New 320 owner, 62?

[320 Newb]

 

Set the motor/trans to hang new exhaust while I'm waiting for new clutch parts. Also replaced the transmission mounts with new 1980s Volvo mounts. Did the front suspension/ball joints and will hopefully get the cab back from paint in the next couple weeks. 

[320 Newb]

 

 

Got my wheels and hand brake pieces back from powder coating. I've also been working on my wire harnesses and just sandblasted my tail light buckets to repaint enamel gloss white for a little brighter tail light. 

Edited June 22, 2019 by 320 Newb

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Crazy wheel color. I love it!

[320 Newb]

7 minutes ago, Stoffregen Motorsports said:

Crazy wheel color. I love it!

It matches the body color. It's a pretty good match on a Datsun stock color I pulled off a dealer chart from the mid-60s. 

 

 

On the cab floor and inside firewall I used a tintable bed liner:

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

That's so freakin cool.

[jetattblue]

That looks fantastic! Good job.

 

How did you get the transmission to connect to those circular mounts? The rubber in my original mounts is terrible, so I'd love to have a solution for that.

[320 Newb]

1 hour ago, jetattblue said:

That looks fantastic! Good job.

 

How did you get the transmission to connect to those circular mounts? The rubber in my original mounts is terrible, so I'd love to have a solution for that.

I took a stock mount to the local parts place and went through the paper books to find mounts that had center studs out both ends. The rounds ones I ended up using are 1980s Volvo mounts. They are the right height and right stud placement but I think I had to bore the frame holes out a little to accept the larger diameter studs. Also the top studs were too tall so I had to cut it down a little. 

 

I'm not positive but this might be it:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-auto-trans-mount-1221967-1221968?ads_cmpid=352577839&ads_adid=22972759279&ads_matchtype=&ads_network=g&ads_creative=85227243679&utm_term=&ads_targetid=pla-45686896648&utm_campaign=&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&ttv=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-fOzjvCJ4wIVDtRkCh2QzwwcEAQYASABEgLojvD_BwE

[Charlie69]

I like the color and the match on the bed liner is spot on.

[wayno]

Your transmission doesn't appear to be connected to them mounts in the photo, did you make special transmission mount brackets?

To me it looks like the transmission is being held up with a floor jack in this photo, can you take a better photo of the finished mount?

[320 Newb]

I had the stock brackets off in that pic to sandblast them and paint. Here's a pic with it installed on the stock brackets:

 

 

The chassis and bed are off to the shop. I'll drop the cab over the motor trans tomorrow. Any tips on how to deal with the steering column and shift linkage?

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

I would probably install the column and steering box in the cab first and then drop them down onto the chassis with the cab. Probably not how the factory did it, I bet they slid the cab in from the rear and then installed the bed.

[320 Newb]

1 hour ago, Stoffregen Motorsports said:

I would probably install the column and steering box in the cab first and then drop them down onto the chassis with the cab. Probably not how the factory did it, I bet they slid the cab in from the rear and then installed the bed.

 

Great idea. I can put is far through the firewall as possible then strap it down.

 

Another question. I replaced all the tie rod ends but all the steering linkage is loose until I put the steering box back in. When I tighten down all the tie rod ends to then need to be torqued to spec or do I just tighten them until they seat and the castle nut is past the cotter pin hole? Any tips on putting the steering linkage back together?

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

The tie rod ends do have a torque spec. I don't know what it is for those small joints, but probably somewhere in the 50-60# range, and then go to the next tighter cotter hole.

[jetattblue]

Thank you for the info on the transmission mounts. That's a fantastic idea! The rubber in my mounts is pretty much gone, so this is a fantastic solution.

[320 Newb]

Got the cab dropped over the motor/tranny without any trauma to the engine compartment. We're going to try and fish the steering column in through the radiator support. Wish me luck.

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Looking great so far!. I'm curious to see what you do for the rubber pieces that are no longer available.

[320 Newb]

50 minutes ago, Stoffregen Motorsports said:

Looking great so far!. I'm curious to see what you do for the rubber pieces that are no longer available.

 

Me too! I was hoping someone else would have figured it out by now. :( 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Before you get too far along, there is a solution for the boot around the steering column. Make a steel plate with a large grommet and put it on the column before it goes into the truck. Fasten the plate to the firewall and seal it with some of that gummy window sealant.

 

Yeah, that's not going to work, you've already painted the body.

[Conner]

You mean this part?  

 

[320 Newb]

1 minute ago, Conner said:

You mean this part?  

 

 

 

Conner is that part available?

[Conner]

Not yet.  I've been working on this off and on for over a year now.  

 

I'm on my second iteration.  I had the part 3D rendered, then 3D printed in rigid plastic.  I created a silicone mold from the printed blank but when I cast the parts with flexible urethane they came out with thin spots and/or missing areas (see below).  

 

So I had it 3D rendered again, with thicker walls.  Then 3D printed again.  My next step is to pour another mold using higher durometer silicone, which should maintain the thin walls better.  Once I have the mold I can cast the parts and hopefully they come out right.  

 

[320 Newb]

Nice work!

[320 Newb]

Cab mount question. I know there are round rubber mounts between the cab and chassis but are there also round rubber mounts that go on the underside of the chassis with a big washer? And if so what is the function of those mounts?

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

There's usually a spacer that goes in between the upper and lower bod mounts. This is so you can crank down on the bolt, and it will only get so tight. Does this make sense?

[320 Newb]

Got some stuff back from zinc plating. Put my handbrake and fuel filter back together.