Roge Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 Hey guys I'm Liam and live in Alberta Canada. so I just picked up a Datsun 521 which when I bought it thought was a 620 :D but I'm ok with finding out it's a 521. I just wanted to know some cool facts and few things about the truck. I also have a few questions my self. Like what oil do you put in the engine cause it hasn't been ran for a while so don't know if it has fluids in it or not, another question is where can I get new floor panels cause mine are rusted right threw and on the passenger side it rusted through and ate at a bit of the gram and was wondering what I should do about that wether I should bring it to a professional or not. I also don't have all the money in the world as I have no dought all car guys/girls know that haha so cheaper the better. Any help and any info is great help so please inform me with anything I might find helpful and I'll definitely ask questions down the road thank you all. 2 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 Well the 521 is the natural progression forward from the earlier 520. The first year ('69) was the L521 with the old J13 engine used in the older 520. The engine was upgraded to the L16 in '70 on the PL521 and used through the run ending well into the '72 model year. The L16 and transmission was virtually identical to the PL510 car. All PL521s were standards with a 4.375 differential ratio. The transmission had the same ratios as the 510 wagon. Through '71 a pull manual choke was used and from '72 on an electric one was used. For oil I would just top it up and get it running. After a few hours running dump it out and change it and ALWAYS the filter. Find a 10W30 oil that has high ZDDP levels. Some Racing oils have this, like Valvoline R1, Castrol GTX, Valvoline? I use Shell Rotella T4 but it's 15W40 and if it gets zero F it may be too thick. Synthetics are over priced and tend to leak past older engine's seals and gaskets... it's just too slippery. Then change the transmission oil 80w90 GL-4 ONLY. Has to be 'yellow metal compatible' or copper alloy safe. Never use GL-5 Only use GL-5 in the differential. Steering box takes GL-4 and grease the ball joints and the king pins. There are no floor panels so make your own. Do not fiberglass them. Welcome to Ratsun. The 521 is well represented here. We talk 521... 1 Quote Link to comment
flatcat19 Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 Welcome. 1 Quote Link to comment
Roge Posted September 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 Thank so and if you guys want pictures I can definitely send some possibly tomorrow and thank you very much for that info :) 1 Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 Roge, have you purchase a service manual? Good idea to have one. Some guy here downloaded tons of manuals. 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 Welcome! 1 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 Go here and scroll down until you find the 521 manual. You can download it for free. http://www.davidcmurphy.com/olddat/620tech.htm Quote Link to comment
KELMO Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 Welcome to the circus. 5 threads on 521's on the first page of Ratsun. I think we have a movement going on here. Now I gotta find one. 3 Quote Link to comment
xxmass Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 Welcome to Ratsun.net 1 Quote Link to comment
Roge Posted September 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 also didn't realize till now i said gram i meant frame a bit of the frame has rusted away 1 Quote Link to comment
Roge Posted September 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 and my truck is a 1970-1971 1 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 You gotta love auto correct.... we knew what you ment.... as long and the body mounts are solid repairing the floor isn't to bad.... I'm hoping the frame your talking about is just and extra floor brace.... even that isn't to bad to fix... 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 16, 2017 Report Share Posted September 16, 2017 also didn't realize till now i said gram i meant frame a bit of the frame has rusted away You can edit the first post and change gram to frame, and as mentioned most likely knew what you meant. Can you post a photo of the rusted part of the frame? 1 Quote Link to comment
Roge Posted September 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2017 You can edit the first post and change gram to frame, and as mentioned most likely knew what you meant. Can you post a photo of the rusted part of the frame? How do i post pictures on here??? 1 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted September 17, 2017 Report Share Posted September 17, 2017 If on a computer people tend to use imgur.. I use my phone and I have had good luck with postimage.com.. 1 Quote Link to comment
Angela Posted September 17, 2017 Report Share Posted September 17, 2017 Liam, Hello & welcome. I too just bought a 1970 521 a few weeks ago & am reliant on this fine Ratsun community to help keep it alive. I look forward to following your progress & seeing pictures...LOTS of them. The people here are passionate about their Datsuns & have been very willing to share information to get you on well on your way. Good luck with your build :thumbup: Angela 1 Quote Link to comment
mainer311 Posted September 17, 2017 Report Share Posted September 17, 2017 If on an iphone, there is an app for Imgur that makes it pretty easy to post pictures. Just copy the "direct" link, and paste it where the center asterisk is. Don't actually type the asterisks. 1 Quote Link to comment
gene knight Posted September 18, 2017 Report Share Posted September 18, 2017 welcome to ratsun 1 Quote Link to comment
Roge Posted September 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2017 there you go the long lasted pics sorry about that and update me and my dad tried turning it over and it turned over YAY we took out the spark plugs out and sprayed a bit of WD40 make sure the cylinders weren't rusted or anything and we tried turning over it took a few times cause the starter is broke so i am getting a new one and hopefully it runs when i get it. it only turned over like a couple of times but the starter just wouldn't keep turning it over. also sorry about the no pictures of the engine i wills end those soon and have some questions about it when i show you guys pictures of it. 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 19, 2017 Report Share Posted September 19, 2017 You have no photos of the actual frame rails, you do have one of the cab mount arm which don't look bad, that last photo of the big hole is of the cab floor and floor stiffener, that floor stiffener is wasted, you likely will need to replace that area and the stiffener. It actually needs new floor boards all around, probably be a good idea to remove the cab and check the frame. 2 Quote Link to comment
Roge Posted September 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2017 ok and ill try and get pics for you sorry about that :P 1 Quote Link to comment
Roge Posted September 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2017 You have no photos of the actual frame rails, you do have one of the cab mount arm which don't look bad, that last photo of the big hole is of the cab floor and floor stiffener, that floor stiffener is wasted, you likely will need to replace that area and the stiffener. It actually needs new floor boards all around, probably be a good idea to remove the cab and check the frame. What would the best way be to replace the floor and floor stiffners??? 1 Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted September 19, 2017 Report Share Posted September 19, 2017 Cut it out, weld new ones. 1 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted September 19, 2017 Report Share Posted September 19, 2017 What would the best way be to replace the floor and floor stiffners???Unless you have a donor you will need to get creative.... Try to cut it out in sections that you can still measure and reference... My passenger floor was gone... I used a 12x12 piece of sheet metal and cut past all the rust so I had clean metal to weld to.... not pretty but it's solid.... As far as the floor stiffener not to sure what to say on that.... 1 Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.