1970 521 restomod

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greenthumb
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Joined: 19 May 2013 20:57
Location: Langley, BC

1970 521 restomod

Post by greenthumb »

So, longtime lurker and fellow Datsun enthusiast/co-conspirator with my son Jordan on his 510 project. I have vicariously enjoyed so many of the stories and adventures here, but am about to embark on my own project, and thought there may be some interest here, albeit that it is not an actual 510. I thought i was done wrenching on Datsuns about 30 years ago, but it seems like the virus has returned :lol: Have had a number of Dattos over the years, from a 240z/Scarab project, to a bunch of 510 wagons and 521 pickups. Just picked up a 521 project from a fellow Realm member, and am looking to do a restomod on it as time permits. ATM the plan is for s14 KA24de power, with 5 speed trans and Honda Passport diff to be able to seamlessly (I hope) convert to LSD wi OEM disc brakes. Am not looking to reinvent the wheel, so if any of you have any experience to share, I am listening. Pics will follow after mod approval
cheers,
henk
Last edited by greenthumb on 26 May 2013 18:10, edited 1 time in total.
greenthumb
Posts: 261
Joined: 19 May 2013 20:57
Location: Langley, BC

Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by greenthumb »

A little progress to report- Got some sweet wheels from Goichi and tried them on with the 3 inch lowering blocks. Looks good to my eye. Popped one of the axles out of the Dana 44 diff. Victory! they look like good candidates to be resplined as they don't neck down after the spline like some I have seen. That should save some $$$.
Pics to follow once I get this photobucket thing figured out
Last edited by greenthumb on 26 May 2013 13:01, edited 2 times in total.
greenthumb
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by greenthumb »

A few pics of a great road trip and loading up.

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I was happy to see the axles are very stout and should be respline-able.

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Looks like I need to remove about 6 inches or so from the total width of the diff. This might be a good lsd option for a wagon as well, although the axles are 6 lug, which was my reason for going this way, as I want to keep stock lug configuration. As Okayfine noted earlier, Ford offers a myriad of options with their Mustang diffs, but I am thinking that the Dana 44 lsd that came on Isuzu Rodeo/Honda Passports should also accept other ring and pinions for a D44. Mine is 4.30
Waiting on rear rotors to get an accurate assembled measurement with my wheels to see exactly how much narrower the diff needs to be.
Also browsing the interwebs for diff narrowing info. Has anyone here ever drilled (or gouged) out the 3 plug welds on the pumpkin and removed the tubes that way? I like the idea of removing the tube, shortening it, and reinstalling the shortened tube. that would eliminate the attendant futzing of trying to align the tubes if the approach were to be cut and reweld the tubes.
edit-
Another path may be to have a precision sleeve machined to slip over the axle tubes, so I could cut the housing and slip the stubs into the sleeve and weld them up. I am a little worried about the sleeves not sealing properly when they would be reinstalled into the center section
Last edited by greenthumb on 26 May 2013 18:18, edited 2 times in total.
goichi1
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by goichi1 »

Nice!!Image
Last edited by goichi1 on 25 May 2013 23:16, edited 2 times in total.
goichi1
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by goichi1 »

Hank, if you go to the pic in photobucket and click on the little gear icon in the corner of the pic, you can then click on share, then links, then select the URL link (IMG code) once you click on that it will copy it and you can just paste it in your post here, then when you hit submit to post your new entry the pic will appear in your post from that link automatically.


Image
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two_68_510s
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by two_68_510s »

Henk, not Hank.
Joel

2 '68 510 2 door sedans
'95 240SX


“We will either find a way, or make one.” – Hannibal
greenthumb
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by greenthumb »

Photo bucket noob :lol:
Either spelling is fine.
I am continually amazed Joel, how dry this truck is. The 521s I had 30 years ago had way more rust!
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two_68_510s
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by two_68_510s »

Yeah, that is why I drove 300 miles to pick it up, on a trailer! It lived up in the Sierra foothills below the snow line, on a dry side of the mountain, I don't think it saw much salt or anything like that.

I know it has seen a lot more trailered miles in the last ten years then running!
Joel

2 '68 510 2 door sedans
'95 240SX


“We will either find a way, or make one.” – Hannibal
greenthumb
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by greenthumb »

:lol: :lol: Hopefully it will see some road miles under its own steam soon
Rich, thanks for the PB tips. All fixed. Congrats on the new addition to your family! Your wife was a good sport for allowing us to drag her to Burlington the other day when I bet she would rather have been relaxing at home!
goichi1
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by goichi1 »

Oh, no problem, she wanted to get out of the house anyway! It was really cool meeting you and Jordan, he's a lucky young man to have such a cool father. keep the updates coming on the truck! I have a friend/coworker that is building a 521, he's over on Ratsun, pretty cool project too.
greenthumb
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by greenthumb »

So, a little progress the last week or so. I was pretty inspired by the transformation of the paint on Entrymax's wagon, so I thought I would give the badly oxidized paint on the 521 a go with the buffer. pics before...

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and after :P
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After buffing and lowering. Pretty cool to see paint that far gone get some life back in it

Also got the new rear rotors- they are pretty beefy!

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Figured out how much needs to be shortened on the axles and boxed em up to ship out to Dutchman for shortening and resplining. Taking 2.5 inches off each side

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I liked this shot of the father and son projects

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two_68_510s
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by two_68_510s »

Good one Henk!

The paint looks cool all worn on the fender!
Joel

2 '68 510 2 door sedans
'95 240SX


“We will either find a way, or make one.” – Hannibal
greenthumb
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by greenthumb »

yeah, I like it too. The serious old car folks call that 'patina'! :lol: :lol:
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JordanTr
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by JordanTr »

My father is away but there is work to be done once he returns...

Axles came back from Dutchman. I'm quite happy with the results; we shall see what he thinks.

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New steering wheel for the truck. It's 1 cm larger than mine.

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'72 2 door KA project | S14 Silvia RB25DET | S14 RB26DETT (sold) | '90 Audi 90Q20V (sold)
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two_68_510s
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Re: 1970 521 restomod

Post by two_68_510s »

Cool! This is the wheel that I used on that truck:
I guess it is Nardi or nothing for the spoiled brat!
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1-IMG_0010.JPG (56.64 KiB) Viewed 7515 times
Joel

2 '68 510 2 door sedans
'95 240SX


“We will either find a way, or make one.” – Hannibal
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