Redrilling front hubs for 5-lug?

[a_barth]

Ok so I'm new here, to the site not to Datsuns, and im wondering if anyone has ever welded up and redrilled (or seen it done) a set of 521 hubs before. I have a 1971 PL521 that was a parts truck for my first truck at 16 years old. I haven't looked at a set of these hubs in almost 10 years and can't remember what they look like or if this is even possible. Any pics anyone has would be a big help. My plan is to possibly do a 5 lug conversion and if so a disc brake swap. I have seen disc conversions and i have heard of 5-lug conversion on 620's but not the earlier models. This is going to be a long drawn out project as I don't get much time to work on things, but my eventual plans are to do an engine swap with a L28 non-turbo and 5-speed that I have in a rotted-out 280zx. Now I know I'm fixin to get a bunch of crap for even mentioning that since there are so many easier engine swaps out there but I look at it as I already have the running engine and tranny, and I've never seen another one done. Plus I have thought about this long and hard and realize that the L6's are about a foot longer than the L4's but that to me means that I will have a better weight ratio and more transfer to that light rearend, plus the floorboards and firewall need some help anyway and i can adjust things nearly as easy as I can replace them. I am also thinking possibly an S10 or toyota rear-end swap with a L/S to ease the 5-lug conversion. Sorry to be so long winded, just trying to prepare for the lashing I'm about to receive for that L28 in a 521 statement I made.

[Hoosier77]

keep it 6 lug and do a disc brake swap, why does everybody want to do a 5 lug conversion? so you can run gay ford wheels or something? all the bad ass wheels come in 6 lug like the titans, caddies, chevy wheels, etc. Keep the l4!!!!!!! why would you want to hack your truck up to put an l6 in it? if you want more power do a ka or sr swap. I guess if you really want to put the l28 in then go for it but your causing yourself a shit load of extra work for very very little gain.

[a_barth]

The idea behind th L6 isn't so much for the power gain it is because it's what I have at my disposal and I've never seen or heard of anyone doing it. I know that swapping another L4 or a KA or a NAPZ would be alot easier but thats kind of why I like the idea of the L28 is that pop the hood and holy **** factor. Plus I like the idea of the engine recessed into the cab to balance the front and rear of the truck a little bit. Believe me I have thought of just trying to scroung up an L18 or L20 and dropping it in with dual SU's to make things easy but if I want easy I would just scrap the Datto and go buy a Toyota or one of the other trucks with a huge following. Around me there aren't a whole lot of older Datsuns. Actually in my life I have only seen 3 Datsun pickups older than a 720 and I've owned 2 the other was a 620 that a kid at by High School drove. The idea behind the 5-lug conversion is to run somthing along the lines of like an American Racing Torq-Thrust II or Cragar Pro Star again just something different. If i can find a 6 lug wheel that I like I will just run those with the factory drum brakes. I know they get a bad rap but if kept ajdusted they really didnt stop bad at all. Any ideas you guys have on wheels that aren't out-rageously priced please throw them up. I'm open to any sugestions you guys have and like I said this is going to be a long term project I just want to get an idea in my head of exactly how I want to go about it.

[nismo dr]

the word to picture ratio in this thread is way out of whack

[flatcat19]

You wanna do what to your truck?

[a_barth]

Ok I get it no one likes the L28 idea but as I said I'm just trying to make due with what I have at my disposal, and the floorboards need to be replaced any way so while I'm in there forming replacement floor panels I figured I could just as easily remove a section of the firewall and reform the transmission tunnel. My plan then is to use the bucket seats out of the 280 and fiberglass a custom console to tie it all together. I am going to remove the factory heater box since I'm in Florida and it's 100 f'ing degrees already and may try to graft in an a/c unit from the 280 or another donor if I see something that might work. As for the 5-lug conversion I just wanted to see if anyone has ever done it or if someone could post a pic of one of the hubs so I could see if it would even be possible. If not then I'll just run somthing like the Cragar 441's. Again I was just trying to pic you guys brains a little to get a better idea of what i want to do or what parts to be looking for.

[flatcat19]

You want to put an L28(heavier front end) in to balance it out?

How is that a good idea?

I understand you want to do the work to make it fit. What id that doesn't work?

Being in Florida, you're not gonna see another one for a while if you mess this one up.

 

As for the hubs? Why drill them. Do a disc conversion, keep the 6 lug.

The rotors you would get for the disc swap are 6 lug.

Either from Beebani's kit(Isuzu rotors) or MKlotz's kits(Nissan rotors.)

 

And if you are so pressed as in to needing 5 lugs...

there are guys taking Toyota hubs and machining the Datsun spindle to make it work.

I don't have a link for it, cuz I have not a problem staying 6 lug.

 

Think long and hard before you cut into your truck.

So many of us cringe when we hear of projects like this.

[mklotz70]

With the 5 lug Toy hubs....that mod is on ball joint spindles....not the king pin..............at least not yet :)

[flatcat19]

With the 5 lug Toy hubs....that mod is on ball joint spindles....not the king pin..............at least not yet :)

 

I can hear the gears turning, all the way over here even.

[mklotz70]

They've been turning on this idea ever since I came up with the method to adapt the 720 hubs to the king pin spindle. :) we'll see what happens :)

[a_barth]

I appreciate the insight guys. Like I said this is going to be a long drawn out project. I'm going to start with working on the massive amount of body work that is needed and over time I will see what comes my way in terms of 6 lug wheels and an engine. There are quite a few early 720's around so maybe i can come across one for a decent price, we'll see. This is why I ask questions.

[flatcat19]

If there's an abundance of 720's around you...Look into an LZ22 hybrid.

Lighter than your L28, and fuckin a fast.

[Z chopper]

well no reason the 280zx to go to waste there are some on here that swapped z suspension onto the trucks, but ofcourse you give up something in hauling weight capacity, thebucket seats from the Z I'd imagine being more comfortable than the stock bench in the truck.