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My 521 down in the lab...


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Well shes back on her own weight! slammed all the way down.

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I still have to mount springs and shocks. I got these for upper spring perches

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i figured if I was getting a driveline made, now would be the time to get a 5 speed because length wont matter. found this 280z 5 speed

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What a SOB to get in tho!!!! A removable crossmember would sure be nice! I had to cut these existing tabs off, then unbolt the cab and jack it up about 6 or 8 inches but its in now. I sure hope its a good one.

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new throwout bearing, and my makeshift press

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  • 1 month later...

Well I've been out in the lab working some experiments on the 521... With the new 510 rear end being 4x4.5, I now need to make the front match up! The hub is just too big in diameter to redrill, so I thought "will a 280z hub fit on my 521 spindle?" I make a trip to pick n pull and and grabbed a set from a 77' 280. With some black magic, I think they will fit...8A4EB590-8F85-447E-B6BA-ABBF39633419-629

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Has anyone done this before? I ordered up some bearings today, and started doing a bit of machining... and some homework on adapting 240sx rotors and making caliper brackets. More to come soon!

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You're still running kingpins?  I think the bearings are close, but a bit small.....inner and outer.   If you take the spindle apart at the kingpin, you can turn the spindle down to fit the 280z bearings.  If you have to turn the outer bearing surface down, you may have a prob with the spindle nut threads.  You can still get stock outer bearings for the 521.  You might be able to open up the nose of the hub, but it's about .26".....a fair amount.  You'd only have to cut the OD of the outer portion of the spindle about .030".....that's only a .015" depth of cut, so there may already be that much difference between the bearing surface and the thread diameter.  

 

Length of the spindle is probably already pretty close.   I'm guessing you cut that back off the hub for some clearance to the spindle?  Did you leave enough to put the seal back in?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well I got one on there! I did some precision filing (yeah it is possible) of the spindle, had to remove about .008 from the inner bearing seat to get the original 280z bearing to slip on. I wouldn't recommend doing this but I trust my file finessing and micrometer skills.. Well, enough anyways.. 2B4FDC77-E69F-47D9-B00F-E3FAC586FE7F-369

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I was able to find outer bearings that had the same 20mm ID as the 521 but with a smaller 47mm OD and a 14mm width. So, I put the hub on the lathe and took close to an inch of material of of the backside, because the Z hub is deeper. Flipped it around and opened up the outer bearing surface only about 50 thou to make the new 47mm bearing fit. Then the test fit....

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Looking good!

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I'm picking up some 240sx rotors and calipers this week, then I can start on some caliper brackets if it looks like it will work. Well on my way to being 4 lug all the way around! THEN I get to find some wheels, that should be fun.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...

Well it's been a bit, but I've been doin a little work on my experiment again. Life just keeps getting in the way! Ive installed a 280zx master cyl for my disc brake swap.

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I found my wheels, 13x7 western slotted mags with 3'' back spacing. super deep!

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Here's a shot from underneath.

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I had to make some clearance for the tires, they were bottoming out in the fenders. THE EXIT WOUND!! super dangerous...

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And... when I went to go check out the slotted mags, the guy told me he had a '72 wagon he was lookin to sell. It needs a few things, but for $900 I got the wheels and the car! I couldn't refuse! Towing it home this weekend. 

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lol ... i searched my content for this thread the other day ... hoping it was updated ... nothing new but today there is ...thats sweet..... ok,  love the slots ... those are sick ...love the blowed out hole look in the wheel wells....and fucking love the goon...... i smell a goon to irs swap coming soon....hats off to you my friend i like where u take things and look forward to the goon build ... i hope mine is done by the time u start n it ... lol....but i still will watch intently at your progress.

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  • 5 weeks later...

Yup, busted by trashbagpossee! After months of low mood and motivation, I surfed a title wave of progress last week attempting to get the beast ready for the blue lake show.... well I blew that deadline... BUT, got it on the road by sunday night! It feels way good to drive my truck again, especially with the new mods. It only took six fuckin months. BAH! on to the oics

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started with a cereal box template, a piece of 1/4'' cold rolled from the rem bin (this whole truck has been built from the rem bin, rat life!) then proceeded to overload my jigsaw, drill, grinder cutting them out. the quote for the evening was "Is my drill smoking???" haha

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drilling some holes...

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waaabam! a bracket. These are 1990 240sx calipers

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both sides done and painted

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Mounted! 240z hubs, custom machined, 240sx rotors bolted to the outside of hub, and 510 brake hoses, a true ratsun!

 

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New trans seal for my 280z 5 speed

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finally got to install my custom 1pc driveline that I had made months ago. yay!

 

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on to the rear shocks... did some precise slicing and dicing of the old lower shock mount to move the shock closer to the drum.

 

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Upper shock mount from 2x2 square tubing and some heavy duty bolts.

 

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All painted up and mounted! the past piece of the rear end puzzle. The shocks are from speedway, super compact body 3'' of stroke.

 

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got to drive it to work today! its been so long....

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yeah, a thrift store just opened up next door:/

 

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I've gotten comments like "is your axle broken?" "why are your wheels bent?" and "that must wear out tires fast." I just smile and nod haha

I just ran out front and snapped these oics real quick because I realized i didnt have any in the day light. I've got some friends into photography, I'm gonna see about gettin some nice ones soon.

 

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cool one from last night.

My truck is proof that you dont need a whole lot of money to make something cool, as long as you can be thrifty! I want to give a huge thanks to my girlfriend Leigh for her support and $$$ help with tires and other parts. And also my brothers Beau and Jeff for all the beer, helping hands and motivation they gave.

 

Datsun for life!!!

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