Does anyone make a drop spindle set for 1980 Datsun 720?

[ruckycharms]

I have already contacted Bell Tech. They had no answers for me except that they only make one for Hardbodys. Any information you guys have would be great! Thank you in advance... rucky

[_chiefjt]

Does the '80 720 have the same frame as a 620?

 

If its the same as the other 720s you can run the hardbody spindles.

[wayno]

What I would do is go out and find a 1986 Nissan 720 or the equivalent in the hardbody(I don't know which years) and buy everything between the balljoints, including the balljoints on both sides, and take yours out and bolt the new stuff in and get it functioning, then you can take it all apart again to switch it all over to the drop spindles.

I have already contacted Bell Tech. They had no answers for me except that they only make one for Hardbodys. Any information you guys have would be great! Thank you in advance... rucky

GUAM671 had already mentioned this, but I decided to repeat it with a little more info. :)

[ruckycharms]

Those are great solutions, But the point is to not have to do all that. My question is, does anyone make a drop spindle set? I am aware that I could fashion something up if need be. I want to know if any manufacturer makes a bolt in application that will fit my year.

 

 

Thank you guys!

 

alain

[]2eDeYe]

http://www.belltech.com/extras/docs/BBGC/2010.pdf

 

 

The closest you are going to get. You will want the hardbody brakes anyways as they are a much simpler design than the early stuff. :)

[flatcat19]

Those are great solutions, But the point is to not have to do all that. My question is, does anyone make a drop spindle set? I am aware that I could fashion something up if need be. I want to know if any manufacturer makes a bolt in application that will fit my year.

 

 

Thank you guys!

 

alain

No. Wayno's post explains the closest "bolt-in" mod.

[Z chopper]

grab the control arms and ball joints from an 86 720 or hardbody, then use D21 hardbody drop spindles

[Charlie69]

These are for 83 and up.

 

http://www.belltech.com/products/belltech/front-lowering-components/drop-spindles.html

[wayno]

That's a link to coil springs Charlie.

The 1983 and up spindles are the same as the 86 spindles, they just come with these really thick washers.

 

 

These are for 83 and up.

 

http://www.belltech.com/products/belltech/front-lowering-components.html

[]2eDeYe]

 

These are for 83 and up.

 

http://www.belltech.com/products/belltech/front-lowering-components.html

 

They fit any of the ball joint trucks back to 78, but the brakes on the early trucks are different and much more complicated. It's best to toss those anyway. Bonus is vented rotors from the hardbody. 

 

 

720 drop spindle on 78 620 ball joints. This is with the 78 620 hub as well. 

 

[wayno]

I use the early hubs on all my frontends, that way I can put any rim I want on it, from a 520 rim(possibly even a 320 rim, never tried it), to the 620 disc brake rim, the only thing I have ever had to do is use a regular hammer to knock down the high spots on the insides of the early rims when I was using dual piston hardbody calipers.

Funny thing is that originally I didn't have to knock the high points down, the rims cleared everything before I changed the brake pads, but the part of the calipers that lets the caliper float to center had rusted solid, so I hit it with a hammer a couple times to try and break it loose, and I must have bent it, as it didn't clear the rims anymore after that, I actually had to take it apart to break it loose, after I put it back together it didn't clear, but I believe I bent it with the hammer.

I believe the biggest issue with drop spindles is the fact that one cannot use 14 inch rims anymore, and that the outer tie rods need modifications.

[Charlie69]

Thank you Wayno and Redeye

[ruckycharms]

Dude, you guys are amazing! Thank you :thumbup:

[Charlie69]

We want pictured write up please.

[]2eDeYe]

Sorry my frame is leaning up against my cab and I won't be getting to that one for some time. :)

[DATSKAOS]

I put drop spindles on my '82 about 20 yrs. ago(wow!). I used '85 720 hubs/brakes/rotors. They will push your track width out about 1/4-3/8in. on each side. You will also have to cut some threads off of your tie rods(about 1in.). I found this out the hard way, drove to a truck show with some major toe-out, chewed my tires up! I was able to fit 15" pathfinder steelies by trimming the ends of the strut/compression rod where it mounts to the LCA. I believe the inside lip of the rim would barely clear the LCA at full turn. I'm running 16's now. My spindles are Superior brand, not sure if they still make them, but I believe AIM industries/airbagit.com makes one. They are the same as hardbody, like Wayno points out you have to use spacers for the calipers.

[Charlie69]

Sorry my frame is leaning up against my cab and I won't be getting to that one for some time. :)

I meant when ruckycharms did the dropped spindles.  Sorry for the confusion.

[Charlie69]

On the later model 720 trucks follow the Belltech instructions of 1/4" cut off per side (driver passenger).  Remember you can always cut more off if you need to.

 

On the 80 720 chassis under my 520 I had to cut about an inch of per side.  To get the toe correct and have adjustment as DATKAOS stated above..

[RickU]

Need a little help. I have a 1982 Datsun 720 and it’s a 2wd Base model. I bought the 2” drop spindles without realizing that the brakes/hub would not fit. So, I read the above and went and bought new hubs for a 1986/1987 model but, they are the same as my old ones and don’t fit. Anyone know what the part number is for the hubs that I need?
 

 

[Charlie69]

The reason for the hub change is the vented rotors and calipers to match the rotors and in reality the only difference in the early and late 720 2wd hubs is the diameter of the of the hub where the wheel sets.  I have run both early and late hubs on my 1980 720 chassis running the Beltech 2" drop spindles under my 66 520.  The later hubs can be turned down to fit the stock wheels.  Mike Klotz did videos on this when he was developing his disc brake kits.

 

The vented rotor caliper bolts are spaced differently than the non vented rotor caliper so the non vented calipers will not bolt to the Beltech lowered spindles.

 

Also, all upper and lower 720 2wd control arms are the same it is the early and late spindles that are different.

Edited November 9, 2020 by Charlie69

[wayno]

The issue is not the hub, you need 1986+ rotors, calipers, brake pads, rubber brake lines, you put the 1986 rotors on your 1982 hubs, then you mount the 1986 calipers/brake pads, connect the 1986 brake lines, bleed the brakes and your on the road.

Edited November 10, 2020 by wayno