Lt27 Posted January 10, 2019 Report Share Posted January 10, 2019 Hey yall, Im Michael. Just signed up and looking forward to new friendships! I recently just picked up a 1980 Datsun 720 single cab, short bed, L20B, 5 speed for $500. The body and bed are in great shape other than the paint, but im in need of help, advise, about some other issues. 1st and the biggest issue for me is it has a body lift made from treated 2x4 lumber.....smdh!!!! Where can i find factory cab mounts? 2nd question is im in need of the driver side taillight surround, housing, as it is missing. I have a lot of work that needs to be done, but will come in due time. This forum has helped thus far so i signed up 1 Quote Link to comment
weldingrod Posted January 10, 2019 Report Share Posted January 10, 2019 Wood lift should just be acting as spacer. You should be able to remove it and drop it onto the original frame mounts. Pictures a big help in describing situation. 1 Quote Link to comment
Lt27 Posted January 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2019 Thats what i was thinking, but just wanted to be sure there werent some type of rubber bushing thats supposed to go between the frame and cab. i know the bed is hard mounted just like all other beds. I currently don't have the means to upload pics, unless i can straight from my phone. 1 Quote Link to comment
Lt27 Posted January 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2019 OK just realized the factory cab bushing are still under the truck. Just thought the radiator core support would have a bushing as well. Has soon as I figure out how to post pics I will 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 11, 2019 Report Share Posted January 11, 2019 I used 4" cedar blocks on my 620 with no down side. The rad is going to drop with the body so be sure the fan clears any shroud. The front brake hard lines will also compress but hopefully back to where they were. Take yer time doing this. 1 Quote Link to comment
Lt27 Posted January 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2019 I'm only taking the wood blocks out as they are rotted and split. The radiator is actually lifted with the rest of the body as well as the front bumper. Looking at fixing this for a daily driver to work and back, 51 miles one way, so i want it a little safer in that aspect. 1 Quote Link to comment
Lt27 Posted January 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2019 https://m.imgur.com/account/Leu27/images/iqLi31F 1 Quote Link to comment
Lt27 Posted January 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2019 https://m.imgur.com/account/Leu27/images/7f1GOnt 1 Quote Link to comment
Lt27 Posted January 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2019 https://m.imgur.com/account/Leu27/images/6yNRSkq 1 Quote Link to comment
Lt27 Posted January 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2019 https://m.imgur.com/account/Leu27/images/VpeA93T 1 Quote Link to comment
Lt27 Posted January 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2019 Obviously i'm doin something wrong trying to uploads pics. Sorry bout that 1 Quote Link to comment
Lt27 Posted January 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 No offense to anyone here, but 60 something views on this thread after introducing myself more than 24 hrs ago, I kindly expected a little warmer welcoming. Esp with all the help I've seen given on here, which is why I signed up to this forum. I've wanted a datsun 720 since my pawpaw taught me to drive his when I was 15, some 22yrs ago. I finally got one, but I know absolutely nothing about these trucks. Information on them, esp the l20b, seem to limited. I may just be looking in the wrong places and I can't seem to get the search function to work well for me. I'm not butthurt just surprised really. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 12, 2019 Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 Try an ad here...https://ratsun.net/classifieds/category/9-datsun-parts/ ... in the classifieds for the tail light. The '80 through '82 tail lamps are the same. 1 Quote Link to comment
Lt27 Posted January 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 I really appreciate that! 1 Quote Link to comment
Jon's AD3 720 Posted January 12, 2019 Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 go to your local junk yards and try to find a a comparable donor truck to get parts off of. may be hard to find, but that is a good start. 1 Quote Link to comment
Lt27 Posted February 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2019 Sorry haven't replied in quite some time. Been busy with out of town training for the fd. I sourced the tailight buckets from a fella on datsun 720 club on FB. 1 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted February 13, 2019 Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 Welcome. Picture links do not work. You might try PostImage. Here is a link to a how to post pictures using PostImage. Postimage and Ratsun Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted February 13, 2019 Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 Your technical question got answered, and few people on here will follow links to see pics, so no one is just stopping in to comment on your truck. Get the pics worked out and you will find more commentary. Also you posted in a subforum that gets less traffic, so there's lots of guys on here who haven't seen your thread. I've owned a bunch of 720s but never an '80, so I've never had the L20. Since i always thought even the z24 was a little underpowered at freeway speeds, I've always wondered how they drove with the L20. 1 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted February 14, 2019 Report Share Posted February 14, 2019 At higher RPMs Lockleaf. I have owned more 1980 720s than I can remember! Regular cab and king cab 2wd and 1 4wd parts truck. I have a 1980 720 reg cab 2wd chassis from a $50 non running truck I purchased when I worked in Bagdad AZ at the open pit copper mine. Quote Link to comment
Lt27 Posted February 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2019 Appreciate all the advise fellas!! The 2.0 is actually pretty dang peppy, really surprised me. 70-75 on the interstate is no problem and rpms stay dead on 3k at 70mph in 5th gear 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 16, 2019 Report Share Posted February 16, 2019 I had a 521 back in the '70 and put a car L20B. Was very happy with the mid range torque and grunt of that engine. 2 Quote Link to comment
Charlie69 Posted February 16, 2019 Report Share Posted February 16, 2019 My brother Garret and I installed a Z20 5 speed in a 70 521 years ago and it was a fun little truck to drive. Quote Link to comment
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