demo243 Posted August 12, 2019 Report Share Posted August 12, 2019 (edited) So I did a thing today... and joined the 620 club. Many of you may know my 510 build -- Red '71 4dr Carbed KA -- and as much as I love the car, its not so much fun to drive around all the time... so I was looking for something to be able to cruise around in... drive to work on a fairly regular basis... throw a bike in the back and take it to the trails... so a 620 was the ticket. Watched a number of them... missed out on a few really good ones... then this one popped up. Its rough... but the price was right. More photos to come once I fully go through it all... but the plan is to get the engine and trans back in it, get it running, drop it, and cruiiisee. Eventually I will need to patch a pretty decent hole in the passenger floorboard... but thats just an excuse to buy a welder and learn to weld... something I should really learn how to do anyway. Now for the photos! Orange whip 620 by devon M, on Flickr Orange whip 620 by devon M, on Flickr Orange whip 620 by devon M, on Flickr Orange whip 620 by devon M, on Flickr I think I'm going to need a bigger garage.... Orange whip 620 by devon M, on Flickr Two Dattos! Orange whip 620 by devon M, on Flickr Anyway... I think we'll call her Orange Whip orange_whip_large by devon M, on Flickr Edited August 14, 2019 by demo243 7 Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 (edited) Not wasting any time ---- Got the engine and trans back together and in the truck.... rolling the dice on this one and hoping its running and in as good of shape as I was told... wish me luck!20190813_193542 by devon M, on Flickr 20190813_195709 by devon M, on Flickr It is definitely a tight fit dropping them in as one piece... if I have to do it again ill probably do them separately... will take longer but be easier as one person... One of the cleanest tags Ive seen on a Datsun 20190813_180128 by devon M, on Flickr Love taking shots of the two of them together20190812_190110 by devon M, on Flickr Inspiration--- same truck! down too the wheels! --- mine will never be that clean... and I need these Mirrors!!!!!!! 1978-datsun-620-regular-cab-shortbed-texas-truck-rebuilt-motor-new-clutch-1 by devon M, on Flickr Questions to follow... in another post. Edited August 14, 2019 by demo243 4 Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 (edited) Ok...time for questions... only a couple for now What are people running for KA headers? I had to run the Megan Racing 2 piece for simplicity in the 510... and it looks like it will be tight in the 620 too... I think I am going to stick with the stock upper s13 exhaust manifold, and just have the exhaust shop fab the rest. I am a bit confused on the on lowering the front of the truck. I picked up a set of 3" blocks for the rear but have read a few different things for the front - mainly do I need to actually reindex the torsion bars or can I just loosen the bolts back at the cross member in the middle of the truck--- ie like this https://gordonfrench.com/lowering-datsun-620/#more-462 How and where can I find a set of the mirrors as mentioned above??? I believe they were a dealer option... but can't find anything close online I think i got the mirrors figured out I had more questions but now I forgot them..... Also potentially looking for--- -a decent dash with glove box --- mine is pretty beat up and I am definitely missing some of it--- or inspiration for custom fab'ed ones. -seat cover for a stock bench seat --- was planning on swapping buckets in but this one is in pretty good shape and I think I like the idea of keeping the bench .... more to come Edited August 16, 2019 by demo243 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted August 14, 2019 Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 Loosening vs reindexing is basically a question of how far you want to drop it. If you get enough lowering from loosening the bolts (but still have tension on the arms) you should be fine. If you need more adjustment, reindex. 1 Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 1 hour ago, Lockleaf said: Loosening vs reindexing is basically a question of how far you want to drop it. If you get enough lowering from loosening the bolts (but still have tension on the arms) you should be fine. If you need more adjustment, reindex. 👍cool I'll just loosen em up first then and see if its low enough. Shouldn't take too long.... depending on rust..... Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 14, 2019 Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 You WILL introduce toe in when lowering or raising. It's impossible not to and you will introduce some bump steer and camber. Bump steer isn't adjustable on the truck you can adjust some camber out but it's intended for fine tuning the truck when at the proper ride height and not severe lowering. 1 Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 Some camber I can deal with, hopefully the toe isnt to bad and can be corrected. Not looking to completely slam it, but definitely want to drop it. Shooting for 3" right now, but we'll see how it comes out. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted August 14, 2019 Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 (edited) It's a ball joint front end or at least it should be, your best avenue is to buy a set of drop spindles like in the link below, I am not saying that set, just search "Nissan 720 drop spindles", keep in mind that you will need to buy brakes for a late 1986 Nissan 720(rotors/calipers/hoses) as that is what the drop spindles are made for, you can use your 620 hubs. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Street-Edge-2-Drop-Lowering-Spindles-for-83-97-Nissan-720-D-21-Hardbody-2WD/222998840094?fits=Model%3A720&epid=17003810796&hash=item33ebc4431e:g:BpIAAOSwC9hcIqoM When you lower the front of your truck too much you will create negative camber, there is a point where it cannot be adjusted out of it, the drop spindles above will give you a 2" drop, another inch is no big deal and you will still have a decent ride. When you loosen your bolts on the cross member there will be a point when the arms drop below the cross member and if you drag them on the ground it can destroy them, this is the purpose of re-indexing them, so they do not drag on the ground. There is more involved with drop spindles though, you cannot use stock 14" wheels with them unless you modify your lower control arm, also your tie rods will need to be trimmed, you can likely get away with lowering it by loosening the bolts, you possibly may have to re-index your torsion bars, but if you use this truck as a truck your ride will suffer. Edited August 14, 2019 by wayno 2 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted August 14, 2019 Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 59 minutes ago, demo243 said: Some camber I can deal with, hopefully the toe isnt to bad and can be corrected. Not looking to completely slam it, but definitely want to drop it. Shooting for 3" right now, but we'll see how it comes out. I guess I have another reason to come check things out..... I think when you lower the front you create positive camber.. top out.... I have a bunch of left over shims I bought to correct that .... I guess I can finally take that ride and bring them down.... I set my camber with a basic angle finder.... toe was corrected with the string and measure method.... Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted August 14, 2019 Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 Ok maybe I'm wrong wayno seems to be on the right track.... forgot about the possibility of having ball joints.... Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted August 14, 2019 Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 Ok ya.... negative as it goes down.... Positive if you raise it up...... I must have removed a spacer or shim when I originally set my ride height..... once I put the fenders on I had to raise it up a little and that caused me to have some positive camber .... so it was me... Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 19 minutes ago, Crashtd420 said: I guess I have another reason to come check things out.... 19 minutes ago, Crashtd420 said: Ok ya.... negative as it goes down.... Positive if you raise it up...... I must have removed a spacer or shim when I originally set my ride height..... once I put the fenders on I had to raise it up a little and that caused me to have some positive camber .... so it was me... Always welcome to stop by- Yea should be negative as it drops... and its '78 with discs so I believe it is ball joints up front. I think I am going to try and drop the truck tonight. Got the engine an trans in yesterday, but still need to bolt up the trans cross member, so since I am going to be putting it up on stands to do that I might as well adjust the torsion bars while I am there... and the rear should be pretty quick. There is a shop about 500 yards down the road that I think can do alignments so I am hoping they can take care of that for me. its definitely all out of wack right now. Going to need an exhaust shop too... Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, wayno said: It's a ball joint front end or at least it should be, your best avenue is to buy a set of drop spindles like in the link below, I am not saying that set, just search "Nissan 720 drop spindles", keep in mind that you will need to buy brakes for a late 1986 Nissan 720(rotors/calipers/hoses) as that is what the drop spindles are made for, you can use your 620 hubs. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Street-Edge-2-Drop-Lowering-Spindles-for-83-97-Nissan-720-D-21-Hardbody-2WD/222998840094?fits=Model%3A720&epid=17003810796&hash=item33ebc4431e:g:BpIAAOSwC9hcIqoM When you lower the front of your truck too much you will create negative camber, there is a point where it cannot be adjusted out of it, the drop spindles above will give you a 2" drop, another inch is no big deal and you will still have a decent ride. When you loosen your bolts on the cross member there will be a point when the arms drop below the cross member and if you drag them on the ground it can destroy them, this is the purpose of re-indexing them, so they do not drag on the ground. There is more involved with drop spindles though, you cannot use stock 14" wheels with them unless you modify your lower control arm, also your tie rods will need to be trimmed, you can likely get away with lowering it by loosening the bolts, you possibly may have to re-index your torsion bars, but if you use this truck as a truck your ride will suffer. Great info! Thanks! Right now I am working to keep this truck on a pretty tight budget... so I think drop spindles are out of the budget... its money that would be better put toward a welder for this truck i think. I've got my Tacoma for daily duties and real truck duties. I'm gonna start by loosening the bolts... and if it isnt enough I will re-index them. Edited August 14, 2019 by demo243 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted August 14, 2019 Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 I would never drill holes in my doors for them crappy mirrors, I would go with 720 type mirrors or better yet clamp on the the drip rail type mirrors unless you have a set of Datsun Factory type mirrors for trucks or the period correct aftermarket type like I have on my 521 kingcab. 1 Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, wayno said: I would never drill holes in my doors for them crappy mirrors, I would go with 720 type mirrors or better yet clamp on the the drip rail type mirrors unless you have a set of Datsun Factory type mirrors for trucks or the period correct aftermarket type like I have on my 521 kingcab. I wouldnt drill holes either.... but they are all ready there... so I figure I might as well use em... Nice truck! Edited August 15, 2019 by demo243 Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2019 Did a little more work tonight. Got the trans mount in--- I'll give it to RedEye... those mounts make putting the engine and trans in easy! While I was down there I backed out the torsion bar bolts--- impacts make that job much easier--- backed em out till the arms were just about to hang below the xmember. Then went out back and installed the 3" lowering blocks. The rear sits right where I want it... although I might need to trim the bumps a little bit--- there is still a little bit of travel before them. The front sits a little high. Could drop 1/2-1" I think... which means I'll need to re index the torsion bars. Gonna wait till I get the engine running and everything and then deal with it. Still need to put the intake, exhaust and radiator on which may help drop it a hair more. 3 Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 (edited) Got to do some digging... but looks like the intake was fully de-hosed.... gotta figure out what needs to go back and what doesn't. No worries about smog which is good--- just gotta figure this junk out... since my 510 KA has none of this with the Mikunis on the side of it. Reality I would love to carb this one... but its not in the budget right now.... Also seems like 620's with standard cabs and KAs need a short shifter--- not opposed to this since the 510 has one. In the budget nature I ordered an ebay one.... we'll see how it is. 20190815_185841 by devon M, on Flickr Edited August 16, 2019 by demo243 1 Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 After doing some searching and thinking, I decided I am going to skip the factory dash bezel and gauges. I found a 6 Gauge set from JEGS for $320 which includes Speed, Tach, Fuel Level, Oil Pressure, Coolant Temp, and Voltage. By the time I got a dash bezel and a tach I would be atleast at $300 and still need to get a mechanical sending unit for the KA trans to match the 620 gauges. Would have loved to go speedhut... but they are more then double... so in the budget nature of this truck I went with JEGS. I'll cut out a metal plate to fill the hole in the dash and mount the gauges too. Will end up looking something along the lines of this... just painted black and with black gauges 4 Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2019 Not too much to update... waiting on a bunch of parts... hoping to put some solid time in on the truck this Saturday... But did a few things so far this week. Got my ebay short shifter and that solves the elbow to bench seat issue... sorry no photos... but initially I might like it more then the B&M one in the 510. Also started working on the dash--- painted the rusty metal black and it looks much nicer... got my Jegs gauges in - speedhuts are definitely nicer... but also double the price... these will do the job just fine. Started mapping out my plans for the layout too. Photo below. Oh yea got my glove box door as well... just going to need to build a box for it. Still a rough draft.... need to figure out if I want to keep the heater core... and if so I need to figure out where to mount the vent and control levers... I know I should keep it... I do live in Massachusetts... but it's so much easier to pull it... might see about mounting them below the dash to make it easier... Also got my mirrors in - not totally my style but the doors already have inserts for em so gonna run em. I guess these were a official datsun accessory. Only have one bracket to mount them horizontally... so they will be vertical. That's ok though More parts coming! Megan racing shorty header... single belt conversion stuff... if I'm really lucky it might be running this weekend... that might be pushing it though... gotta sort out this wiring too... and fill that back window up with stickers! 4 Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 26, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2019 Spent some time working on the truck this weekend- Back window started! need to get a rat'n'wrenchs and a few more stickers 20190822_191632 by devon M, on Flickr Got my Megan Racing header in and mounted up. Clears well.. although I don't know if the 3 bolt flange will work.... looks like a prime candidate for a v-band clamp--- well see what that runs from the exhaust shop.... 20190824_130516 by devon M, on Flickr 20190824_115541 by devon M, on Flickr 20190824_115534 by devon M, on Flickr Got the intake mounted up as well. This thing is a pain in the ass--- still need to get the support in there... I think.... The wiring and bolts on this are worth running carbs on it alone! 20190824_190030 by devon M, on Flickr Started working on the wiring and what not -- Here's what I am working with behind the dash --- the wiring is a bit messy... already found a few messy splices... would love to rewire the truck... but it really doesn't need it. First I need to figure out what I can remove from the 240sx wiring harness. 20190824_194240 by devon M, on Flickr Changing plans on the dash as well I think... The stock unit is pretty messed up and the plastic dash cap is like putting lipstick on a pig.... its still ugly as hell.... So the new plan is one big aluminum dash-- still need to figure out where I will get the metal but I think this is final plan. It will look much cleaner then the messy old dash. 20190825_185129 by devon M, on Flickr 20190825_185156 by devon M, on Flickr 20190825_185552 by devon M, on Flickr 20190825_185601 by devon M, on Flickr Another side shot--- just cause. 20190825_185831 by devon M, on Flickr Lots more work to be done.... Wish I had a set of Mikuni 44s kicking around... I have the manifold and the edis unit and megajolt aren't too bad... I just need to wrap my head around this 240sx engine harness and figure out exactly what is needed and what isn't.... 5 Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted August 26, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2019 (edited) Also.. Crappy photo-chop job.... but found these wheels on the f-book marketplace.... gotta try and find out what offset they are.... but the price seems right so I may just give them a shot. Gotta message the guy and see if they are still around and if I can get them on Friday. 68816570_10156058317906529_6185367232592216064_n (1) by devon M, on Flickr Scratch this photo... I will keep it for reference and maybe future inspiration.... but the seller with these wheels was being a real pain... and the wheels were filthy... better of putting the money toward something else on the truck.... maybe later. Edited September 6, 2019 by demo243 4 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Great looking truck B) 1 Quote Link to comment
demo243 Posted September 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 (edited) Not too much to update on the truck.... spent last weekend at the vintage races at Limerock in CT. Took the 510 so photos of that ill be in my 510 thread... and it means I didnt get any work done on the truck. I did get a few more parts in, and started working on the dash. Need to figure out where to mount the catch can... doing away with the pcv on the KA My original plan in the prior post interfered with the door handles... so this is the new plan... Its simple... but it will work 20190905_184719 by devon M, on Flickr 20190905_184721 by devon M, on Flickr Marking up the metal! Will be using the ghetto 2x6 and 2x4 press brake. 20190905_194035 by devon M, on Flickr Dos Dattos! 20190905_204111 by devon M, on Flickr Edited September 6, 2019 by demo243 2 Quote Link to comment
Trophy24 Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 Nice progress on the truck! Quote Link to comment
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