Ratatouille Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 Hello Ratsun! I recently found a 521 in New Mexico and was fortunate enough to be able to pick it up. I am learning a lot searching this site and decided to create my first post to introduce myself. I am not very mechanically inclined but I'm willing to learn and get my hands dirty; my dad helps me a lot when it comes time to work on my cars. Since I see that you all enjoy pictures, here are a few: Driving it home to Colorado: Finally in my driveway: 3 Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 That looks great. Original paint or respray? How much did you pay for it? Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 Well welcome aboard you got your first like from.Like matt said already and what year 71 or 72,looks like you got a original driver side rear view mirror also very good,get some pics of the inside under hood and so forth nice truck. And judging by the over spray on the rear plate bracket i am going to say its a repaint.But still nice truck. :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 "Driving it home to Colorado" That's a very good start! Don't be in a hurry to start ripping it apart to "improve" it. Drive it as is and learn to appreciate it's good points and make a record of what you would like it's performance to be improved. Then check other builds here to see what mischief and agonies may await you. Good luck, it looks great. 1 Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 "Driving it home to Colorado" That's a very good start! Don't be in a hurry to start ripping it apart to "improve" it. Drive it as is and learn to appreciate it's good points and make a record of what you would like it's performance to be improved. Then check other builds here to see what mischief and agonies may await you. Good luck, it looks great. Amen to that brother,wait what you talking about.lol 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 Welcome B) Great first post, that's a good looking 72, and it's my favorite color also, RED :lol: 1 Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 Thats my color to dammit i got to find another favorite color,dammit Wayno you get the cool color. Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 I think i will go with ........... RED hahahahahahahahaha Quote Link to comment
datson4life Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
datson4life Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 smaller tires, lower it 4-5 inches, looks nice and straight, why isnt it in california? Quote Link to comment
K_trip Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 - removed - Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 Looks by the. Upper it is,good find. Quote Link to comment
Ratatouille Posted November 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 Hey Guys, thanks for the welcome. That is indeed my truck, I did pick it up in Roswell, NM. It is a '72 and unfortunately the paint is not original, but they did a good job with the repaint. It is in a very stock condition - it has a numbers matching L16 engine. I am really liking this little truck as is and enjoy driving it around town, so I am in no hurry to make drastic "improvements". I just want to make a few changes: Lower it and maybe convert to disc brakes. I will post pictures of the interior and engine bay as soon as I can. 1 Quote Link to comment
K_trip Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 - removed - Quote Link to comment
kike69 Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 Welcome to ratsun can I ask how much did you pay for it? I would like to know just in case I want to sell mine. Quote Link to comment
Ratatouille Posted November 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 The guy on Craigslist wanted 3k - I negotiated it down a bit. Here are more pictures along with things I'd like to fix: 1. I'd like to reupholster the seat: 2. The floors are in good shape, just need to clean them up. 3. Engine picture, need to tie-down the battery, check out the windshield washer pump, and get things cleaned up 4. There is a hole in the front tube of the exhaust piping, so the truck is quite loud right now. 5. The temperature gauge isn't working, the other gauges work fine. A couple other pictures: 1 Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 Very very very nice,i am so jealous.I love red and that truck is clean,do you have the rear bumperettes. Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 Parcel tray is obtainable or you can fiberglass it,if any one wants to know there is were the stock speaker goes.You got to fly the dash pad though and it looks like you need a cover for the blinker yada yada.All in All bitchen Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 Looks good. Here is the part for the steering column that mrbigtanker is referring to. This seller is a member here so you may want to message him and ask for a ratsun deal ;) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Datsun-520-521-steering-column-cover-/291026075577?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43c2817fb9&vxp=mtr Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 Right on Matt,I did not even see that. Quote Link to comment
dat521gatherer Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 Very nice truck for a good price. I have parcel/package tray thats in better shape if your interested to buy. Quote Link to comment
Guest Rick-rat Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 Great looking truck :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 Really nice truck. A few random thoughts. Turn the black plastic door handle upside down, and it will slowly sag back straight. Especially in summer. In the engine picture, the wire going to the temp sender looks broken, at the connection. With the key on, engine off, grounding this wire to the engine block should make the temp sender go full hot. Post 203 on this page, I show how I repaired battery hold down's and then made another. http://community.ratsun.net/topic/30606-my-ratsun-datsun-521/page-11 Post 244 on this page, I make the "J" bolt to hold the battery hold down. http://community.ratsun.net/topic/30606-my-ratsun-datsun-521/page-13 Quote Link to comment
RatVonDude Posted December 14, 2013 Report Share Posted December 14, 2013 Great find, I have this same truck in the original pistacio green. I kept the old clunky bumper because people in Oakland drive like total sh!t and was rear ended the second week I had it, everything is fine though. The greatest thing I did for my truck was pull out that stock hitachi carb and put in a weber 32/34 with manual choke, it now gets 26mpg, its not super fast but very peppy, doesn't need disc brakes at the moment. Be careful with the radiator fan, those old plastic ones will explode and destroy the radiator especially if its's been sitting in the NM heat for 40 years, mine did, I pulled one off an older mercedes 280 sel, that black german plastic is way tougher. Good deal yo Quote Link to comment
mtiger69 Posted December 26, 2013 Report Share Posted December 26, 2013 If you would like to off load that hatachi carb please get back with me, meltonmitch@yahoo.com Quote Link to comment
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