Thehoffinator Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 Hey folks, Finally got my KA24DE swapped 620 running and driving! Very excited, I will post pics of the build once I get everything squared away. LOTS of progress pics! Anyways, here's my issue. I need to align this thing, and replace the old rusted rotors and pads that are currently on the truck. I want to buy the adjustable 720 tie rods, but unsure of which ones to go with? 4WD or 2WD version? I also don't know what brakes are on this, it seems to be 720 stuff but all the research I have done indicates it doesn't just bolt in... although I can't tell anything has been modified, but then again, I don't really know what to look for. Can someone tell me what this is? This is a 1973 620. Had an old Buick V6 swapped in it for many many years.. Thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 It appears to be a early 620 frame/chassis with 1985+ Nissan 720 disc brakes, I cannot tell if early or late type. Does it steer strangely and bite into turns? Does it have some negative camber also? 1 Quote Link to comment
igotatruck Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 That looks alot like the front brakes on my 83 720. 1 Quote Link to comment
Thehoffinator Posted August 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 Honestly, I couldn't even tell you if it handles strangely, I have driven it in the neighborhood approximately 4 miles. I JUST today adjusted the centerlink to give me enough Toe In to not squeal the left tire driving in a straight line. Since it is not even close to being aligned, I cannot say with confidence that any steering or corner dive-in is attributed to anything else BUT the lack of alignment. It has been lowered, and it does have a BIT of negative camber... when it's up in the air, the things are DEFINITELY negative... looks like the clown kids that drive their civics with the wheels sticking out friggin sideways. Put it on the ground and it straightens up. same thing with the toe, up in the air it looks cross-eyed, back on the ground she sits pretty straight. Straight enough to drive at about 35-40 that is.. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 If you look you already have adjustable tie rods on it. Rotors look fine to me. Just have them turned to true up the two contact surfaces and put new pads on. Don't fix what ain't broken. But honestly what's shown is good as is if the pads are. Looks like later 720 (Nov '82 and on) or early D21 2wd rotors and calipers. The adjustable tie rods are 4x4 I think. This would never fit a pre '78 620 frame without a conversion kit so... Is the gas tank mounted to the bed or to the frame on this truck????????? 2 Quote Link to comment
2wheel-lee Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 It appears that the steering box is mounted in the factory mounts on the inside of the frame, which would imply that it's at least a 620 frame. The shock/upper control arm tower appears to be twisted rearward, so that would hint that it's likely the correct frame for a ball joint front suspension with disc brakes ('77ish-'79 frame?) I'd bet that either the complete frame has been swapped or the front frame section has been grafted. As Datzenmike asked, if the gas tank is mounted to the frame, then the whole frame was swapped. Another thing to consider is if the rear axle has been swapped with the frame. I don't know the wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface distance is of the early and late 620 frames. 1 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 It's got balljoints and I think I see the steering box mounted inside the frame which would indicate 1978 or 1979 620 (720 had them mounted on the outside of the frame). I wonder if it's had the entire frame swapped. Are you sure it's a '73? Have you cross-checked the VIN on the body against the VIN on the frame? Note - if the VIN's don't match, NEVER bring that up in the presence of a DMV employee, or police officer. 2 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 The VIN on the frame is stamped on the top right ahead of the engine mount and behind the alternator.... use wire brush and sand paper.... and a fleshlight. 2 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 sand paper.... and a fleshlight. Um..... 2 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 It wasn't the stupid auto correct. 1 Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 I'm not sure which pronoun to use, but I believe that is a kingpin identifying as a ball joint. Don't judge. 2 Quote Link to comment
Thehoffinator Posted August 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 Thank you guys for the quick responses. The gas tank is mounted to the BED not the frame...I will look under there to see if I can see any evidence of the frame being modified. Also, Datzenmike, it has an adjustable tie rod ONLY on the drivers side... and it's hard to tell in the pic, but the rotors are heavily pitted. The pads are torn up, and I'd rather just replace with new if I'm at this point and not have to worry about it.. kind of overkill I know.. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 Have a look on the right rear frame near the front of the gas tank. If the frame was swapped, maybe the original gas tank was retained on the bed. On the '78 and '79 the front of the gas tank was supported on a strut extending towards the truck center from the inside of the frame rail. The rear of the tank was bolted to the box. Maybe this strut was simply cut off. 1 Quote Link to comment
Thehoffinator Posted August 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 Just had a look, and I don't see anything under there...I don't see any evidence of there ever being any sort of strut or metal there...the only thing I see is a pedestal with a bolt hole mounted on the inside of the frame rail on the opposite side of the frame on the drivers side..if that means anything 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 Maybe muffler clamp support. Well that leaves the front clip swapped. 1 Quote Link to comment
Thehoffinator Posted August 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 I took a look on the Google machine to see this strut you were referring to. I see what you mean, and it doesn't look like it existed on the inside of my frame.. Anyways, if the front clip is swapped, I can't even tell.. I don't see any evidence of welds, or grinding or anything. It may be hidden under the years of rust. So when ordering parts, what all should I be ordering for this? 80's 720 components?? 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 It sure looks like it but I can't say for sure. 1 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 Measure the diameter of your rotors. That will be the single most helpful thing to identify what rotors your have. Thickness could also be useful, though wear changes that obviously. Then go to oreillyauto.com and look up various rotors for 620s 720s and d21s until you find one that matches your measurements. By going in to the details, it will tell you diameter etc. 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 What years did the 620 have a solid column like the 521? 1 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 I wonder if someone simply swapped over all the balljoint suspension. The control arms, spindles, rotors, calipers, etc. I've never done it, so I don't even know if it's possible, but this truck definitely has the later suspension, the older style steering box and column, and the vented rotors (which I thought were only 720). 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 All years 620 were one piece column and box. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 Lower control arm on the ball joint 78-'79 were a different length than the earlier king pin trucks. The attachment point on the frame is located differently. If you swap the arms onto a king pin truck the camber is insanely wrong. If it was possible to do this somehow someone would have figured it out by now.... they haven't. 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 It can be done, but not with stock parts, one needs to modify either the upper or lower 620/720 disc brake/ball joint control arms, there are no bolt on front disc brakes unless they are aftermarket or made/fabricated like the way I did it to my 521 work truck. 2 Quote Link to comment
Thehoffinator Posted August 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2017 Update, the VIN on the frame matches the engine bay placard and the door tag. So I'm not sure how this swap was done, but it doesn't appear to be modified in anyway. So I guess the modified front clip and frame swap are out the door. ANYWAYS... it seems like I've got 720 front suspension on here, is there a difference between early and later 720 components? 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted August 19, 2017 Report Share Posted August 19, 2017 1973 Datsun 620 trucks had kingpins and drum brakes all around, if the numbers match and nothing has been modified, some magic has occurred. 2 Quote Link to comment
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