datsuntrucker Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 hi everybody im new here but ive been reading up on some of your guys posts and i really love the style of the 521 and ive been looking to find one but i was wondering was there any differences in them throught the years like did 69's have a different grill or different side markers then on a 72? 1 Quote Link to comment
bilzbobaggins Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 Yeah man. Early 521's had round reflectors and the later had rectangular marker lights/reflectors. Early ones had lap belts where at some point a shoulder belt shows up. Also the door lock pulls were put on the tops of the doors as well. The grills changed too. Only seen one(the one I own) but this is all gathered from reading and looking at truck porn. Quote Link to comment
datsuntrucker Posted March 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 yeah i thought so that the early 521's had round reflectors because the only datsun 521 ive seen is a 72 that my girlfriends dad owns he doesnt want to sell it:/ but it has rectangular marker lights and it also has the shoulder belts i didnt know that they switched them i just thought the previous owner installed shoulder belts because i thought they all came with lap belts because im leaning towards buying a 71 or 72 but i was wondering if there was any differences in the earlier models Quote Link to comment
bilzbobaggins Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 Mine was built in september of 69 (L16 521). It has the flat spot on the b-pillar for the shoulder strap to anchor, but nothing else. Umm, just recalled I read that the earlier fenders might have a little more/less angle on em. Check out DanielC threads for that one. Heres the link. http://community.ratsun.net/topic/30606-my-ratsun-datsun-521/ Awesome read too. Great work and lots of great tips for checking and fixing things. Lots of other folks with great smarts on the 521 will chime in soon enough. :) Wasnt a whole lot of options available. Door jam switch operated lights, unobtanium clock, radio....shit. Cant think of em all. I have the door jam switchs, but never have got em working(also havent tried). Just look out for rust, sagging cab, windsheld issues(hard to get another new, with normal funding) window vent rubber is pricey and the bumperets . Oh well. Hope this helps and is right. Good Luck Jeff Quote Link to comment
konig209 Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 also some trucks have the antenna hole on the passenger fender as to some have it on the driver. Quote Link to comment
alabama_lowlife Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 For what it's worth, my truck was built in 7/69 and is a 70 model. No door lock knobs, but has lap belts, antenna on passenger fender, and round reflectors. Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 My truck's only diffrence is power steering,power door locks,cruise control,and in dash GPS.lol Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 Canadian '71s didn't have shoulder restraint belts, but there was a flat boss for the anchor bolts.. Quote Link to comment
Phixius Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 Trucks have different antenna locations because it was a dealer installed or aftermarket... For the shoulder belts, I think they all have a flat spot in that location. But, Im sure if you drilled a hole, there wouldn't be a nut behind for the belt bolt to screw into. (72s have a nut mounted to the backside of the outside pillar) 68s have smaller 520 style taillights and j13 engine 69 j13 also then switching to l16 (j13 came with 4.875 and l16 came with 4.375 gears) 70 and earlier have round reflectors. No door lock plungers. the locking is done with the door lactch (push forward to lock, back to open door). wing windows dont have a latch button. (easier to break into). also dont have the extended wheel well on the left side of the bed for the emission evap tank or whatever it is... 72 auto choke and shoulder belts grills.. not sure when they changed style, maybe the same time as the side markers... or whenever they ran out on the assembally line.. pics also show round reflectors vs rectangle lights 68 - 70 71 - 72 Im sure im forgetting something... Quote Link to comment
uberkevin Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 My DD and my part 521 were made the same year. The early month January 71 'DD' doesn't have the shoulder strap The parts truck November 71 has shoulder strap. Makes me mad sometimes Also the antenna hole on my parts truck is on the driver side Quote Link to comment
Phixius Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 your Jan 71 is a 71. Your Nov 71 parts truck is a 72.. My 72 was manufactured Oct 71. came with shoulder belts. Quote Link to comment
uberkevin Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 Wired why mark it as a 71? Thanks for the tidbit. Quote Link to comment
datsuntrucker Posted March 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 Trucks have different antenna locations because it was a dealer installed or aftermarket... For the shoulder belts, I think they all have a flat spot in that location. But, Im sure if you drilled a hole, there wouldn't be a nut behind for the belt bolt to screw into. (72s have a nut mounted to the backside of the outside pillar) 68s have smaller 520 style taillights and j13 engine 69 j13 also then switching to l16 (j13 came with 4.875 and l16 came with 4.375 gears) 70 and earlier have round reflectors. No door lock plungers. the locking is done with the door lactch (push forward to lock, back to open door). wing windows dont have a latch button. (easier to break into). also dont have the extended wheel well on the left side of the bed for the emission evap tank or whatever it is... 72 auto choke and shoulder belts grills.. not sure when they changed style, maybe the same time as the side markers... or whenever they ran out on the assembally line.. pics also show round reflectors vs rectangle lights 68 - 70 71 - 72 Im sure im forgetting something... thanks for providing pictures although there not that big differences i really like the 71-72 521's i really like the last truck in the pictures is that yours? also thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge about the differences threw out the years now when looking for a 521 what are somethings i should be on the look out for? Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 Minimal Rust! The "normal" time for a model year change was September. Cars and trucks sold in September through December usually got the next year. However, the 1972 521 was only sold for about a half year, and then the 620 was introduced in the middle of 1972 If you look at the pictures of the two 521 trucks above, one with reflectors, and one with front side marker lights, the lower part of the fender between the two is more "square" on the marker light trucks. Trucks sold in California got the evaporative emission system earlier than trucks sold in the other 49 states. Quote Link to comment
Rocket Dog Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 Once you go "1972" you never go back. Seriously, without air bags, I at least want to have a shoulder belt because lord knows the truck is going to collapse like a dixie cup. Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 "the truck is going to collapse like a dixie cup." I would like to suggest that because of the frame under a 521, it is not going to collapse. A 510, maybe, a 521 probably not. 1 Quote Link to comment
bilzbobaggins Posted March 14, 2013 Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 I wish I had shoulder belts. There is a archived thread somewhere that has a good read on how they put some in a 521. Think I would look silly in a slowmobile with a five point harness tho....just waking up rambles Quote Link to comment
Phixius Posted March 16, 2013 Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 I hate the shoulder belts on these things. They are not like modern belts that retract, they are simply manually adjusted, just like the lap belt. no auto ratcheting, just keep it tight, and your stuck... to tight? cant reach shit... too loose, might as well not have the shoulder belt... I took mine out because my shoulder belts wouldent let me out!, just clicked in and i was stuck, untill I jabbed a screwdriver in the latch to pop it loose... sure, it would save my face from the windshield, but what if I was upside down and my shit was on fire? Quote Link to comment
Tristin Posted March 16, 2013 Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 Man I really want a 521... 1 Quote Link to comment
gene knight Posted March 16, 2013 Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 my 70 has rectangular side marker lights, antennae on drivers fender, just lap belts, top lock knob, push button vent windows, the grilles were the same from late 68-early 70 Quote Link to comment
datsuntrucker Posted March 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 Once you go "1972" you never go back. Seriously, without air bags, I at least want to have a shoulder belt because lord knows the truck is going to collapse like a dixie cup. hey rocket dog i just noticed your location is in port hueneme i live in oxnard i was going threw your posts and the mechanic you took your 521 too would happen to own a red 620 long bed with a camper shell? Quote Link to comment
4perrev Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 My truck's only diffrence is power steering,power door locks,cruise control,and in dash GPS.lol Did you turn yours in to NIssan for all the new gadgets or were they stock drop ins? :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
ruckycharms Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 I hate the shoulder belts on these things. They are not like modern belts that retract, they are simply manually adjusted, just like the lap belt. no auto ratcheting, just keep it tight, and your stuck... to tight? cant reach shit... too loose, might as well not have the shoulder belt... I took mine out because my shoulder belts wouldent let me out!, just clicked in and i was stuck, untill I jabbed a screwdriver in the latch to pop it loose... sure, it would save my face from the windshield, but what if I was upside down and my shit was on fire? I have been stopped for not wearing a seatbelt. You should have seen the confused look on the cop's face as he looked inside the cab of my truck, looking for shoulder belts or mounting points. Quote Link to comment
erichwaslike Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Man I really want a 521... you just want everything i have tristan 1 Quote Link to comment
uberkevin Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 My 521 has different doors, I didn't change them so someone did in the past 41 years. I'll take a picture of them but one has holes and treads to bolt a arm rest. Other door just has some indents without holes. Lol Quote Link to comment
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