hellrbbt Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 I've been lurking for quite some time, figured I should finally post. I come from the VW world, I'm currently building/resto-mod/whatever a 1984 GTI that's been in progress for about 4 years now... Someday I'll get it done. :rofl: Anyways, I've always wanted a 521/620 pickup, and this 1971 521 fell into my hands. I don't know much about the history of it, other than it came from Colorado and it's really just a shell. Came with the stock 4 speed trans, a 5 speed trans (not sure what it is out of), and a questionable L20b. That's about all it came with. So far I sourced a bench seat out of a late 80's toyota pickup, a KA24DE out of an S13 (with trans), and some other odds and ends. I've rebuilt the rear brakes, and now going to move up to the front brakes with a disc conversion as soon as I can source some decent hubs. The KA is at the machine shop now getting all the machine work done. I was told it sat for a few months, however I think it was more like a few years from the condition it was in. Top end is great with the exception of some surface rust on the cams. Bottom end was locked up, but after a few days of soaking the cylinders in PB blaster it loosened up. Cylinder 2 lost a rod bearing, which I am guessing is why it was pulled. Still waiting to hear back from the machine shop if the crank is savable (they think it should) and if I'll need a new rod (got a bit out of round). Still have a ways to go on this, but I figured I could document my progress here for the technical side of things. Now, everyone loves pics: 3 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Doesn't look like an S13 transmission, looks lie for a Z series engine. Got better pictures of it? BTW, nice first post..... with pictures. 2 Quote Link to comment
hellrbbt Posted February 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Doesn't look like an S13 transmission, looks lie for a Z series engine. Got better pictures of it? BTW, nice first post..... with pictures. That's the 5 speed that came with the truck. I don't have any pictures of the S13 transmission, although it is a bit longer than that one and the 4 speed. I can get more pics of that transmission if needed, it has ZL 71B #5 on the casing, and 0368409 stamped on the bellhousing. A friend of mine with a 510 is very interested in it as long as I don't end up using it with the L20b (which is doubtful at this point). And thanks! Figured I would make my introduction worthwhile. 2 Quote Link to comment
hobospyder Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 nice intro, welcome. that truck looks nice but a little high to me. keep up the progress and good luck on that crankshaft 1 Quote Link to comment
uberkevin Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Nice ass first post!! Nice truck too. Looks like you know what your doing... I'll be watching. 2 Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Lots of 521s showing up around here. 4 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Nice truck and project Welcome! Lots of 521s showing up around here. Are you complaining? LOL 1 Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Very much so. That thing looks way better than mine. 2 Quote Link to comment
mklotz70 Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Not extremely practical, but I sure love the wall of windows on that shop!! If I was more into working on cars, I'd say you could drop that GTI off at my place :) Glad to see you're working on the 521. 2 Quote Link to comment
datson4life Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Nice! 2 Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 most people take the hood off when pulling a motor I think thats a nice truck!!!!!!!!!!! and awesoem color . Do the truck right 2 Quote Link to comment
hellrbbt Posted February 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 Nice ass first post!! Nice truck too. Looks like you know what your doing... I'll be watching. Haha, thanks! I know just enough to be dangerous and learn the rest as I go... Not extremely practical, but I sure love the wall of windows on that shop!! If I was more into working on cars, I'd say you could drop that GTI off at my place :) Glad to see you're working on the 521. Yea, they aren't practical at all except for the amazing light they let in... I wish I had the additional storage space though! The GTI will likely stay with me forever... Here's the build thread for the GTI: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?t=5718360 most people take the hood off when pulling a motor I think thats a nice truck!!!!!!!!!!! and awesoem color . Do the truck right Yea, the hood will come off when I put the motor in. I'll do it right though. Most of the truck is in great condition, so I got lucky and will leave the body as-is for now... I'm slowly coming across more parts that the truck is missing that I need to find. For instance when I figured out why the driver's side door glass wouldn't roll up, I found the glass wasn't on the regulator, and the glass isn't even for this truck... 1 Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 I love it first post right out of the hole is spot on. I had a 83/84 GTI also that was all done up. And now you have a 521. You are now one of us and now own the best model truckjDatsun ever made. Fuck 620's you have the best,don't listen to any one else. Congratulations and welcome aboard my friend.let the fun mud slinging begin. 2 Quote Link to comment
mklotz70 Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 Wait.....what????!!! I didn't see any ass in the first post!!! :( 3 Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted February 25, 2016 Report Share Posted February 25, 2016 when you cut the exhaust keep the exhaust manifold and Y pipe together and cut it farther back People can use/ needthose y pipes(collector) 1 Quote Link to comment
hellrbbt Posted March 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 Well, the KA should be back from the machine shop either Friday or early next week. I just need to either find a matching connecting rod, a replacement set of rods, or pay $60-70 to have the one bad rod machine back into spec. The block turned out fine, however there was one spot where some pitting was a bit more than what could be bored out. Went 0.020" over and he said even 0.040" out wouldn't have gotten it, and to get it completely would need a sleeve. He said that it's about the size of a BB, nothing that would effect daily usage (not trying to beat on this motor too much... Yet. :devil: Besides the connecting rod search, the last issue I'm having is engine mounts. The truck came with only one motor mount, so I decided to buy two new ones. I guess I should have done more research as below is what I got... Is this mount (left) for a different bracket or something? I can easily make the new mount work, but if I can get the correct mounts, of course that would be the better option. 1 Quote Link to comment
uberkevin Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 The one on the left is most likely for a j motor. The one on the right is one you need. 1 Quote Link to comment
hellrbbt Posted March 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Picked this up from the machine shop today. Probably start putting it back together next weekend. 2 Quote Link to comment
4perrev Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Nice truck and perty engine you got there. Welcome to the house and enjoy the ride, but hold on tight, cause it can get lumpy around here. 1 Quote Link to comment
hellrbbt Posted April 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2016 A few updates: - The KA is pretty much done being rebuilt. Just need to torque down the cam bolts and finish bolting all the accessories and brackets back on. - Been slowly weeding through the engine harness. There's a complete lack of S13's around here (and everyone wants an arm and a leg for an oem harness online), so I ended up getting a harness and ECU out of an Altima. A few connectors are different, but shouldn't be a big deal. - Ordered mklotz's disc brake brackets. - Started going through the truck wiring. I decided it was best to start over. The cab/dash is about 90% wired, just have to wrap up the headlight switch, turn signal switch, and the hazard switch. I opted for Speedway Motors harness, which it looks like almost all of the harnesses at this price point are exactly the same, just different branding. 2 Quote Link to comment
hellrbbt Posted May 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Most of the chassis wiring is done. Head lights, front turns and running lights, heater fan, and wipers work. I relayed the power to the stock headlight relay, and added a relay to power the accessory circuit as well as the original accessory circuit was just the radio it seems right off the ignition switch. I didn't feel like selling a kidney to get some OEM tail light lenses that aren't trash, so I opted to order some LED trailer lights for the rear tails. Should be here by the end of the week so i can get those wired up. Lastly I need to run a power for the reverse lights and fuel pump, and punch a hole for the engine harness. Then just clean and tuck the wiring! 2 Quote Link to comment
hellrbbt Posted June 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 Some updates, pardon the mess of a garage... Got Mike's front disc brake kit mostly installed: And finished up my new tails. Just need to wrap the wiring up. Nice thing about this is except for the 2 holes on each side I had to drill, this is completely reversible to return to the stock tails. Still not sure when I'll get this thing done, but progress is progress. 4 Quote Link to comment
hellrbbt Posted July 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Not much progress. Most of the rear wheel studs were cross threaded beyond repair, so I am in process of replacing those. One of those m'fers just did not want to come out, so I had to coax it a bit: I had pretty much everything ready to go this weekend to put the engine and trans in the truck when I realized that the shaft cover on the front cover on the trans was missing, which explained why the throwout bearing/sleeve didn't seem to look right when installed... If anyone has a line on a 240sx downpipe, shifter, or driveshaft (I'm pretty sure a 4cyl manual D21 driveshaft would work as well?), those are the last remaining bits I need to source, and can't find anything local... 3 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 If those are the rear wheel studs I would check the fit of the new studs in the axle. The studs in the picture look like they might have wobbled out the hole they are mounted in. Quote Link to comment
hellrbbt Posted July 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 If those are the rear wheel studs I would check the fit of the new studs in the axle. The studs in the picture look like they might have wobbled out the hole they are mounted in. They were the rear studs. They didn't wobble at all, just needed a bit of persuasion to press out. I'm following this for replacing the rear studs: http://community.ratsun.net/topic/43937-replacing-521-wheel-studs/ 1 Quote Link to comment
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