frank88 Posted June 14, 2018 Report Share Posted June 14, 2018 Congratulations. When does it arrive? 1 Quote Link to comment
oukippy Posted June 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2018 thanx. It's supposed to leave Long Beach in 3 or 4 days. I don't have the details but I think it will take 1 month to be in France. 2 Quote Link to comment
frank88 Posted June 23, 2018 Report Share Posted June 23, 2018 Exciting. I downloaded a shipping app and checked every day once I knew the container number! 2 Quote Link to comment
oukippy Posted July 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 Hello, A little update : my 620's ship is near Spain and its next stop will be Barcelona. I was hoping to have it at the beginning of August but someone, somewhere, made a mistake in the shipping documents. Consequently it will currently arrive in Belgium instead of South of France ! I was supposed to take it in a port 50 km away from my town and now it's more 1000 km... Hopefully they told me that they will pay for the road shipping but I will need to wait again! oukippy 1 Quote Link to comment
frank88 Posted September 12, 2018 Report Share Posted September 12, 2018 Have you recieved it yet!? Quote Link to comment
oukippy Posted September 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 I recieved it 7 hours ago ! The battery was dead and fuel had difficulties to flow into the pump. I helped it a little bit with the old good mouth method. First time I drink US unleaded fuel. I prefer IPAs !!! I drove it home (5 km) and it was hard because of the lack of brakes (purge and new liquid needed) and moreover it's too low (as expected). I touched the ground several times, including when I arrived at my home's gate. I twisted the piece of metal stopping the gates when closing (sorry, I don't know the correct wording) and I don't know if there is any damaged under the car. I was too exhausted to give a closer look. I don't know how I will get out next time ! Wood will help I think. I also noticed a lack of oil but I don't know if it's related. I'm somewhere between happyness of finally recieving it and fear of the things I need to do now to correct the issues. I will open a new thread for the pictures and evolution of the car. oukippy PS: I spent 1h30 waiting for a friend with a battery charger on a very little country road. 3 people out of 10 stopped to talk about the car, it's a new thing for me ? 6 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 After you evaluate and no where you stand with your little 620 you will be able to relax a little and prioritize the things that need to be done. Congrats man you did it. You purchased a 620 in the US and had it shipped to your home land and then drove it home. That in its self is a milestone and all of that is behind you. Congrats man now you can tinker and put your signature on it. 5 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 Congrats! Now on to the bigger adventure :) 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 (edited) Any damage under the truck was likely caused by the previous owner, it takes a lot of effort to lower a truck and have it be safe and reliable. I hope for your sake that it was lowered properly at the torsion bars(re-indexed), otherwise you will likely need new torsion bars if the adjustment ends were just hanging down and dragging on the ground. I cannot see the photos as my browser is out of date, maybe someone can copy and paste a couple of them on here. Edited September 15, 2018 by wayno 2 Quote Link to comment
oukippy Posted September 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 Thank you very much for your support! Here are the first pics of my 620 ! In the truck : The first meters in France : First breakdown in France : I changed the battery, the car is starting well (with a brand new key made to replace the twisted one). I noticed I don't have any turnsignal working (they were tested in the USA so they should be working). The minus cable on the battery have a problem, it's disconnected as you can see on the picture : As it was connected on a former picture in the US, could it be the reason for the turnsignal problem ? 1 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 That looks like it should be connected. It should just be a ground and could be part of the turn signal issue. That said, it is best to get yourself a shop manual with good wiring diagrams to make sure you are fixing things correctly. That is a good looking truck from the pics :) Is it factory black? 2 Quote Link to comment
frank88 Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 Looks awesome. And if you decide to get rid of the bench seat let me know! 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 Before you connect that wire that I will admit looks like it should be connected, follow the wire and make sure it is a ground wire. Have you looked underneath it yet to see how much it was dragging the ground before you bought it and had it shipped? 1 Quote Link to comment
oukippy Posted September 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2018 Hello, it's not factory black. It was green and the previous color can be seen under the black, in several points. I was very anxious about that but finally the paint is in very nice condition and I think I will only but some black paint on the green spots. frank88, sorry but I think I'll keep the bench seat ? If you are interested in the full size interior mirror, I think I will remove it. It's very nice and efficient but I can't see half of the road with it ? Concerning the wire, I checked the wiring diagram, it's a ground wire. I'm sure it should be connected there because it was connected on a picture taken before shipment. It's kind of funny to see that the shipping company didn't disconnect the battery for a 3 months trip around the world but had probably pulled out that wire... Yesterday I bought an hydraulic jack and candles to start working on the torsion bars. Obviously I didn't buy the most important thing : time to spend on the truck... Stay tuned... 3 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted September 17, 2018 Report Share Posted September 17, 2018 If there is no battery tie down, it likely slid around and tore the wire out. 3 Quote Link to comment
oukippy Posted September 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2018 Hi, I plan to work on the lowering problem during the week-end. For the front, I think torsion bars won't be a problem. For the rear, is it possible to only remove the blocks and change (or cut) the U-bolts ? I'm worried because the leaf springs are very flat. They were modified with only 3 left (out of 7?). I'm not sure if I'll need to replace them. I don't plan to have an heavy load on the truck in the near future but it will be the case at some point. Any idea ? 2 Quote Link to comment
oukippy Posted September 26, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2018 Hello, I hope I'll be able to work on the truck during the week-end. I plan to remove the rear blocks but I think I'll have to change the u-bolts as the current ones won't probably work without the block. Can someone give me the size of the original ones ? Will it work with my 3 leaf springs or do I need something shorter ? Thank you, oukippy 1 Quote Link to comment
Ron1200 Posted September 27, 2018 Report Share Posted September 27, 2018 Hi Okippy The 620 didn't come with blocks in the rear. The rear end rested on top of the spring pack. Are those 4 inch (102 mm) lowering blocks? You could cut them shorter to get the ride height you are looking for. With a shorter lowering block, I think you can keep the u-bolts you have. I did this on my 620 and cut the extra length off the u-bolts. 3" lowering blocks and air shocks The best arrangement for me was the 720 4x4 springs (3-leafs). I suspect that they may be expensive to ship due to the weight and length. Ted (tdaaj on the forum) did have a set for sale not too long ago. You can check with him if interested. 720 4x4 Spring Install 1 Quote Link to comment
oukippy Posted September 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2018 On 9/27/2018 at 11:15 PM, Ron1200 said: Are those 4 inch (102 mm) lowering blocks? I measured 8 cm so it's more likely 3 inches. Quote Link to comment
oukippy Posted September 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2018 (edited) Ok according to my measurements, i have : Axle = 3,5 inches bolt thread = 0,5 inch total height = 12 inches Does it sound classical to you guys ? If I remove the block, do I need to take something like a 8 inches u-bolt ? Is it standard length anyway ? Off topic : I passed the 100 posts. I didn't think that buying an old car will make me improve my written english that much ! Edited September 29, 2018 by oukippy 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 29, 2018 Report Share Posted September 29, 2018 You could use those U bolts as long as you don't run out of threads when tightening them down. Then just trim them for length. There are also leaves missing from the springs. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 29, 2018 Report Share Posted September 29, 2018 Take them stupid clamps off that are holding the 2 upper leafs to the straight bottom leaf, the ride quality will likely dramatically improve and the rear of the truck will likely raise a little, them clamps do not belong there and are there for only one reason, to lower the truck. I did that to my 520 several years ago because others were saying it was a great way to lower the back of a truck, well it did lower the truck a little but it made it feel like I had no suspension at all. If you want to keep it semi low buy some Datsun/Nissan 4X4 leafs, they lower the truck, but more importantly they are firmer and help to keep the axle from hitting the frame to a point, there is a point where there isn't enough room between the frame and the axle and nothing is going to stop it from hitting other than a frame notch. 1 Quote Link to comment
oukippy Posted September 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 17 hours ago, wayno said: Take them stupid clamps off that are holding the 2 upper leafs to the straight bottom leaf, the ride quality will likely dramatically improve and the rear of the truck will likely raise a little, them clamps do not belong there and are there for only one reason, to lower the truck. It could be my first thing to do. Is it possible to remove the clamps without removing the full leaf springs ? A coworker had a little problem when removing leaf spring and I don't want to follow his example (basically: bang, in your head buddy). I noticed that I miss 2 leafs but I will keep it like this for now (not urgent I think and it'll save my money for the rest of the tasks to do). I will measure the bolts again to see if I can really keep them. Thread could be too short (I don't have the car with me right know). But it will be the cheaper solution clearly. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 30, 2018 Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 Fewer leaves will allow more travel of the body going over bumps. This is ok on a higher riding vehicle but increases the chance of bottoming out on a lowered one. Trucks are designed for carrying heavy loads so they tend to be slightly stiff if all you do is drive. In moderation, slightly softer may be better. The leaf spring packs help hold the axle laterally. They prevent to axle shifting side to side when hard turning. Remove too many leaves and you'll find out. Fewer leaves can cause or increase wheel hop from spring wrap. It's easier for the leaf to deform under acceleration and the wheel loose traction and begin hopping up and down. 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted September 30, 2018 Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 (edited) The clamps I was saying to remove are the ones that are clamping the main leafs to the flat one below them near the end of the flat ones, they are flattening the main leafs out and basically I expect that the suspension is now so stiff that it bounces over bumps rather than the leafs giving to make the ride smooth. OK, I do not know what the 1977 Datsun 620 came with leaf pack wise, but the ball joint 720 only had 2 leafs and one straight one on the bottom, I have see some packs with 2 straight ones on the bottom, I wonder what the 78/79 Datsun 620 leaf packs came with. I have a set of 1979 Datsun 620 mobile home leafs, they have 4 main leafs which all 4 go all the way to the eye on one end and 2 all the way to the eye on the other end and no straight ones on the bottom, they also appear to be much flatter than a stock set of leaf springs. That photo with only 1 main leaf that Ron1200 posted is of his vehicle I think, I believe he also converted over to 4X4 leafs like in the photo he published in the same post. Edited September 30, 2018 by wayno Quote Link to comment
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