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Funtana Comes to the NW


Farmer

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Finally starting a thread for this machine. Was reluctant in doing so because of the situation that went down with the previous owner. But I've came to a conclusion that, thats not my problem. Him and him alone is to be blamed.  That being said, here we go...............................A little long, sorry!

 

The first time I ever saw this 620, i fell in love. I got excited every time pictures were posted on the forums.  And told myself I would buy it if it ever came up for sale..  Then that time came up a couple years ago.  Someone posted a sales ad for all the vehicles and Funtana was listed.  I tried to scrounge up the monies to buy but couldnt make it happen. The ad disappeared so I thought someone bought it..  Another year went by and still thought about it once in awhile.  Then an ad posted on Facebook. All the same vehicles were for sale again and there was Funtana.  I jokingly posted that id take them all.  Got a PM from saler asking if I was serious. After  pm'ing back and forth, we agreed on price for Funtana and made arrangements to go get it.  November of last year, i drove 918 miles one way to Bullhead AZ. This is where things started going down hill. Got ahold of saler. Lets call her Bellatrix( forgot her real name) she cant meet that evening so now I have to get a motel. Waited all morning for a pm. finally got one around 1130 stating it wont be until afternoon before the meet up. Met her at a gas station and followed her to the shop.  AND there it was. The famous Funtana 620..... torn apart. Actually just the drive train but still.  So I precede to start getting things loaded and asked where the parts that was removed. she point toward the front of the truck. There lies a l20b, transmission and exhaust manifold. I asked about the remaining parts and the reply was "thats It" Im like ,Nnooo, wheres the carbs, radiator, starter, etc... This is not even close to having all the parts. She said its "SOLD AS IS"  (This is when I should of walked away, but didn't)  So i start looking for them and she started getting upset. Told me about all the OTHER Datsun people trying to steal from her or low balling her. I told her I was a straight shooter and brought extra money for extras.  Bellatrix watched everything I did. She kept contradicting herself saying she didnt know what a carb was then tells me she grew up wrenching on datsuns... whatever. Then time to load on uhaul trailer.  Im using a come along, making sure i dont smash the front lip on anything and shes telling to just push it on and get it over with. After that i had to load the engine by myself. so I used 2 2x4 and my body weight to pivot it into my van.  By this time, im tired and sweating to dealth.  During this whole time, she was on the phone with her mother trying to get her down here to bring the title and such. They're fighting over the phone. Got Funtana loaded and strapped down. Oh and by the way, I had to give her half the cash before I could load it up. Start driving back to gas station to meet the mom. Didnt see Bellatrix again.  Mom comes and now I have to follow here to a notary to get title signed.  She went in, got the paper work done, came out and gave her the rest of the payment.  YES Im outta  here.   NOPE, think again. Wrong title. VIN doesnt match trucks. Went back to mom while at bank deposting the money next door to notary.  Pretty much told me to call Bellatrix and good bye.  So I did and was told thats the only one they had and GOOD luck. But would call if they found it. NEVER HAPPENED....So now i have a signed notarized title to somebody elses 74 620 and a truck licensed in AZ with expired plaes. AND no extra goodies. NICE, so I went home with Funtana hoping Bellatrix would follow through. Didnt hold my breath.

 

Heres some pics just to give you a break. Was at a gas station somewhere on the 95 at midnight

 

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Got it home and put next to a donor friend

 

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Made some room for it.

 

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Pictures of the engine bay

 

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Things done to it to make Canby. This was during a very busy season for work. So it was spread out.

Replaced engine harness. frayed in areas and no actual fused link.

Replaced dash harness.  Plugs melted at fuse block and wires everywhere.

Replaced turn signal component.

cleaned up paint in engine compartment and sprayed rust convertor on battery mount.

Drained gas tank of old gas

New battery

No Pics of these and most of the parts were taken off my other 74

 

Installed L20b with painted block that came with the truck. Didnt know condition of it. Installed 1979 620 5Speed, which was fun. Had to remove a few things.

Had to find  an alternator, intake manifold with carb. Flywheel, clutch and pressure plate with all bolts. Radiator and hoses.

Used a better driveline with good carrier bearing. Replaced all U-joints. Checked rear end oil and added fluid to trans. Replaced spark plugs, rotor/cap and wires

 

 

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Once engine was installed, had to take it to a muffler shop and connect new down pipe to existing 2.25 inch pipe. Due to the angle of the manifold, existing exhaust wouldn't work cause it was made for an L18. Not a l20b, which is taller.  SO I took pics of that process. Drove  it open header a couple miles.

 

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Got it home and needed to check timing and stuff. Sounds much better with exhaust connected

 

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Timing was timed to BDC and one tooth off.  Carb was plugged up alittle, secondaries wasnt squirting gas.  Notice fuel filter was dirty, replaced. It did run decent, decent enough to bring to Canby since I was finishing it up the days before.  While at Canby, my camp buddy Draker, help me with cleaning up the weber. It was bad.  But it improved it many times over.  Yeah secondaries!  But soon found out that I have a bigger problem. Gas tank is filled with crap. Looks like sand material and made the gas turn into chocolate milk. Went through actual 4 fuel filters.

Here are some pictures the day before leaving for Canby.  It was 88* out and sunny

 

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Overall, im glad I got it. It was being neglected and abused. You can see recent scratches and paint chip missing here and there.  The parts that were missing probably was sold off, misplaced or stolen within that 2.5 years.

 

But its still not done.  Got to clean fuel system, replace clutch master cylinder. Rear main seal is leaking and find coolant leak.  Replace ALL the suspension rubber parts. replace all shocks.   Plans are to just replaced/ fix needed areas. Get some more travel out of front suspension (cause there aint none) and remove canopy. Install tonneau cover just like it had before. Mark posted a pic on facebook recently showing it. 

 

Thats it for now

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You were dealing with Steroid's step daughter.  You think she is a piece of work you should meet her mother!

 

Went up there and purchased a few things but got tired of her saying I will just crush it.  Finally I said crush it I am out of here.

 

I hope you did not pay to much.  The radiator and other parts were in the bed of the truck when I looked at it.

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Glad you were able to get it and make it mostly work out. I was looking at getting the blue right hand drive truck. Though my drive from Southern California wouldn't have been as far, she was so sketchy trying to communicate with I just abandoned that effort. I figured she was typical for many of the people in Bullhead, and it wasn't worth it for me. It sounds like you had the experience I expected. At least you got the truck. 

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You were dealing with Steroid's step daughter.  You think she is a piece of work you should meet her mother!

 

Went up there and purchased a few things but got tired of her saying I will just crush it.  Finally I said crush it I am out of here.

 

I hope you did not pay to much.  The radiator and other parts were in the bed of the truck when I looked at it.

Yeah I know it was her and I did meet the mother.  Nothing but garbage was in the bed.  Paid the asking price of 3k

 

Duck, take the title in and get transferred to your name, you probably have the one for choptana and the guy with choptana probably has yours. See if you can get ahold of that dude maybe?

Choptana was a  77 or 78. Funtana is 74

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It was Fantastic to get to see this truck in person, after drooling over pictures of it all these years! This truck has been an inspiration for my own truck. (although, I have a LONG WAY to go before mine is as nice!) Glad it's in good hands!

Any idea what happened to Steroid's Datsun powered Sundance jet boats? I always dreamed of having one like them. I tried pretty hard to work out a deal with another guy (Plumbob, or something like that was his name.)but couldn't quite work it out.

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Here is a link to what I think is Choptana.  I know that Choptana went to Las Vegas with either Darrin or Danny of SWDP.

 

https://mohave.craigslist.org/cto/d/1979-datsun-620-chop-top-truck/6603803554.html

 

Contact the seller.

 

The reasons I did not buy the 4 door truck was Steroid had swapped around the VIN tags and the one on the 4 door was not the correct one.  The 4 door cab was up there when I was up there the problem with it besides the number tag was the fact that the bed, doors, and other parts were at a body shop in CA.  Talked to the body shop and they wanted a $1000 for the parts and these parts had been stored outside and looked like shit.

 

I noticed that the VIN tags on all the trucks I looked at had been switched and with the step daughters attitude you would never get the correct VIN and corresponding title. 

 

Farmer sorry to here she screwed you on the sale of the green truck.  I wish I had known you were coming down to buy it.  I might have been able to save you the trip.  At this point contact the seller of Choptana and see if you both have the other VIN plates and titles.  Maybe you can swap them.

 

Steroid was not one that did much mechanical to his trucks but he did try to get body and paint done.

 

Down here all you would do is spend about $300 dollars and a $25 level 2 inspection done and they would put a blue MVD sticker on the drivers door jamb and record the existing #s.  Butt there is always the chance that they could confiscate the truck for swapped VIN Tags.

 

On my 85 King Cab ST the vin tag on the dash was missing so I had to due the Blue MVD sticker but the sticker.  The VIN number was AZ sticker # that was issued to that truck.

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That is good one truck Steroid did not mess with the vins.

 

Farmer how close are you to having the green one back on the road?

I dont have the other green truck anymore. Most of it was sold and shipped to England.

 

I agree the truck is in good hands with Farmer.  Now Farmer for the big questions will you and Funtana be in Fontana for the SWDP barbecue on August 18th?

I highly doubt it.  Long way to drive just for a days meet up

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Clutch master, sway bar bushings and Tonneau cover ordered.  Trying to decide to rebuild kingpins and go disk or changed over to ball joint setup with disk. Trying not to spend to much though

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