DaMuN

Just did some quick rough measurements. The gap between tire and tray is 175mm. The tray is lifted 45mm. I would like to drop the front 100mm (and rear to match) I will eventually be going the 4x4 leafs. That will give me the little bit lower I want to level the truck and also stiffer seeming there won't be much gap between tire and tray. I'll only be playing with the torsion bars. No re indexing or drip spindles. And I will never cut the tray! Original wood still in great condition. I won't be using the dato as a work truck. That's what the 4x4 Mitsubishi Triton is for.

I'm in the same boat. i want the tray to be as low as possible so its easy for my to load my wheelchair onto it while sitting in the driver seat. I have tested it a few times when I first got the 521 but a inch lower is always easier. I just cant make it to low as i want the front to look like the fender is sitting on the tire when looking at it from a side view and it to be level, so just a bit lower than your work truck.

DAMN! You're working that truck! All the mounts on the tray will line up with the 720 frame. For what ever reason the PO of the 521 "lifted" the tray. By not transferring the "lifted mounts" the trays original mounts will sit level and perfect on the 720 frame. The tray is the right length, measured it all. i too had worries about that at first look. My best mate and I both agree that the 521 was once a late 70's mid 80's mini truck. Interior is mostly painted black and had newish tape player, exterior a different blue, side exist exhaust, lifted tray to drop the ass more, and wider rear tires on the stock rims for that fat look. So i'm not surprised that it isn't the original fuel tank. Will definitely be doing something to hide the tank. That didn't even cross my mind!!!

this is the fuel tank position on the dualcab 720 the fuel tank position on the 521. it is bolted to under the tray.

Things still left to do. 1. Wiring. 2. Use 720 floor pan to replace 521 rust spots. 3. 720 transmission swap. 4. Cab swap. DONE! Then to get it engineered and registered.

Yeah that's what I have done and everything seems to be working kinda fine... I think the high/low beam has been switched around. I can't find the light relay. Not under the dash. Not behind the battery with the horn relay. Though I can hear it click when changing beams. Also after a minute or so of the high beams and a indicator being turned on they won't work. All other interior lights and low beam still work. Turn the ignition off and back on and high beam and indicators work again. Will give the fuse box another clean just in case and will make a new 6 pin plug under the dash. It seems to get a bit hot.

Cheers Wayno and Charlie for all your electrical knowledge! Didn't mean to waste your time but I will be sticking with the original 521 wiring. Haven't done much to the 521, been helping my mate prep his V8 120y for summernats. Now that it's over I can get back stuck into my build. With the wiring, I have come to the conclusion that a retard hanging up side down looking through a shattered mirror had an attempt at rewiring it. 1st piece of evidence was a lot bolted to the negative terminal. Took most of them off and tested them on the positive and I magically have dash lights, indicators, wipers,high beam. That's it so far but the day is still young!

Ummm....I'll get back to you on that one. Cool cool will do. I have wiring diagrams for both Utes. I planned to use them to make sure I got all the wires connected right! But I will definitely ask Wayno and Charlie for advice. Sweet, I'll check your thread as well. More knowledge the better.

Wayno, I'll be using the 521 tray. That's a standard size here in Australia. Lined up the 2 dattos wheel to wheel and they are the same length. Lockleaf, I'll swap you a complete dual cab for a 521 tub hahahahahahaha! Charlie69, we got heaps of them here. I only felt a bit bad when stripping it did I realise its an original ute. Never been in a accident. The body is just rusted out. Also cheers for the advice on what diff to run. Does the 720 wiring harness plug into the 521 dash components? My plan to cut the harness at the firewall and joining then with fuses.

Been waiting a long time to start a build thread. And here it is! I have a 1971 521. Body in good enough condition. Will be putting the 521 on a 720 chassis. Obvious reasons why. Better motor,breaks,suspension,can have a auto transmission, gear ratios good for highway use, blah blah blah.... How I got the 521 http://i.imgur.com/TNKSNij.jpg I straightened the front out best I could. I'm definitely not a panel beater! A quick wash/scrub and put the 720 mirrors on her. http://i.imgur.com/mScNBxb.jpg Picked up a 1982 720. Mechanically in top condition. http://i.imgur.com/7EzbdeJ.jpg Currently where I am up to on the stripping of the 720. http://i.imgur.com/XngsJFE.jpg Will be using a L4N71B transmission. 521 has a alloy H190 diff, don't know it's gear ratio. I spend most my time driving at 100km/h, so depending on revs I will decide which diff to go with. Found a wiring diagram for both utes. Anyone got any hints or tips to make the swap as painless and easy as possible? Figured I'll swap as much as possible over to the 521 then lift/roll the 720 body off it's chassis. I'm in a wheelchair and want to do everything by myself except for transferring the 521 body over.

Thanks Gene! And Charlie69! It does look good Wayno, a lot better than my Photoshop job lol and yeah I'm definitely doing a blue stripe. Do you think if I just pull the guard in between the cab and wheel arch the bed would be the same width and look flush? And perhaps smooth the bottom of the beds sides? Both easy jobs right? I'm getting really excited about having a bed/tub on the 521.

Hope you're alright and healing well after surgery. That would be awesome if you could do that! Thanks! I've read your thread about the cab/chassis swap. That's what gave me the idea. ok not ALL of it hahaha Hopefully i can find a decent single cab with bed, that way the cab can sit on the chassis and only have to redrill body mounts and get a bed ( to cut up if needed = length ) if all goes well with your trial fitting.

I think i just learnt how to "code" from posting from imgur.com LOL So this is my quick attempt at a shortened/modded 1980 720 tub on a 521. big thanks to the owners of these 2 dattos...didnt ask for permission...woops. Tried dropping the bed so the fold at the top 720 bed would line up with the fold on the 521 door but it made the bed wheel arch WAY to low... looked cool but didn't match the front :( Not sure if i like it. Need to smooth out the bottom of the 720 bed. Opinions???