KurMot Posted January 23, 2022 Report Share Posted January 23, 2022 Here’s the quick run down on what I’ve got so far Started with an 81 Datsun 720 diesel, couldn’t get it running and after doing tons of research (not actually very much) found that there’s virtually no parts available for that truck I had fallen in love with the truck and wanted to use it as a daily driver, snowboarding and getting around Figured the best thing to do would be a body swap onto a modern drivetrain in comes the 2004 Subaru WRX Stripped the car down to this point Within a few days had the truck cab fitting where I wanted it. It looked great but was only sitting on wood blocks and straps holding it together. Now started the long journey of mounting it to this chassis. Now I had completely removed the structure of the WRX chassis and needed to strengthen it up, so I built an 8 point roll cage out of 1-3/4” DOM tubing Once the cage was fully welded I got the cowl all sorted out I learnt that there’s is a tremendous amount of work in tying both the inner and outer cowls in The hood is much longer on the Subaru than the truck so I was going to have to stretch it. As soon as I knew that I would be stretching it for sure I was going to try to emulate the Hakotoro Sunny truck and get the grill shape to look like the Hakosuka GTR I really like the shape of the grill so far, and as far as the rust on the rest of the truck I thought that if I was to cut it all off and do a wide body like the Group B rally cars of the 80’s that’s be the simplest I built a side skirt out that that same DOM tubing and the rear bumper Shortened the box by about 7”. It’s now wider than it is long, hahahaha that’s where I am up to date, please let me know what you think so far 3 Quote Link to comment
sick620 Posted January 23, 2022 Report Share Posted January 23, 2022 wholly shit how am I the first one to comment on this! this thing is going to be crazy! you are saving this old rusty truck and saving the good bits and your widebody setup looks like it eliminates most of the rusty areas, very innovative.. cant wait to see this thing in driving shape. 1 Quote Link to comment
slowlearner Posted January 23, 2022 Report Share Posted January 23, 2022 That's nuts! 1 Quote Link to comment
fiveoneO Posted January 23, 2022 Report Share Posted January 23, 2022 You my friend, are insane, and I love it! 1 Quote Link to comment
TrevDaddy Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 Saw this on Reddit! Can't wait to see more of this madness. Very cool project 1 Quote Link to comment
ECS620 Posted February 7, 2022 Report Share Posted February 7, 2022 I've always wondered when someone would do a WRX drivetrain swap. This is awesome. Keep up the good work! If you wouldn't mind showing some of the tools your using for the fab work that would be awesome too, since now you've got me considering this at some point! Quote Link to comment
KurMot Posted April 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2022 took it for the first rip the other day. Feels absolutely amazing!!! going to be taking it to a friends paint booth here in the next couple of days to shoot a smoked clear coat on it 2 Quote Link to comment
KurMot Posted April 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2022 the Datsun looks so tiny here between my 96 Chevy truck and my sons Mark4 GTI 5 Quote Link to comment
KurMot Posted April 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2022 On 2/7/2022 at 12:05 PM, ECS620 said: I've always wondered when someone would do a WRX drivetrain swap. This is awesome. Keep up the good work! If you wouldn't mind showing some of the tools your using for the fab work that would be awesome too, since now you've got me considering this at some point! Hey so as far as the tools, I’ve borrowed an 18” sheet metal Brake from a friend and I bought a little Magnum plasma torch. Other than that I’m using a Miller 250 mig welder and a shit ton of cutting discs, and I started using 36 grit sanding pads to grind and put the swirly marks on the metal. No fancy tools just lotsa hours. 1 Quote Link to comment
ECS620 Posted April 21, 2022 Report Share Posted April 21, 2022 Amazing man! How's the paint coming along? This has to be the most work done in the shortest build page I've ever seen here on Ratsun. Quote Link to comment
Aaron Datsun Posted April 24, 2022 Report Share Posted April 24, 2022 That escalated quite quickly. Looks great man. Quote Link to comment
KurMot Posted May 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2022 I’ve got it sprayed with a smoked clear coat. Putting all the interior parts together, covering the rear seat MDF with speaker carpet and I had to build a splice plate that took the Datsun defrost vents and attached them to the Subaru dash https://i.imgur.com/zz2SxA0.jpg https://i.imgur.com/pDBDJQ3.jpg sorting out the headlights was challenging cause all my new lights are LED. Had to use 4 relays up front for the headlights and then solder in resistors on all 4 corners for the signal lights. I’ll take more pics here soon. Just taking it apart again cause I need to paint a few more places, inside doors and tailgate Quote Link to comment
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