Jasper's 1977 Datsun 620 - Blue Sky's *Disc's, Titans, lowered* [NewPics](updated 02/04/2012)

[DatDoug]

Your latest pic is lamesauce :sleep: Lets see MORE body shots :poke:

[Jasper]

I'll try to get some better ones tomorrow. :blush:

 

 

 

Does anyone know of a green 620 in Cleburne, Texas? I've seen it driving around town 3 times over the past couple years, but I've never met the guy. Also spotted an old 60's Courier being driven by a younger woman. There's even a 70's Toyota camper that I see driving around occasionally.

[_chiefjt]

What did you do to get those wheels to fit? I wanna put them on my 720.

[Jasper]

The front wheels fit fine with no modifications. I did convert to disc brakes in the front though, so that may be why.

 

The backs wouldn't fit over the hubs, so I used a hand grinder on the hubs to make them fit.

 

 

A better way to do it would to have the inside of the wheels hubs machined out a bit to fit. I'd recommend doing that way, if you can spare the money.

 

You could also do what I originally tried to do, and use wheel spacers to set the wheel away from the hub. This would have worked fine, but I didn't feel comfortable because I didn't think the lug nuts were going on far enough. If you did spacers, you would probably have to get longer lug studs.

 

 

 

I know nothing about 720's btw, so they may be different.

[Willdatsun]

Are your wheel nuts on back to front?

[Jasper]

What do you mean? You mean the lug nuts in the picture where I grinded the hub?

 

If so, I only put them on the studs to protect the threads while I grinded the hub. Didn't want to damage them.

[_chiefjt]

Yeah, I tried putting Titan rims and they would go on the back but not the front. How big is the back of those rims so I can measure my hub. Really like them and see a set on craigslist. Just need to make sure what I need to do before I get 'em.

[Jasper]

Finally a new picture. I'll try to add some more tomorrow as well.

 

I love parking next to the behemoths in Texas.

 

[Jasper]

Here's another more recent one. I really need to get some different mirrors.

 

Also, my windsheild wiper mechanism is broken, and of course it's been pouring this weekend. I'm guessing it's just a linkage or something, because I can still hear the motor turning when I pull the switch.

 

 

Current fuel economy is averaging around 20mpg. Need to borrow my dad's vacuum guage and adjust the carb some time.

 

 

 

[mrbigtanker]

Wow what a transformation.I know those brake caliper brackets.Looks really good keep up the good work.

[Jasper]

With all the rain last weekend, there was bound to be trouble.

 

 

So, I'm leaving a lady friends house to go back home. It's raining, but it's not too bad. As I'm going along, I hit a deep puddle, and water splashes on top of the truck. A few seconds later, the engine dies...

 

I was able to coast it most of the way into a QT, and finished the job with pushing. Thank god the truck is so light. After some inspecting, it seems that water splashed up under the hood. I call my dad, and he reccomends spraying WD-40 in the distributor, and a couple other places. After a lot of spraying, cranking, and head scratching, the truck roars to life.

 

 

Over the rest of the day, I had to repeat this cycle of spraying things at least 4 times. It seems that the wire coming from the coil is somewhat loose, and it's rubber boot doesn't do much to repel water.

[Jasper]

Starting to research comfort options now, as it seems to be doing great mechanically. Still need to replace a leaky brake line, but other than that, nothing out of the ordinary.

 

 

Thinking sound deadening, stereo system, new mirrors, maybe new shocks, maybe make a seat cover out of a soft blanket or something, also need to replace the shag carpet panels in there.

 

 

Debating whether I should paint the hood or not as well. Rising sun? Large avian? Zap Rowsdower?

[Jasper]

Recently replaced the water pump, fuel filter, temporary fix to wiper mechanism, new plugs, new cap+rotor, tuned carb with vacuum guage, new wiper blades, U-joint, and a new battery. Been getting around 25mpg now. With a little more tuning, I'm thinking I can see 30 mpg.

 

 

And here are some pictures of the U-joint that was replaced. I knew it needed to be done, but I hadn't had the chance. I let my father borrow my truck, and he ends up working on it. :angel:  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

 

 

Certainly explains one source of my shake, rattle, and roll.

[Jasper]

Oh, and as far as new Oics of the truck, all I have are these:

 

 

 

Build thread coming soon!

 

And in the next post here, I will be typing up all the hand-written service records I have for the truck, so I have it somewhere safe.

[ddrum]

Double win!  :thumbup:

[Jasper]

The following is a list of work done to the truck during its lifetime. I'm putting this here in case I lose the paper records.


Original owner:

 

^14,700 Oil Change w/ Penzoil 10w-30, rear end gear oil, grease

^18,200 Oil Change w/ Penzoil 10w-30, plugs w/ B7PES

^22,800 Oil Change w/ Uniflo 10w-40, safety rad cap, anti-Freeze+Flush radiator, grease

^26,700 Oil Change w/ Uniflo

^32,600 Oil Change w/ Uniflo

^36,200 Oil Change w/ Honda, flush radiator, grease

^39,700 Oil Change w/ Honda

^43,300 Oil Change w/ Honda, grease

^44,100 New plugs, adjust points + timing, adjust carb

^46,600 Adjust valves

^47,200 Oil Change + Filter, new tires(later transferred to Brenda's Mustang)
^51,120 Oil Change + Filter, air filter

^54,475 Oil Change + Filter

^57,100 Oil Change + Filter

^60,400 Air filter

^58,700 Oil Change + Filter, new plugs

^61,540 Brake shoes(All four)

^61,700 New tires

^66,000 New water pump, anti-freeze

^67,000 Oil Change + Filter

^70,050 Oil Change w/ Castrol 20w-50 + Filter

^76,525 Oil Change w/ Castrol 20w-50 + Filter

^80,610 Oil Change w/ Castrol 20w-50 + Filter

^83,460 Oil Change w/ Castrol 10w-40 + Filter

^88,720 Oil Change w/ Castrol 10w-40 + Filter

^91,620 Alternator brushes

^95,400 Oil Change w/ Castrol 20w-50 + Filter, heater hoses

^96,040 New plugs, points, rotor + distributor cap, condenser, fuel pump, adjust valves, valve cover gasket

^110,000 Front brakes

^107,000 Alternator

^{111,200 - 12/02/1992} Oil Change w/ Castrol 10w-40

^{112,500 - 04/01/1993} Used brake booster, rebuilt master cylinder

^{113,400 - 08/07/1993} Clutch slave cylinder

^{114,000 - 10/13/1993} Rear brakes(Notes mention high school?)

^{115,000 - 05/??/1994} Water pump

^{116,000 - 06/05/1994} Used right rear tire

^{117,060 - 10/15/1994} Oil Change w/ 20w-50 + Filter, grease steering/king pin

^{118,500 - 03/01/1995} Used left front tire, new points, new condenser

^{119,700 - 06/19/1995} New radiator

^{121,645 - 02/03/1996} New 195 degree thermostat(Standard is 180 degrees)
^{124,100 - ??/??/????} Four used tires

^{125,360 - 02/14/1997} Oil Change w/ 20w-50 + Filter

^{129,000 - 05/??/1998} New brakes(all), rear drums, rebuild slave cylinder, new master cylinder, rear end oil, turn right front drum(stopped pulling)

^{129,859 - 06/??/1998} Oil Change + Filter, adjust valves, adjust timing, air filter, rebuild carb, LR + LF side markers, both shift boots(Kenworth part) + bushing, PAINT JOB

^133,730 Oil Change + Filter

^{136,000 - 05/??/1999} New points + condenser

^{137,500 - 06/??/1999} Plug wires, replace mid-section exhaust pipe(was rubbing frame)

^{139,740 - 09/??/1999} Oil Change + Filter

^{???,??? - 10/??/1999} New battery

^{147,450 - 08/??/2000} Oil Change + Filter, starter solenoid lead wire, grease

^{149,950 - 06/??/2001} Replace heater valve, new antifreeze

^{151,300 - 11/??/2001} Oil Change + Filter

^{151,600 - 12/??/2001} Alternator, plug wires(Autozone lifetime warranty), plugs, choke problem

^{155,750 - 11/??/2002} Oil Change + Filter, used left rear tire

^{159,500 - 09/??/2003} Oil Change + Filter

^{159,930 - 11/01/2003} New clutch slave cylinder, rebuild clutch master cylinder

^{162,000 - 03/13/2004} Autozone battery

^{162,550 - 07/??/2004} Oil Change + Filter, new plugs, replace split vacuum line

^{163,645 - 11/??/2004} Starter motor + solenoid

^{166,050 - 05/??2005} Oil Change + Filter

^{???,??? - 03/??/2007} Replace both belts

^{???,??? - 03/??/2009} Replace clutch

^{???,??? - 07/??/2009} Replace all brakes + wheel cylinders, lube park brake cable(Previous owner mentioned this entry was never completed, and evidence shows he was correct)

 

Jasper buys truck on 02/11/2012. Speedometer cable is broken, which explains missing mileage for last 3 entries. See page 1 for further information.

 

^{166,578 - 02/17/2012} Replace speedometer cable

^{???,??? - 02/22/2012} Rear of truck lowered 2 inches(Autozone blocks + U-bolts)
^{???,??? - 02/23/2012} Front left steering tie-rod end replaced, new brake master cylinder, front of truck lowered 3? inches(Torsion bars re-indexed 1 tooth)

^{???,??? - 03/??/2012} Four new wheel cylinders(Brakes still suck)

^{???,??? - 04/24/2012} Front disc brake conversion(Much better), Titan OR wheels(to fit over discs), four used tires, rear hubs grinded to fit wheels

^{???,??? - 04/25/2012}Passed inspection!(No work done)

^{???,??? - 08/01/2012} Clutch slave cylinder(re-used line from old front brakes)

^{167,002 - 08/02/2012} Oil Change w/ 20w-50 + Filter, Drive shaft carrier bearing + donut

^{169,363 - 12/31/2012} New voltage regulator

^{???,??? - ??/??/????} New battery + terminals

^{169,421 - 01/01/2013} Spark plugs, distributor cap + rotor, adjusted timing, tuned carb

^{???,??? - 01/2?/2013} Water pump, wiper blades, U-joint, wiper mechanism(temporary fix)

 

 

That should be it for now. I will be editing this post with all future service updates as well. Stay tuned, the journey isn't over yet.

[Jasper]

Blew a head gasket last week, and I'm currently in the process of replacing it. Got the head off with the exhaust and intake manifolds still attached. Cleaning the head and block surfaces will literally be the death of me. To the people who reccomended razorblades and Acetone, you must not have dealt with a 40 year old baked on gasket. I've already spent 4 hours cleaning the damn things, and I'm probably only 70% complete.

 

Also had one head bolt break off above the block. That'll be easy to get out with some heat and a broken bolt remover. I suppose I'll have to buy a whole set of new head bolts if I can't find a single.

[Jasper]

Just wanted to make a note that I finished, with the aid of aircraft paint stripper, razorblades, and a nylon brush drill attachment.

 

Finished head gasket replacement on 03/20/2013. Also replaced timing cover gasket, oil pump gasket, distributor gasket, water pump gasket, thermostat and thermostat gasket, valve cover gasket, and heater fitting gasket. While messing with it, did a seafoam treatment, oil + filter change, new spark plugs, new antifreeze, new radiator cap, and replaced numerous hoses and vacuum lines.

 

 

In related news, it seems I'm burning significantly more oil than before. Not sure how much longer this motor is going to stay on the road without a full teardown. Switching focus to the 510 wagon, as I currently have ZERO daily drivable vehicles, out of 4 total. :sneaky: On the bright side, I lost my job one week before the truck motor took a dump, so I don't NEED to drive anywhere.

[Jasper]

The revival begins...

 

 

L16, bored .30 over, SSS head, L20b cam, professionally rebuilt. Should have it under the hood and running in under a week.
If Lonestar is reading this, thanks again man.

[Jasper]

Boring update for 9/2/2014

 

Finally got the tired L20b ripped out. Gonna wake up early tomorrow, swap the oil pans and oil pickup tubes, and get the L16 dropped into the truck. After it's in, I'll start switching all the necessary stuff. Gonna have to order an exhaust flange so I can get a new downpipe made, and also need to order a new Weber.

Or... I may start looking for a 5-speed... hmm.

[Jasper]

 

Well, the motor is finally in. Strained a muscle pushing the trans over the crossmember, so I'm gonna take a break for a couple days. Also gives some time for new parts to come in the mail.

All I need to do now is attach all the accessories, order a new Weber 32/36, 510 exhaust flange, front brake lines, clutch slave line, and get an downpipe for the exhaust made. Pretty hyped.

[Jasper]

She's finally back on the road, with a later year 280zx 5-speed to boot. No new pictures, but it still looks identical anyway. Gonna get some different mirrors next, and maybe fab up a front lip.

[Jasper]

6 years later...

Replaced all the rubber in the front suspension. Switched to a Hot Spark distributor. New wheels (Wheel Vintiques 12-570604) and tires. Mostly just use it for quick errands and trips to the dump now. Weber carb has been acting up lately, running rich from the smell of it. Lifted it back to stock ride height and did all new shocks. Will probably lower it again later, but will raise the shock towers first so it doesn't constantly bottom out the shocks like last time.

Might start collecting parts for V8 swap again. Feel like I would drive it more if it wasn't so gutless.

Edited June 7, 2021 by Jasper