d.p Posted September 24, 2017 Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 Smaller is better with these trucks. I wouldn't do anything bigger than 15". 1 Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted September 24, 2017 Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 Yep..looks funky when rims are too big, unless its a 4 x 4. 2 Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted September 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2017 I'm familiar with axle shims when lifting a truck to get the pinion slightly higher and lined up better with the driveshaft. Does the opposite apply for these drop blocks? Do I shim the pinion so that it's a few degrees lower? I bought a cheap drop block kit, which to my surprise is extruded 6061 (not cast) but there's no draft on them. I'll be milling a 2 degree surface on the top of them today. 1 Quote Link to comment
d.p Posted September 25, 2017 Report Share Posted September 25, 2017 I'm familiar with axle shims when lifting a truck to get the pinion slightly higher and lined up better with the driveshaft. Does the opposite apply for these drop blocks? Do I shim the pinion so that it's a few degrees lower? I bought a cheap drop block kit, which to my surprise is extruded 6061 (not cast) but there's no draft on them. I'll be milling a 2 degree surface on the top of them today. I lowered mine on 3" blocks and no shim, some do it some don't. Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted September 28, 2017 Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 I forgot to mention something... the different master requires a little dremeling of the mounting holes... They need to be elongated slightly to be able to install it.... it's not much at all.... I am pretty sure i read that's normal when doing the swap on the 521 master.... Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted September 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 Do people replace the stock junction block with two separate ones? One for the front system and one for the rear? Alternatively, I could snatch up a junction block like my roadster has, with the light sensor in the middle of it. 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 28, 2017 Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 The rear brake line doesn't need a junction box as it goes straight to the rear brakes. Also you go from SAE to Metric when converting over to front disc brakes and a dual circuit brake master cylinder, I generally make all new lines as that is easier than cutting off the ends of them rusty old lines and trying to double flare them when putting metric fittings on them. I like the 1979 Datsun 620 master brake cylinder, as it is made for front disc/rear drum trucks although you can use just about any master brake cylinder, and yes I file the master cylinders mount holes to elongate them to mount the master using the stock mount studs, the hole that the master mounts into isn't large enough either, I usually grind the hole larger, but on my 1963 L320 I added 1/4 inch spacers to the studs and then slid on the brake master, I didn't have to make that hole bigger that way, it is totally reversible the way I did it, I didn't touch/modify the firewall in any way. I also switch over to pedal brake light switches on all my builds, they are way more reliable. 2 Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted September 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2017 Well, the rear KYB's just showed up at the house, so this weekend I'm dropping it like it's hot. Just need to pick up some urethane bump stops from Energy Suspension at Pepboys. I also have a bad ass radio shroud being 3D printed as I type this. 1 Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted September 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2017 So my in-laws are visiting, but I snuck out to the garage for a few minutes this morning and removed the rear shocks. Didn’t even play around with the bottom...snapped the shafts right off with a breaker bar. The top nuts however I made sure to be ginger with and had to apply some heat for removal. I have no idea what factory installed shocks look like, but these were pretty ratty. Both shocks had blown valving. 1 Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted October 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2017 New shocks and 3” drop in the back today with no issues. ...then my wife came home with the exhaust on her Sentra dangling around. The flange snapped off from the resonator pipe. The fun never ends. 1 Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted October 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2017 Drove the truck to work this morning. Not used to having a Datsun with working heat. It was nice. Still need to lower the front a little bit, but it sits almost level with the 3" drop in the back. Took some glamour shots. 4 Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted October 2, 2017 Report Share Posted October 2, 2017 I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 Turned out great!!! Nice work. Quote Link to comment
gene knight Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 looking good 1 Quote Link to comment
mrbigtanker Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 Very very clean truck man. Love it 1 Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted October 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 Did these trucks come with a coolant reservoir? Does anyone have a picture of a stock one and where it was located? When I bought the truck, he was using a gatorade bottle, sitting on the frame, on the passenger side of the radiator. Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 I don't believe they ever came factory on the 521.... most rig something.... Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted October 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 They didn't? How in the world did they allow for expansion? Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 Poked around on carpartsmanual sight.... definately doesn't list one.... looks like the 620 is when the started using one..... Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 They didn't? How in the world did they allow for expansion? The ground and refill each month.... Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted October 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 The ground and refill each month.... :rofl: Quote Link to comment
d.p Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 Crash is right, no overflow tank. FWIW mine doesn't really ever overflow so not sure whether that means I don't have enough coolant in there or what. Nice looking truck but is your front bumper angled up towards the sky? Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 Doesn't really need one. It overflows a little and then just purges that air next time... Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted October 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 Crash is right, no overflow tank. FWIW mine doesn't really ever overflow so not sure whether that means I don't have enough coolant in there or what. Nice looking truck but is your front bumper angled up towards the sky? Now that you mention it, it seems that way. I'm in the process of re-indexing the front torsions, so I'll take a look tonight and see what's going on. Quote Link to comment
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