73Datsun620 Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Well, my son and I officially started the project to revive my old 1973 Datsun 620. Today we took the mismatch wheels and tires off the truck and installed the matching wagon wheels just temporarily. We also put the front grill face back on and removed the old camper topper that was on it, matched the era but looked awful. We also took the two transmissions and all the junk out of the bed and cleaned it up a little today. We have three years to get this truck up on the road and in pristine shape; so this might be a slow project thread but we will keep you updated. Here is a picture after we got done today: Quote Link to comment
Laecaon Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 So what is the plan? new paint? any engine swaps? looks like a good start Quote Link to comment
justin 620 Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Nice truck, tons of potential! It's gonna be nice for him when he can drive and his first car was one that you two built together! Already off to a great start! :cool: Quote Link to comment
73Datsun620 Posted January 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Well, we have a lot of ideas for the truck however the direction will most likely be decided as we make progress on it. The color will most definitely be red because that is my son's favorite color; but I am leaning towards mixing in a metallic flake to the color. Some of the definate work that will be done is as follows: New leaf springs New Bed Custom Drive shaft Leather Bucket Seats (miata possibly) Floor Pan Patches New Dash New Stereo (he has to have tunes!) Disc Brake Conversion (front and rear) 17" wheels (possibly titan wheels) And I want to swap in a KA24DE and a 5 speed Transmission Other little things like carpet, center console, etc Quote Link to comment
pharouh Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 Same year as mine! But you've got a better starting point. :D Have you done engine swaps and mods like that before? A KA swap isn't easy from what I've heard here. I'm curious,why new leaf springs? Keep us posted! Quote Link to comment
73Datsun620 Posted January 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 I have not done the swap before; but you have to learn somehow and we have 3 years before it has to be done. The current leaf springs have no life left in them, they sag so bad it is pathetic. Quote Link to comment
pharouh Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 good enough! I can't imagine any Datsun truck spring sagging :D I don't think I've seen one bend! Good luck! Quote Link to comment
73Datsun620 Posted January 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2011 Let's put it this way, the springs are starting to bow in the wrong direction. Quote Link to comment
G FORCE Posted January 24, 2011 Report Share Posted January 24, 2011 Nice father/son project. Keep us updated. Quote Link to comment
84TAVeRT Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 this is my nephew... i gave the 73 back to my brother after i got my 68 back from tangent... later, Chris Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 i gave the 73 back to my brother after i got my 68 back from tangent... How's that guy doing, he hasn't been around here in a while? Tell him I said hello. :D Quote Link to comment
dedrick Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Very nice father son project! If he doesn't appreciate it, you're legally allowed to force him into military service. Quote Link to comment
73Datsun620 Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 It's been a while since I posted that we were going to restore the old Datsun; and lots of other things have kept us from starting. However, now I finally got the first item for the truck - The wheels! I'll be wrapping them with 245/40R17's most likely next month. I'll post pictures once they are on the truck. Quote Link to comment
Zfighter76 Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 cool rims what are they? Quote Link to comment
Mulisha620 Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 good enough! I can't imagine any Datsun truck spring sagging :D I don't think I've seen one bend! Good luck! I was only running 2 leafs, (basically stock just without the thick bottom helper bar) until they were pretty much perfectly flat (straight)...... they were totally burnt- I high centered the truck on the leaf spring on a 7 inch concrete drop-off coming onto a busy street in town they were doing road construction on... and I bent the leaf... about 6 inches behind the front spring perch. the entire leaf itself had a decent "S" shape to it... and made the left rear corner of the truck sag pretty much to the ground. I only say because that's the third or fourth time I've heard on this site that the old Datsun truck leaf springs never really go bad. The particular set I had must have just been hammered on more than I thought- They've since been replaced though- New leaf springs are always good... Quote Link to comment
73Datsun620 Posted October 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 They are off a 2007 GMC Sierra - I'll have to get some new etched center caps for them though because they currently say GMC. I don't want to put on the cheap decals, so if anyone knows where I can get a set of etched center caps please let me know. Quote Link to comment
seanb47 Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Well,I'd just remove the center caps until another solution presents itself.Cool project! Quote Link to comment
73Datsun620 Posted April 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 Well, it's been a long break from the start of this project until now, but we are finally getting to work on it now. My son and I spent a couple of hours today taking off the old brakes in the rear and removing the axle shafts. I spoke with Alan over at Datsun Parts and ordered a new Wilwood setup for the rear disc brake conversion, and it should be all ready for us to put them on when it gets here in a couple of weeks. I'll take some pictures in a little bit to post on here as an update. Quote Link to comment
73Datsun620 Posted April 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 This is the result of our work today: See the springs? Is it just me or are they sitting WAY too low? And here is what the axle looks: Quote Link to comment
AtlanticCoastDatsun Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 if you think the springs are worn, go have them re arched, all they do is heat them up and beat the hell out of them with a hammer lol. why are you pullign the axles? Quote Link to comment
pharouh Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 I guess if you're only running 2 leaves,it will be a little lower. They have an arch to them. Some guys use air shocks to raise and lower the truck,or when the haul something. I still have the stockers complete with overloads. Good start! Quote Link to comment
73Datsun620 Posted April 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 I'm going to replace the old drums with disc brakes. Quote Link to comment
73Datsun620 Posted April 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 Well, if I do leave the stock springs I need to at least pull them, clean the rust off, and put a fresh coat of paint on them. Quote Link to comment
1lo620 Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 Well the overload springs is gone so that is why they are sagging so low.. And they are not Dearched...if they where dearched they would be straight there would be now curve to the, at all... Was the truck lowered at one time, or now..Alot of times when people lower the trucks, they pull overload and and one other sring and it lowers it more... Quote Link to comment
73Datsun620 Posted April 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 Yeah, I got to talking to my brother about it this weekend, and he told me that he removed the overload and flipped the wprings to lower the truck when he had it. So, I need to get the overloads and flip the prings back over and see how it sits after that. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.