Drexten0 Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 hey guys i have recently bought a 75' 620 as a project truck and im looking for a trusted mechanic in the hillsboro/pdx area. Please let me know if you have any recommendations , im new to the datsun scene any info would be helpful. Thank you !!! Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 What do you need a mechanic for that you can't do yourself. These things are easy as hell to work on. Great first project. You will easily be able to learn/tackle many of a Datsun's issues with just a little bit of knowledge. If you NEED a mechanic, owning a project car is probably not a great idea. If you have just the slightest desire to earn accomplishment and to learn, you'll be well on the road. 2 Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 You hire a mechanic it will cost u an arm and leg. That's why its a project u learn as you go. Tons of manuals on Ratsun. If not buy one that's in fair condition and will not be as hard to maintain. 2 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 Work out how many hours you have to work to pay for one mechanic's hours. With the money saved buy a Nissan FSM (factory service manual for your year and model 620, NOT a Chilton's or a Haynes) online for $20 and some metric wrenches. For the next hour savings get a good lifetime warranty metric socket set. Buy more tools as needed. Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 Olddatsuns.com has FSMs to download for free. Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 You can do most stuff yourself. but if you cant hit up nismodr, or get to a Datsuns NW meeting and meet some local datsun guys. 2 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 I think anyone can do anything and often forget there are those who are disabled. (or have lots of cash :lol:) For those, I still suggest a FSM so that you can know more than the guy you are paying to do the work. Then you tell HIM what you want. 2 Quote Link to comment
Drexten0 Posted December 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 Thanks for the info , I’ll get myself a manual and start fixin it myself ! Thanks for the insight and advice 2 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 Baby steps. Actually working on a vintage vehicle may not be for you, so try it on a step at a time. You can still enjoy vintage cars even if you only drive them. Many owners get more satisfaction by building and driving them if not only keeping them maintained. Sometimes an owner has to used ingenuity to keep their classic on the road. Some actually have to make their own missing parts. Owning one can be a very pleasurable pastime. 3 Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 Thanks for the info , I’ll get myself a manual and start fixin it myself ! Thanks for the insight and advice...besides tools, need a dBm, to start. Quote Link to comment
nl320what Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 Post up some pictures and more info about the truck, what drove you to decide to pick this project up? We want some background on this please. We all started with that one Datsun, which grew into a sickness now. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 ...besides tools, need a dBm, to start. I find these work well... Clip to ground the the light lights up in the presence of battery power. Great for 'seeing' if you have power on a wire. Clip to power and you can chase a ground. True it doesn't say if 12 volts or 13.8 if running. But it is cheap, a good one is $5, and doesn't need batteries. 1 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 I'm going to be the opposing view here. Sometimes it's OK to hire a mechanic. If you value your time like I do, hiring someone to get you to a good "ground zero" is worth it. If there's a complex issue, like replacing a head gasket or repairing a diff, a mechanic that knows Datsuns will be able to help you in a short period of time and you may even learn something along the way. I do think once you're comfortable working on this old vehicle, there isn't anything that even the lowliest Ratsun member can't attack with basic tools, but having someone to help you get out of a hole isn't a bad idea the first time around. 3 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 Thanks for the info , I’ll get myself a manual and start fixin it myself ! Thanks for the insight and advice Definately try to fix your self .... you'll appreciate it more... plus these trucks are easily bandaged on the side of the road.... some times not but it's good to know your vehicle when problems occur... And like stroffregen said... good to have a mechanic you can go to when your stuck. Plus your in oregon right, aren't there a bunch of ratsun members up there.. ( relative to other locations) ... I'm sure a case of beer and a pizza waiting and you could get a ratsun member to stop by and give you a hand..... Goodluck... Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 Here's something else about paid mechanics. While a '75 Datsun nut is the same as a 2014 Nissan nut and they tighten and loosen the same way there are other things that today's mechanics never grew up with. EFI has been around since about '82 so mechanics today weren't even born yet. They will know 2000's cars but only theory about carbs and points distributors. Possibly never even seen any. So when you pay a mechanic to work on your Datsun you are paying him to learn something that you could be learning. Whoever gets this knowledge gets to walk away after and take it with them. It's like walking away with a free set of tools! Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 I'm going to be the opposing view here. Sometimes it's OK to hire a mechanic. If you value your time like I do, hiring someone to get you to a good "ground zero" is worth it. If there's a complex issue, like replacing a head gasket or repairing a diff, a mechanic that knows Datsuns will be able to help you in a short period of time and you may even learn something along the way. I do think once you're comfortable working on this old vehicle, there isn't anything that even the lowliest Ratsun member can't attack with basic tools, but having someone to help you get out of a hole isn't a bad idea the first time around. ...true Stoff but this is just not a tune up or brake job, this is a project. And I will assume its going to take a lot of work, time and money. Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 /\and hard to find mechanics that knows carburetor or classic cars, the ins and outs, nuances. Most new ones don't really know how to troubleshoot and the older ones retired and passed on. That's why I recommended the op buy one that is in running condition not a project. Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 I haven't actually tried to find an old school mechanic. Most of the guys I know that do this work, I have known for years, if not decades, so you all have a point. If you can find a good Datsun mechanic, treat him right. To me, this stuff is all very basic, but as Mike and racerx said, most guys now days don't know anything but theory when it comes to old cars. Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 I think he's from Oregon quiet a few datsun guys up there. Chime in Oregonians... Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 To Drexten0, What is wrong with your 620? What do you need to be fixed? Back in the day, I used the Volkswagon version of this book. https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Your-Datsun-Nissan-Alive/dp/0912528656/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512843154&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+keep+your+Datsun+alive 1 Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted December 9, 2017 Report Share Posted December 9, 2017 Maybe if he can post pics of the project, we have a better idea Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 You lost him at post pics. Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 okay, maybe post OICS.. Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 You lost him at post pics. We lost him at do something yourself. Quote Link to comment
sebpv Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 Damn if you guys keep going, Ill have to crank down my thermostat. The burn emanating from this forum is unbearable... Quote Link to comment
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