kept my l16. However I am not using the short tail 4spd I got a 5 spd out of a 280zx. 1 Quote Link to comment
skyshadow Posted November 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 Wrenched on the truck this weekend. Took off the damaged body parts and cleaned the interior out. The rust is not nearly as bad as I was bracing myself for. Mostly going to be a little patch work and a new floorpan on the driver side. Somehow the floorboard is damaged. The wrecked front end doesn't look bad enough to do that but, it is damaged. The damaged parts were the bumper, left fender and grill. One sucky part is my core support got a little mangled from the wreck. I probably wont replace but, straighten it as much as possible. 1 Quote Link to comment
red13 Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 My fender well was caved in. I had to pull that out. It was fun. For my floor,i used my,old beat up hood. 1 Quote Link to comment
skyshadow Posted November 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 My fender well was caved in. Is that common even though the collision didn't seem that bad? 1 Quote Link to comment
red13 Posted November 2, 2015 Report Share Posted November 2, 2015 Not sure, but my headlight mount was pushed back into the side marker light hole 1 Quote Link to comment
skyshadow Posted February 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 I'm back at it. I fell off this project through the winter, my bad. But, I'm getting back into it. I bought a CA18det with a auto trans and some Porsche 914 bucket seats. I went with a CA18 instead of SR20 for price and the fact that I'm not trying to build a power monster. I am going to use the 914 seats to replicate the old school JDM race buckets that came in 240Z's. I still need to patch up some floor pan holes as well. Oh, I finally got the Title 42 done so I have the title for the truck (will have). That shit is annoying and expensive. 1 Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 That shit is annoying and expensive. Welcome to Datsun. 3 Quote Link to comment
skyshadow Posted February 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2016 Got the truck moved into my garage for the engine drop. The CA is sitting to the left of the truck, you can kind of see it. Will pull the original motor Wednesday or this weekend. Having a full time job really slows things down. Then I'll start clean up and prep before throwing the CA in. I think I'm going to start a separate thread for what it requires to do a CA18DET swap. Also I cut that boat anchor of a bumper off the back. Anyone want one of those, come pick it up. lol 1 Quote Link to comment
skyshadow Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Welp, Moving along on this. I got the L16 engine pulled. If anyone wants it or the 4 speed trans that goes with it, PM me. I also bought a pressure washer to start cleaning this truck. I'm sure it'll pay for itself soon enough. Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure. sad little empty engine bay that needs a deep cleaning. The stock engine came out very very easily. Old one sitting next to it's replacement... What $120 of this shit looks like -_- 1 Quote Link to comment
skyshadow Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 So I searched something like 5 salvage yards in the area for Datsun parts and came back with very very little. I did score on a new grill and passenger window that a guy had in inventory since 1986. I was unable to find any 620's at any salvage yard in the area. In fact, I only found one Dat at all (pictured). Still need some interior pieces and a left fender. If you guys know of any hidden salvage yards in the Midwest with Dats, that would be awesome. I know there is a gentleman on here that can get me some parts but the shipping of the parts is as expensive as the part.. Notice the date of inventory... Only Datsun I know of in the OKC area.. 3 Quote Link to comment
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