Jump to content

'66 520 - Mile High


zachreini

Recommended Posts

What's up everyone!

 

Been posting about my project in the 520 thread, so I thought I'd make an official project thread about it.

Here's my 1966 520, located in Denver.

 

L8y3Jml.jpg

xiE6pwr.jpg

 

Currently working on gutting the interior to repaint/sound deaden/bed liner everything. Lots of holes to plug up.

 

RqifZ7g.jpg

 

Also notice this botched accelerator cable, anyone have any leads to a new pedal assembly and cable?

 

7m6Zf38.jpg

 

My coworker is reupholstering the bench seat for me. Got this vintage patch to sew into it. A nice little detail.

 

HftIFCg.jpg

 

Thanks for checking it out, and for everyone that's helped me so far.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
  • Replies 30
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

You can find replacement throttle cables on ebay.  ebay will become very useful when searching for parts.  I have had to bend some of my 520 521 gas pedals a little in order to get full throttle after installing new carpet andpad.

 

Nice little truck. 

 

That is the correct year bed on your truck.  The gas door shape gives it away.

Link to comment

Interesting, it has the square gas door but does not have the fill plug in the tunnel for the top loader style trans. Are the wheel wells in the bed square or tapered?

All of the 66 520 Datsuns I have looked at have not had a fill hole for the top loader trans.  One 65 did have.

 

The wheel wells on the 65 66 520 bed are square.

Link to comment
  • 4 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

Been a long time since my last post. Too cold/snowy/windy here in Denver with no garage to work on the truck. Got some stuff in the mail and was able to get some things done today. 

 

Ordered this carpet for an '80 Nissan truck, will need some modifications to fit. I'll update on how good/bad it is when I get around to install. Also, Olive the pug is testing it out.

 

GQI5gLK.jpg

 

Crucial shifter knob mod. Also sanded/vacuumed/wire brushed the floor to get ready to fix the holes and seal it.

 

gu67ej0.jpg

 

Here's the finished seat after reupholstery, looks damn good!

 

nHUx3Hl.jpg

 

Finally, working on painting some of the dash components.

 

S3gvdcA.jpg

 

Hope you all enjoy this slow progress!

  • Like 3
Link to comment

The seat and the dash are beautiful.  I like the 50/60s fibe with the diamond tuck in the seat.  The embroidered Datsun patch is a classy addition.

 

It looks like your puppy approves of the carpet!

 

Nice work keep it up.  All the small things you can do during the winter is  great for when you can work on the big things in the summer.  It is all progress!.

 

Now if you could only get the truck into your living room to work on it.  LOL

 

Years ago when I was into Harleys, my living room was my garage when I did not actually have one.  It was nice to use the living room for the garage  because of the AC in the summers.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

Took advantage of the momentary window of nice weather (Spring? On time? Whodathunk?) Repainted the interior. Waiting to do the doors cause they need some repair. Got the carpet in. As you can see, I had to glue in some patches to make it work. Not the cleanest, but then again this whole truck is like polishing a turd lol. DIY or die.

 

FUHNbA7.jpg

 

4LIhsvQ.jpg

 

1YDpI6U.jpg

 

dEn4iHk.jpg

 

pbcBQjD.jpg

 

Got finished and "covered" just in time for some spring hail/sleet. The windshield has a little leak, so I had to protect my handy work.

 

Also installed some new mirrors and hood pins, considering doing an engine swap with my tax return. Hopefully my girlfriend doesn't kill me lol.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
  • 3 weeks later...

Did some more work on the engine bay. Cleaned and scraped off a bunch of dirt and grime that caked on over 50 years. Someone painted the block electric blue, but some of the original dark teal started to show through.

 

Committed some blasphemy and painted the valve cover yellow (i did the same thing on my honda acty) trying my hardest to make this Datto a Honda lol. Changed out the screws to some fresh shiny ones too.

 

Ordered the MGB Header from Pierce manifolds and it would have hit the fuel pump, so I welded in some bends (very poorly) to make it fit. Took three tries but I made it work. Please excuse the shitty welds lol I'm very out of practice. Will probably get some header wrap to cover up my botched work and provide some sort of heat barrier.

 

Enjoy!

 

Nnc758a.jpg

 

M3dCGoK.jpg

  • Like 4
Link to comment

Did some work and finally finished the header. I wrapped them up cause they are really close to the fuel pump despite all my efforts. Cleaned up really nice so I got excited and mocked up the new weber carb and intake! Looks really awesome. Gotta run the fuel and vacuum line as well as the choke and throttle. Also converting it to the manual choke, so I took the carb off and found my oil cap so took some pics of that.

 

Enjoy!

 

QrMsgNq.jpg

 

gt8cLUU.jpg

 

hBItGJG.jpg

 

DDp8QUq.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
  • 3 months later...

I realized I haven't posted in a while so here's a little update on my truck. 

 

G7wXZJZ.jpg
Finished the wiring, just need to mount the new fuse box underneath the dashboard, which is all repainted and assembled into the cab.

 

nxFsu6k.jpg

Decided to roll with the bright color theme of the engine bay and got these new distributor wires. Had to relocate the coil a little on the firewall to make it all work, cleans it up a little bit though.

 

xiljCuD.jpg

I couldn't get the replacement mechanical fuel pump to work, so I plumbed up a small electric pump (which actually came with the truck when I bought it) and installed it with a U-bolt to the steering column. Going to make a plate to put over the old fuel pump mount when I can get some time to delete the pump. I guess my efforts modifying the exhaust header were in vain but oh well.

 

TbN6waY.jpg

Thought it was interesting to see the progress side by side with this older pic of the engine bay.

 

QHDyupr.jpg

ngIgKKT.jpg

Started on the body work. Sanded and wire wheeled some surface rush off of the lip of the bed, primered it to prevent more rust. Stripped off all the old paint and thick bondo from the hood and primed it black until I can finish the job. Had 5 colors underneath it all and a 1/2 of bondo in one spot near the front emblem. Kinda think I will leave it black lol

  • Like 2
Link to comment
  • 1 year later...

Wow I just checked and its been over a year since I updated this build.

 

I finally moved into a house with a garage so that's where its been on jackstands for about 5 months. I've made a lot of headway with the engine bay after I pulled the engine out which I'm currently rebuilding (final assembly later this week!)

 

yG9ZHzX.jpg 

 

I stripped out the old paint and fixed some minor rust spots and gave it a new coat of paint (rattle can) with a 2 part clear. I also cleaned off all of the dirt and grime from sitting in a field for 10 years and painted the subframe,  sway bar, and stabilizer bars. 

 

RzwEpbu.jpg

 

Starting to redo the clutch and brake lines. New hardware all around. Doing a bit of a wire tuck.

 

LippQit.jpg

 

Also installed the Silvermine Motors big brake kit! Replaced the bushings for the sway bar and stabilizer bars. Also got new outer tie rods and inner tie rod ends.

 

Hopefully will update this more frequently. Not bad for spray paint and HOURS of wire wheel work.

Edited by zachreini
  • Like 7
Link to comment
30 minutes ago, Charlie69 said:

That is some nice work there.  If I buy you a round trip ticket would you come down and work on one of my trucks?

 

Sounds fun to me! I’m always learning, I could probably learn a thing or two from you. 

 

Thanks everyone for the support

  • Like 2
Link to comment

Looking back on the old pics of my engine...it was atrocious.

 

Here are some pics after the "fresh" rebuild. Basically just new water/oil pumps, new gaskets/seals, and piston rings. Couldn't find the correct size of main and rod bearings so I just reused them *shrug*

 

If it blows up, just another excuse to swap it.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

gy5bgBC.jpg

 

o7tNBAB.jpg

 

1HR1EVM.jpg

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment

Thanks for all the positive feedback! Feels good to have the ball rolling a little bit on this.

 

I got excited and wanted to temporarily mount the engine in the bay to see how it looks. Looks great! Now I can run the new brake lines and not run into anything, as well as figure out the wiring and new battery placement.

 

QeMCYH1.jpg

 

ZgsxkBB.jpg

 

x1Fm1Wk.jpg

 

1GzKLZz.jpg

  • Like 6
Link to comment

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.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.