My never ending 520 project

[Kenp19]

I know this won’t be everyone’s favorite build But here it is so enjoy... or don’t lol 😂

 some things I’ve done over the past 4 or 5 years include 355/th350, corvette irs with coilovers and a custom back half  Silverado disc brakes up front, 7inch gm power booster with master full re-wire lots of rust repair custom dash and plenty more this winter I shaved my bed hooks and started working on  a ball joint conversion using some modified  mustang ll parts corvette brakes and coilovers  along with rack and pinion steering  And a tilt column hopefully some day it will get nice paint and interior  

           

[]2eDeYe]

Welcome, excellent introduction post. 🙂 

 

Badass 520 you got there B)

[Kenp19]

18 minutes ago, ]2eDeYe said:

Welcome, excellent introduction post. 🙂 

 

Badass 520 you got there B)

 

18 minutes ago, ]2eDeYe said:

Welcome, excellent introduction post. 🙂 

 

Badass 520 you got there B)

 Thanks and thanks for having me  it’s been the most expensive $500 trucks  I’ve ever owned both money and time wise but It’s fun 

[BrothersGarage]

Nasty little 520 you got there. Love it ❤️ 

Anything left to actually do besides the tilt column? What color you plannin on painting her? 

Edited March 11, 2020 by BrothersGarage

[Kenp19]

41 minutes ago, BrothersGarage said:

Nasty little 520 you got there. Love it ❤️ 

Anything left to actually do besides the tilt column? What color you plannin on painting her? 

Thanks  man

I have to finish up the front suspension as I’m waiting for some custom shafts to be made for the upper control arms allowing them to be bolted in the factory location once they get here I’ll finish welding everything up mount my steering rack and column Then that bit should be done .... unfortunately I’m not sure when it will see paint and I’m still undecided as to what  color I’m thinking 70s Chevy gulf green it’s a light puke metallic color with a off white roof and tan gut maybe but there will be a lot of bodywork and a lot more metal replacement before we get there lol 😂 

[BrothersGarage]

1 hour ago, Kenp19 said:

Thanks  man

I have to finish up the front suspension as I’m waiting for some custom shafts to be made for the upper control arms allowing them to be bolted in the factory location once they get here I’ll finish welding everything up mount my steering rack and column Then that bit should be done .... unfortunately I’m not sure when it will see paint and I’m still undecided as to what  color I’m thinking 70s Chevy gulf green it’s a light puke metallic color with a off white roof and tan gut maybe but there will be a lot of bodywork and a lot more metal replacement before we get there lol 😂 

It's a Datsun - the good ones are about 50% rust now 😄 lol so I feel you there but I am digging the color choice and your plans sound awesome. Lookin forward to seeing more!

[Kenp19]

1 hour ago, BrothersGarage said:

It's a Datsun - the good ones are about 50% rust now 😄 lol so I feel you there but I am digging the color choice and your plans sound awesome. Lookin forward to seeing more!

Yeah mine was more like 75% and the previous owner did some horrible “restoration” work with heat tape and zip screws .... and while the floor was in good shape and is not rusty has started to rip at the rear cab mounts so there’s something else to fix I guess 😂 I just wish body parts were easier to come by up here in New England  so I wouldn’t have to do so much metal work and could focus on the fun stuff 

[4perrev]

Holly shnikies!  That thing has got to ruin tires with a quickness.  Awesome job!  Welcome to the house!!!!!!!!

[Crashtd420]

On 3/11/2020 at 12:19 PM, Kenp19 said:

I know this won’t be everyone’s favorite build But here it is so enjoy... or don’t lol 😂

 some things I’ve done over the past 4 or 5 years include 355/th350, corvette irs with coilovers and a custom back half  Silverado disc brakes up front, 7inch gm power booster with master full re-wire lots of rust repair custom dash and plenty more this winter I shaved my bed hooks and started working on  a ball joint conversion using some modified  mustang ll parts corvette brakes and coilovers  along with rack and pinion steering  And a tilt column hopefully some day it will get nice paint and interior  

           

 

Just realized this is you, I need to come check that beast out in person....

[Kenp19]

47 minutes ago, Crashtd420 said:

 

Just realized this is you, I need to come check that beast out in person....

Yeah that’s my little monster it’s in Pieces now I tore it apart Last fall  too widen the front frame rails to fit long tube headers and build front suspension And do some floor and frame work and stuff And with  being swamped all winter with work  it has not made it back together yet I’d post pictures if I could remember how to 😂 

[Crashtd420]

1 hour ago, Kenp19 said:

Yeah that’s my little monster it’s in Pieces now I tore it apart Last fall  too widen the front frame rails to fit long tube headers and build front suspension And do some floor and frame work and stuff And with  being swamped all winter with work  it has not made it back together yet I’d post pictures if I could remember how to 😂 

If your interested in a hand for a few hours some weekend  I'll drive my truck out and come say hi.... your welcome to take it for a drive, won't be as fast as yours but still fun as hell to drive....

[Kenp19]

1 hour ago, Crashtd420 said:

If your interested in a hand for a few hours some weekend  I'll drive my truck out and come say hi.... your welcome to take it for a drive, won't be as fast as yours but still fun as hell to drive....

Yeah man sounds good they are All  fun to drive and legally in the state the fastest you can go is 65mph Anyways and there’s times I wish I left mine four-cylinder like every time I pull up to  a gas pump  😂  And if you ever need a hand or anything  just reach out I’m no Datsun expert but It’s At least an extra set of hands  ... Also  if you ever find yourself needing parts it’s safe to say that I’m the number one source for new and used 520/521 parts in Massachusetts If not the whole north East 😂😂 

[mikec4193]

Hey KenP19

 

A little too much motor for me but still a crazy cool build...congrats on getting it up and running...it looks awesome from here...another Northeast Datsun saved from the crusher....

 

MikeC

[Kenp19]

On 9/7/2020 at 3:59 PM, mikec4193 said:

Hey KenP19

 

A little too much motor for me but still a crazy cool build...congrats on getting it up and running...it looks awesome from here...another Northeast Datsun saved from the crusher....

 

MikeC

Thanks man it’s not for everyone 😂 ... The main reason for the Craziness was lack of Parts availability in the area And the rear portion of the  frame was rotted As well as a lot of the body and a lot of the mechanical bits were shot so I didn’t feel too bad about chopping her up better than letting it continue to rot or get scrapped I guess  

[Kenp19]

Finally got a little time yesterday to work on the old truck  mocked up most of the exhaust with the exception of tail pipes which will be done when the bed goes back on  

built an alt bracket and installed the new belt drive and remote trans cooler/fan  and a few other things  this year it also got new front suspension  and rack and Pinion steering  Corvette brakes up front to match the rear coil overs all around  Widened the frame five eights of an inch on each side to accommodate the new  long tube headers  as well as some frame work to clean things up a bit And  bunch of other stuff Bucket seats tilt column shaved hooks etc etc 😂  Here’s some updated pics for anyone interested it’s all a work in progress hoping to back on the road spring 2021 thanks for looking 

[Draker]

This tail gate handles are pretty cool! Love the work on this.

[Kenp19]

Thanks man I appreciate it 

[wayno]

How did you make the handles work, this is how I did mine on my 520 ute.

[Kenp19]

7 hours ago, wayno said:

How did you make the handles work, this is how I did mine on my 520 ute.

I haven’t yet lol I got busy and haven’t had time to get back to it yet  My plan  is to use cable driven mini bear Claw  latches  then make a panel to cover the inside Of the tail gate hopefully in the next couple weeks I’ll have the frame all buttoned up and  the body Back on so I can get started on things like that and the power windows and stuff .... cool set up you have there There also  I dig the extended cab 👍🏼

 

[]2eDeYe]

This thread is awesome:D

[Kenp19]

3 hours ago, ]2eDeYe said:

This thread is awesome:D

Thanks man 

[wayno]

I did make a cover for my tailgate but I had to re-work the handle mechanism, unfortunately I could not make it flat, the way I re-worked the tailgate putting the rail inward from stock would have had the tailgate looking weird, it still does look weird but I don't haul any real weight with this truck.

 

[Kenp19]

14 minutes ago, wayno said:

I did make a cover for my tailgate but I had to re-work the handle mechanism, unfortunately I could not make it flat, the way I re-worked the tailgate putting the rail inward from stock would have had the tailgate looking weird, it still does look weird but I don't haul any real weight with this truck.

 

That’s alright still looks good sometimes you gotta make compromises 

[Charlie69]

Here is Shawn's 521 in late model Synergy green 521 custom.

 

Edited January 2, 2021 by Charlie69

[Kenp19]

On 1/2/2021 at 8:10 AM, Charlie69 said:

Here is Shawn's 521 in late model Synergy green 521 custom.

 

Nice build good looking rig For sure I was  looking at Possibly 70s gm gulf green but  Lately find my self thinking of maybe a metallic red With white pearl roof  maybe ... haven’t really touched my truck since before thanksgiving probably  so I got a ways to go  ( probably years at this rate ) before I have to decide 😂