albyneau Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Well, the choice to start this project was handed to me (metaphorically speaking) on not a silver platter~ but rather a coolant-filled drain pan. I've been fighting several smaller issues keeping my truck running on a red ink budget, when yesterday after work I discovered it's hydrolocked while sitting in the parking lot. Got it freed up and lickety-splitted home~ and now the fun begins! When I brought it home.... not much to look at at first (I hate orange!), and relatively straight~ The inside was remnants of 1980's mod's. Check out the apehair dash~ now faded and going bald! :blink: Rusty floor, warped doorpanels, and a dashpad that's not just dead~ but decomposing... Everyone knows what lies beneath the bonnet of a 521~ this pics here merely as a starting reference point~ What's wrong with this picture...? The next two pics are after my rollover back in September. It came to rest on the driver's side. Can you believe it didn't even mess up my mirror adjustment? That fender was pushed into the hood, and got it a bit kinky as well~ but I never travel without my trusty BFH~ Radiator support/headlight bucket's tweaked~ there's almost a 3/4" gap between the bucket & fender here~ Quote Link to comment
TENDRIL Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 gnarr, hey is the mani. missing the heads to the bolts :P :unsure: Quote Link to comment
albyneau Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 gnarr, hey is the mani. missing the heads to the bolts :P :unsure: Yep~ despite copious amounts of penetrant and lots of patience every single exhaust manifold bolt snapped off! Quote Link to comment
stretch Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 so what did you do with the old rims, mostly the rear's. I have a set but would love to do the deeeeep dish on all four Quote Link to comment
albyneau Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 so what did you do with the old rims, mostly the rear's. I have a set but would love to do the deeeeep dish on all four Sorry Stretch~ gone to the recycler in the sky. They were so far gone with rust it'd have cost more to repair than to replace.... The mags and brand new (>6k miles) Yokohama 215/70-15 tires will leave as soon as I've got the new front axle underneath, and can scrounge up a spare for the back~ gotta keep it rollin! Quote Link to comment
albyneau Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Expect posts in the "parts for sale" forum in the next couple weeks for those tires/wheels, the motor (with a w53 head), 3 spd auto trans, entire front suspension (all or parts), and rear axle...;)... Scott Quote Link to comment
TENDRIL Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 lol the shag dash is somthing eles! :D Quote Link to comment
Boaty Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Give me a pressure washer, a nice big fatty jug of Super Clean (Okay, I'll accept Purple Power since it's cost makes up for it's shortfalls in comparison) and a case of beer. I'd have every bit of nasty gunk off that truck in a couple hours, top side and bottom. :D Quote Link to comment
albyneau Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Give me a pressure washer, a nice big fatty jug of Super Clean (Okay, I'll accept Purple Power since it's cost makes up for it's shortfalls in comparison) and a case of beer. I'd have every bit of nasty gunk off that truck in a couple hours, top side and bottom. :D Got a pressure washer and a jug of the purple stuff~ will have the beer here by the time you arrive.... Could use some help getting the body off anyway~ Quote Link to comment
1lo620 Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 I dont think I have ever seen an automatic 521...!!! Pretty cool!!! Quote Link to comment
albyneau Posted January 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 I dont think I have ever seen an automatic 521...!!! Pretty cool!!! It did make life easier around town~ but an auto with 4.37's gets old goin down the road very much. When the transformation's complete it'll be an auto once again~ with OD and four wheel drive... Quote Link to comment
K_trip Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 It looks like a nice enough truck to start with, heck ... it's much cleaner than my old 620. LOL When the transformation's complete it'll be an auto once again~ with OD and four wheel drive... I like the sound of that (chassis swap or full custom?) ... either way, looking forward to seeing your progress. Quote Link to comment
albyneau Posted January 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 It looks like a nice enough truck to start with, heck ... it's much cleaner than my old 620. LOL I like the sound of that (chassis swap or full custom?) ... either way, looking forward to seeing your progress. No chassis juggling on this one~ frame-off, Samurai front axle, Dana 44 rear, 4.3 v6, 700R4, NP241 tx-case. No trailer queens in this corral~! It'll be built to look like a factory truck~ no monster lift/tires/etc. I build for function before form~ but still appreciate great form. This is gonna be my work truck for the next 50 years.... Thanks for the interest Quote Link to comment
albyneau Posted January 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 It looks like a nice enough truck to start with, heck ... it's much cleaner than my old 620. LOL I like the sound of that (chassis swap or full custom?) ... either way, looking forward to seeing your progress. No chassis juggling on this one~ frame-off, Samurai front axle, Dana 44 rear, 4.3 v6, 700R4, NP241 tx-case. No trailer queens in this corral~! It'll be built to look like a factory truck~ no monster lift/tires/etc. I build for function before form~ but still appreciate great form. This is gonna be my work truck for the next 50 years.... Thanks for the interest Quote Link to comment
albyneau Posted January 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2012 Pulled the Sammy axles, rebuilt 4.3, and 700R4 out of mothballs tonite. Removed rear springs/tires to sell rear axle, cleaned up front to prep for install. Soaked the piss out of every body/suspension bolt on the truck I could lay my eyes on with penetrant, repeat and wait, repeat and wait, repeat and.... Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted January 15, 2012 Report Share Posted January 15, 2012 Automatic is pretty cool. That was not a factory option for the 521. Quote Link to comment
albyneau Posted January 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2012 Automatic is pretty cool. That was not a factory option for the 521. Yes, it was nice~ just not for the open road without earplugs~! My new setup will replace the stock 4.37's with a Dana 44 3.73's, and a .7 OD for a final drive of 2.61 w/ 26" tires. This might end up a bit low in rpm's~ so a possible upgrade to 4.56's with taller tires to tweak the rpm's into place may be in order down the road. Just have to wait -n- see how the motor likes 2200. In the mean time~ Prepping for heart transplant, face & butt lift, and bionic (4x4) legs Quote Link to comment
K_trip Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Once I was thinking of something like this, but a 620 project with a swap. A Jeep CJ-6 has a similar wheelbase and track - it might swap nicely? I won't be the one to try it, but someday someone might. Who knows I have gone through a number of 4.3 motors, I think they are great! They are like a 3/4 version of the infamous small block Chevy 350. Going with 26" tall tires (close to stock alright) will you use 15" rims? I'm going to enjoy watching this project, keep us posted. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 I have gone through a number of 4.3 motors, I think they are great! Datsun motors aren't like that -- one lasts a lifetime. Quote Link to comment
Zeusimo Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 I Had A EFI 4.3l In My El Camino.. Great Motor But They Blow Head Gaskets Every 75K Quote Link to comment
albyneau Posted January 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 Going with 26" tall tires (close to stock alright) will you use 15" rims? I'm going to enjoy watching this project, keep us posted. Yessir~ 15's it is. I want to (try to) keep this looking and riding like a factory job~ no big-n-wides, bodylifts, etc.. 521's are as narrow as a Samurai and 70's and earlier narrow Jeeps~ able to wiggle thru tight spots. Not only do big-n-wides ruin the lines, but they also wreak havoc with aerodynamics, and they are themselves four big flywheels~ effecting acceleration, braking, handling characteristics. My goal is a small and nimble little truck~ with enough backbone to get the job done! Quote Link to comment
albyneau Posted April 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 Well, it's been a while since I posted~ cuz it's been while since I've had the chance to work on Reincarntion. I won't bore you with pics of a 521 with the motor out~ I think most of us know what that looks like. What we have here today is laughable, and only serves to reinforce what I've been ranting on for nearly four decades; I think there should be a test before people are allowed to buy tools~ especially welders~! :fu: :hairy: :excl: = cryptic for F**king caveman~! Quote Link to comment
albyneau Posted April 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 Tomorrow morning (b4 wk) the trans comes out, and pressurewash the frame to prep for hacking brackets.... Quote Link to comment
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