EdwardK Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Hello all! I just picked up a '74 Datsun 620 today, I'm curious as to what information you guys can give me as far as maintenance goes. It has 120k miles on it and according to the previous owner, (Have yet to get documentation of such.) it's been serviced at a Nissan dealership since day one. (Never acquired documentation and recent development lead me to believe it was 220k or maybe even 320k.) Overall, it's a fantastic little truck. Runs and drives like a dream. I only have two gripes about it. The first being it ticks a little bit. I do know it's nearing needing an oil change. Should the oil change fix this problem? (It's about half a quart low.) Or do I need to see about getting the valves adjusted too? The second isn't so much of a gripe as it is an observation. When I'm in forth gear, doing about 65mph the shifter vibrates pretty loudly. If I keep my hand on it it shuts up. Any thoughts? And lastly, the speedometer is broken. Probably the gear up in the back as it's stuck at 40mph. Is there any way to get to that without taking the whole dashboard out? I have a replacement speedo, but I'm just unsure whether or not I should go pulling the whole dashboard out without consulting someone first. Thanks so much guys! -Edward K. A. Please ignore my little brother admiring my new wheels. P.S. One more thing! When I first start it up it has a gassy smell, but it goes away pretty quickly. Is that normal for the choke on this vehicle or do I need to have that looked at too? 1 Quote Link to comment
laotsu Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 the ticking is pretty normal for L series motors so unless it sounds particularly bad I wouldn't fret. You might be able to get rid of some of the noise by setting your valve lash. wobble in the shifter sounds like mebbe your drive shaft is out of balance?? Welcome to ratsun and I suggest posting more pics especially of anything you talk aboot, such as the shifter, the spedo, and mos def a BUNCH of under hood pics. 1 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 That is a beautiful truck. Ticks are normal. Change the oil and adjust the valves. Should quite it down a bit. Shifter might need new bushings. Make sure the trans is topped off. You might change the trans oil to know exactly where you stand with it. Choke might need adjustment for the gas smell. Love the truck keep updating :) 2 Quote Link to comment
DeviousPsycho620 Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 The Speedo is easy. The gauge bezel confess our with 3 screws, the wiper knob, and the lighter. Pretty easy. Nice truck. Welcome to ratsun. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 That is a beautiful truck. Ticks are normal. Change the oil and adjust the valves. Should quite it down a bit. Shifter might need new bushings. Make sure the trans is topped off. You might change the trans oil to know exactly where you stand with it. Choke might need adjustment for the gas smell. Love the truck keep updating :) The above. 1 Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 hopefully not dog ticks...J/K...maybe try adjusting the valves. You can add the a qt of oil and see what happens but these engines will tick. Get a book, not sure how much you know mechanically but start doing the basic stuff. Maybe wait till he gives you the records of NISSAN maintenance b4 you start doing stuff to the truck..BTW nice truck. 1 Quote Link to comment
lanemeyer14 Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 I was seriously thinking about buying this truck myself! Guess my search continues :crying: 1 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted March 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Thanks for all the input guys! As far as the ticking goes, it's really quiet, have to pop the hood to really hear it. Sounds no worse than the VW the my mother owns. But since I'm unfamilair with the truck, I thought I'd ask first. I'll definitely either check the valves myself or have it done at the dealer later on. I was seriously thinking about buying this truck myself! Guess my search continues :crying: Well I wish the best of luck to you. I'd been talking with this guy for a month before I finally managed to scrounge up the bread for it. lol the ticking is pretty normal for L series motors so unless it sounds particularly bad I wouldn't fret. You might be able to get rid of some of the noise by setting your valve lash. wobble in the shifter sounds like mebbe your drive shaft is out of balance?? Welcome to ratsun and I suggest posting more pics especially of anything you talk aboot, such as the shifter, the spedo, and mos def a BUNCH of under hood pics. Like I said before, it sounds akin to an old VW aircooled thats been adjusted correctly. So it doesn't sound bad, it's just there. I don't think it's the driveshaft, I have a mazda where the driveshaft is unbalanced and the whole darned car vibrates because of it. I'm thinking it's the bushings like someone else said. Thanks man, I'll definitely get some more pics and use them when I ask questions like this. The engine is honestly a little embarrassing, but a good steam clean will fix that. Again thanks everyone! 1 Quote Link to comment
jvb5577 Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Beautiful truck. I would like to see some interior pictures when you get a chance. 1 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted March 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 The Speedo is easy. The gauge bezel confess our with 3 screws, the wiper knob, and the lighter. Pretty easy. Nice truck. Welcome to ratsun. Any secret to getting the clips to release without damaging the insert? I managed to get it out of the donor dashboard without any problems like this. (It was full of cracks and thus flexed easily.) But my good dash in the truck now doesn't want to give me the gauge cluster. XD 1 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted March 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 The Speedo is easy. The gauge bezel confess our with 3 screws, the wiper knob, and the lighter. Pretty easy. Nice truck. Welcome to ratsun. Any secret to getting the clips to release without damaging the insert? I managed to get it out of the donor dashboard without any problems like this. (It was full of cracks and thus flexed easily.) But my good dash in the truck now doesn't want to give me the gauge cluster. XD 1 Quote Link to comment
DeviousPsycho620 Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 I just go slow and steady. Haven't had a problem yet. 1 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted March 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 I just go slow and steady. Haven't had a problem yet. I got it out with no problems. Mine actually has four screws holding it in including the one under the dashboard. So now that I have it out, I've found the speedometer cable is broken. And the only parts I can find are for the automatics. Did the manual and automatic have an interchangeable speedometer cable? Looking at the photos that the parts store has they look the same anyway. 1 Quote Link to comment
bgmk106 Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Was looking hard at this truck. Never pulled the trigger and called him. From what he was asking in the ad, you got a great buy for it. Keep us posted. Would love to see what progress you make 1 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted April 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 Was looking hard at this truck. Never pulled the trigger and called him. From what he was asking in the ad, you got a great buy for it. Keep us posted. Would love to see what progress you make It's funny that I've already had two people say that now. The guy said he had a lot of interest in the truck but most of 'em were just tire kickers. I called the dude daily for about a week before I finally decided to buy it from him. I'm stupid happy over the thing. 2 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted April 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 Also! Due to my ignorance on how speedo cables work I've found a kit to repair mine now. XD Even with two rebuilds under my belt I've never had any problems with a speedometer. First time for everything I suppose. Imma take photos of the process. Should I upload them here or in the projects forum? 1 Quote Link to comment
laotsu Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 you could do a how to write up... 1 Quote Link to comment
JAKE719 Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 Very clean truck, I like it! MOAR OICS! 1 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted April 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2013 you could do a how to write up... I was going to, but my time fizzled down into nothing. Also, I didn't want to touch the camera with greasy hands... I need a camera monkey... Very clean truck, I like it! MOAR OICS! Thanks! Imma get a page for it set up on my blog soon and link some pics there. But in the mean time... It's so tiny! I love this truck. XD 1 Quote Link to comment
Tristin Posted April 26, 2013 Report Share Posted April 26, 2013 Those edits... The truck is super clean from the original pictures, but those last ones do nothing... 1 Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted April 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2013 Those edits... The truck is super clean from the original pictures, but those last ones do nothing... Hahahahaha! If you say so, everyone is entitled to their own opinions yanno? Although... That B&W I will agree, I just couldn't get the values sets right. I never claimed to know what I'm doing with .raw photography. lol Quote Link to comment
Tristin Posted April 26, 2013 Report Share Posted April 26, 2013 The truck looks absolutely fantastic, dont get me wrong. It looks super clean. I just cant take the edited photos. If they are raw, want to send me the files and I can play around with them? :angel: Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted April 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2013 The truck looks absolutely fantastic, dont get me wrong. It looks super clean. I just cant take the edited photos. If they are raw, want to send me the files and I can play around with them? :angel: XD That's okay. I'm still learning this fandangled "photography" stuff. Man, if I kept all my .RAW's I'd need several new hard-drives. If I still had the originals I would've sent them to you. XD I'll keep a few from my next, "shoot" if you'd like to show me up. ;D Quote Link to comment
Tristin Posted April 26, 2013 Report Share Posted April 26, 2013 "shoot" if you'd like to show me up. ;D I look at it as help :hug: Quote Link to comment
EdwardK Posted April 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2013 I look at it as help :hug: Cool beans! :D Quote Link to comment
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