Hardware

[Chowhall]

Im starting a rebuild of a 71 521 with a L20B engine and was wondering where can I get a hardware kit to replace all the hardware. Some of the bolt were mix and match.

[DanielC]

You can reuse the head bolts, main cap bolts, crankshaft and camshaft bolts, so I am going to suggest you are looking for the bolts you can reach on the outside of the engine.  If nobody suggests a kit that is available, we are talking about a 40 year old engine here, I would go to a junkyard with older Nissan cars and trucks, and harvest bolts. 

Most common bolt sizes you need are M6-1.0, M8-1.25, and M10-1.5.

You need those size taps to chase the threads in all the threaded holes in the engine parts when you put the engine back together

Edited June 14, 2020 by DanielC

[datzenmike]

In addition the Nissan ones are higher quality and grade.

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Yes, Nissan bolts are a much better quality than hardware store junk. Take some time to clean the bolts, nuts, washers, with a brass brush and a drill, some chemicals and elbow grease, and the results will amaze you. The engine will have a much better look with slightly tarnished OEM bolts than with anything aftermarket. Yes, I am even calling out you stainless bolt guys. Stainless is for boats.

[DanielC]

Very basic metallurgy.  Higher percentages of carbon in steel make it stronger.  Carbon make also makes steel rust.  The cheapest way to make "stainless steel" is to reduce the amount of carbon in the steel, and that reduces the amount of chromium you have to add to the alloy to reduce rusting.

[banzai510(hainz)]

Chowhall

all the Datsun L motors are metric

key is write this down when you get the infor  m6x whatever

 

all the body and chassis on a 521 is SAE / brake lines ect  is SAE so when come to a 521 order 521 specific stuff hydraic part ect………. radiator bolts 5/16x24 example.

 

zcardepot.com has bolt kits for the motors but a good hardwares store will have these also.  I always like the Nissan stuff myself and just get them from motors that go to the dump over the years. I can look at a bolt and pretty sure figure out where it goes.  Im not into allen bolts even if they are the shiny chome looking ones.

[datzenmike]

SS is weaker? All I can say is I have swapped in SS in for regular bolts and twisted the tops off. Now I wasn't being careful and using a torque wrench but they definitely break easier. 

[grannyknot]

5 hours ago, Stoffregen Motorsports said:

Yes, Nissan bolts are a much better quality than hardware store junk. Take some time to clean the bolts, nuts, washers, with a brass brush and a drill, some chemicals and elbow grease, and the results will amaze you. The engine will have a much better look with slightly tarnished OEM bolts than with anything aftermarket. Yes, I am even calling out you stainless bolt guys. Stainless is for boats.

Besides the SS will corrode where it is touching  the iron or aluminum anyway.  Better yet, take all your bolts and hardware off and ship them to the platers and have them all come back like new.

 

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Yes, new plating is the best option. I have three 5gallon buckets of hardware ready to go to the platers. Nothing looks as good. Not even stainless.