520/521

[oneslick720]

i am new datsuns but i have read about 520 and 521s what is the difference is it just typos or is there 2 differents

 

i just reciently picked up a 68 521 and was just wondering

[datsunaholic]

They're different. Very similar from the firewall back, but 2 different models, with different, incompatible front sheetmetal.. 520s were '65-68, 521s were 68-72. Yes, there were '68 model year of both, though they were never simultaneously produced.

[ggzilla]

In Nissan model code usage, the last digit is the 'minor model change', usually a body style facelift but sometimes engine/drivetrain changes go with it.

[oneslick720]

thanks man i know that this one is a 521 that i just picked up but what is the major tell tail signs in the differences

and where does the single headlights come into play?

Edited October 13, 2009 by oneslick720

[jefe de jefes]

Tell tail signs? Front sheet metal.....

 

520 windshield is smaller I believe.

[ggzilla]

what is the major tell tail signs

 

Look for the sign that it is under the hood on the firewall. It will tell you PL520 or PL521, so there is no guessing.

[datsunaholic]

The most obvious difference is the front turn signals. On a 520, they sort of "wrap" the front corners. The whole front end is more rounded, and narrower-looking, on the 520. The 521 is squarer and wider looking (though in reality they're the same width). The 521 hood is much wider but the fenders have less top surface.

 

The "facelift" from the 520 to the 521 made the truck look more like the contemporary Bluebird (the 520 looked like a 410, whereas the 521 looked closer to a 510).

 

ggzilla, no such thing as a PL520. They were all L520, here in the US, as the "J" 1300 was the base (and only) engine. A '68-69 521 is likewise a L521, also using the base "J" 1300 engine. When the switch was made to the L16 for the 1970 model year, the trucks became PL521s.

Edited October 13, 2009 by datsunaholic

[oneslick720]

ha wow i need to do my homework all these numbers are confusing me ha ha

[HRH]

I believe the windshields are the same. Seem to remember a fellow with a 521 getting a windshield out of a 520 at pull and save, said it went in just fine.

[oneslick720]

this is the front of mine

 

 

[Jayden71]

this is the front of mine

 

 

 

 

^ thats a 521. Round side marker lights. They do not "wrap around" the fender

[sdsurf]

520

 

521

[oneslick720]

wow they are really close.... to an untrained eye like mine i wouldnt have noticed...

 

i am a truck enthusiast been building custom trucks since i was old enough to drive but just recently got my first datsun back in june now i have 2 720s (traded my bagged and bodied small blosk s10) and my newly acuired 521 ha they are kind of adictive(traded my 64 ford project for)

[84TAVeRT]

definitely a 69 521 front fender in the picture...

 

the 68 didn't have the reflector...

 

later,

Chris

[datzenmike]

Only the L521 Oct. '68 to June '69 had the round reflector. From July '69 ('70 model) the PL521 had the rectangle side light.

[1sad521]

 

ggzilla, no such thing as a PL520. They were all L520, here in the US, as the "J" 1300 was the base (and only) engine. A '68-69 521 is likewise a L521, also using the base "J" 1300 engine. When the switch was made to the L16 for the 1970 model year, the trucks became PL521s.

 

Only the L521 Oct. '68 to June '69 had the round reflector. From July '69 ('70 model) the PL521 had the rectangle side light.

 

so now im confused. the badge inside the door says '69 PL521 but i dont remember the month right now and its badged 1600 but i have the round reflectors....:confused: and there's some other wierd stuff goin on that i actually have another thread about in the exterior section....

[ggzilla]

Sound like your truck has had fenders replaced at some time in the last 40 years :-)

[1sad521]

and the bed?:confused: i really couldnt tell ya, but heres the weirder thing.... both are only on the passenger side----no reflectors on the drivers side:confused: and like i said, i really dont know but i honestly doubt there was any attempt to do any custom work on this truck considering where it was sitting and how long it had been sitting there. just to clarify- i mean there's not even holes where the reflectors should be:confused:

[MikeRL411]

and the bed?:confused: i really couldnt tell ya, but heres the weirder thing.... both are only on the passenger side----no reflectors on the drivers side:confused: and like i said, i really dont know but i honestly doubt there was any attempt to do any custom work on this truck considering where it was sitting and how long it had been sitting there. just to clarify- i mean there's not even holes where the reflectors should be:confused:

When you ordered fenders from the dealer, the replacement units were not drilled for the reflectors so that the warehouse only had to stock one part number, drill / cut your own opening, or not to create a "custom" look.