What to expect from a '79 620? **UPDATE**

[psychrome86]

**UPDATE**

Well, it's been just over a year since I mentioned this 620. I went to arizona over christmas and got to see this beautiful truck again. This time I finally got a somewhat good look at it. It was zero degrees outside so I didn't have too long a look at it. The door plate says '78 so kudos to those who said it! I haven't looked it up yet but it must be the L20 engine because the emissions sticker said 1920cc engine. (i think that's right.) The interior is actually a lot better than I thought it was. It's a manual, didn't check if it was 4 or 5 speed though. Didn't check the brakes. The body is still in perfect shape except for some very small rusting above the rear passenger wheel. The "electrical" problem I mentioned before I found out was just a dashboard light staying on, I think the brake/parking light. I didn't try to even start it but i checked out the fluids and they all still look good except for the brake fluid. I'd probably end up replacing most of the brake system anyway just to be safe.

 

I'm going back out there in the spring-summer time and hopefully will be able to spend more time on this truck. Any suggestions as to what stuff to check out on it before I try to turn it over let alone drive it? My first thoughts are to charge the battery or get a new one, change the oil, flush the cooling system, bleed the brakes with my power bleeder. Other thoughts I have are to regrease the wheel bearings and change the tranny and differential fluid.

 

One other thing. I didn't realize how tiny that truck was till I sat in it. I'm 6'4" and I couldn't rest my legs anywhere without hitting the steering wheel or the shifter. Going to take some getting used to.

 

 

Hi all, I'm new here. I found this forum because I'm on my way to becoming a first time datsun owner (after an accord, crx, and a nova, the last two i still own). There's this '79 620 out in arizona I want to bring back to southern california in a couple weeks. One obstacle is to figure out the best way to get it out here.

 

Anyway, I'm interested in finding out what's under the hood and how easily I can replace the interior. It's a king cab and my short research tells me more than likely it will have an L20 in it. Last time i was out there a couple years ago I only had a short glimpse of it and all i could see was the perfect body with no visible rust at the time and a trashed interior. It's been sitting for a couple years. It runs and has some sort of "electrical problem" according to the owner. I have a sad feeling it might have developed some rust by now but i'm not too worried about it.

 

If anybody knows a way of getting it out here aside from renting a uhaul truck and trailer; I'm all ears. That alone will cost around $500-$600. Or i could try driving it out but I'm not that desperate for it. Thanks for any help.

 

Here's a pic of it.

[Llittle_Llama]

I'm interested in finding out what's under the hood and how easily I can replace the interior.

 

L20, Very easy if you have done it before, most people swap the nench for buckets though.

It's a king cab and my short research tells me more than likely it will have an L20 in it.

It will, unless it has been replaced

If anybody knows a way of getting it out here aside from renting a uhaul truck and trailer; I'm all ears. That alone will cost around $500-$600.

 

Rent a 2 wheel dolly from uhaul and do a "local rental" from where you live. It's 20$ a day, haul it in the back of your truck there, and tow it back and return it. Use the 480-580 I just saved you for the interior :D

[datzenmike]

It's not a '79. May have been registered in '79 but it's not a '79 model.

 

I wouldn't worry about rust in Arizona. A 620 has a half life of about 2,000 years in that state. Very nice though.

[psychrome86]

Rent a 2 wheel dolly from uhaul and do a "local rental" from where you live. It's 20$ a day, haul it in the back of your truck there, and tow it back and return it. Use the 480-580 I just saved you for the interior :D

 

Sadly, they charge 59c a mile and round trip is almost 1000 miles from Burbank to Flagstaff. So that comes up to $560 in mileage. Then gas alone is a couple hundred.

 

A guy at my parts store was telling me something about professional car haulers that go around the country and pick up cars that people buy online or at auctions and take them wherever. Anyone know how to get in on that?

 

It's not a '79. May have been registered in '79 but it's not a '79 model.

 

Lame, so what year do you think it is?

[420n620]

its not a 79 because the antenna is on the right side.

if it has front disc, it is a 78.

if it has drums up front its either a 76, 77, I could be wrong. not

100% what the first year for Kcabs were...

 

just noticed it also has the Deluxe emblem, if that would help identify it more,

Edited December 20, 2008 by 420n620
+++

[datzenmike]

1975 was the first year for the L20B motor. Modified rad support with larger rad and retractable seat belts used. The name changed to HL620 from previous PL620.

 

King Cab introduced the next year in '76.

 

Grill changed in '77 and 5spd was optional.

 

In '78 king pins replaced by ball joints, front disc brakes replace drums, different rim shape used, internally regulated alternator used and all 620s had remote igniter EI distributor although California trucks had them since '76.

 

In '79 the radio aerial moved to driver's side, remote igniter replaced by 'matchbox' EI distributor on all models, all 4 and 5spd standard transmission 620s had 4.11 rear differential ratio, automatics stayed with the 4.375 ratio.

[datsun76_620]

....What to Expect???????

 

!!!!!FUN!!!!! :thumbsup:

[Bandit240]

I think another way to find out if its a 79, is if it has a liner on the tailgate. My 79 had one, but my 78 didnt. Needless to say i swapped it over.

[datzenmike]

I've heard about the liner too, just don't know if it's specific to only the '79, and it coulda been removed.

 

Aerial is wrong side so check the dizzy, it's likely a remote igniter box so it's pre '79. If it also has disc brakes then it's a '78 for sure. If it has the original hood the emissions sticker will give the model year.

[Bandit240]

I think the liner was 79 only. Ive never seen a 620 that was pre-79 that had one.

[ggzilla]

The trouble with U-haul is: the dolly is a per-day (not per-mile) fee, if you return it to the same store. But unless you have a pickup, you're stuck. Yes, you can rent a U-Haul F-150 for $20/day, but they won't allow towing with it.

 

 

If I lived in SOCal I'd go with you to drive it home. Datsuns are quite reliable, I just flew down to LA this June and drove a '72 Datsun pickup back to Seattle: 995 miles. Most electrical problems could be temporarily fixed within an hour.

 

 

1975 was the first year for the L20B motor. ...name changed to HL620 from previous PL620.

Yes, "P" indicates larger engine, while "H" indicates largest engine. This seems to hold true with 510, B110s, B210s, etc. all the 70s Nissan vehicles I have investigated.

[psychrome86]

I have a strange feeling it would drive home with no problem after a complete fluid change. Though I've decided not to go now because the weather is going nuts up there. Two feet of snow kind of puts a damper on things. Ergh. Thanks for all your guys' help thus far.

[rat tail dragger]

i had a 73 620 with the tailgate liner with factory philips screws it was same color as truck never repianted was original owner truck

[Bandit240]

I guess the liner must have been an option then. Ive never seen any 620's other than '79s that had them. I don't think im going to reuse mine, its a bit beat. Might get a piece of diamond plate to go back there.

[rat tail dragger]

I guess the liner must have been an option then. Ive never seen any 620's other than '79s that had them. I don't think im going to reuse mine, its a bit beat. Might get a piece of diamond plate to go back there.

 

easy on the diamond plate dont make it to shiny i had one on my 76 and when the sun shined it blinded you in the rear veiw mirror hhahaha

[Bandit240]

Yea, ive been there before. Im going to do a paint in bedliner on the whole thing.

[Z-train]

 

 

Mike is WRONG.The half life of a 620 in Az. is about 3,000 years.:D.Seriously-the only rust issue you might have is if the windshield gasket contracted and is leaking.That will give you some rust on the passenger front floor.But that should be it.The comment about any electrical problem being quickly solved is also correct.

[Bandit240]

Damn yall and your rust free trucks. I know rust all too well, but for me thats the cost of also being a boat owner, i know rust and corrosion very very well. Ive got to strip a 58' sailboat mast and recoat it. NOT looking forward to that.

[Z-train]

Damn yall and your rust free trucks.

 

 

:P:D:lol:

[psychrome86]

Damn yall and your rust free trucks. I know rust all too well, but for me thats the cost of also being a boat owner, i know rust and corrosion very very well. Ive got to strip a 58' sailboat mast and recoat it. NOT looking forward to that.

 

haha, if that doesn't get you then salty roads in snowy areas will.

[Bandit240]

Well where im at we dont salt the roads since we damn near never get snow.

 

The salt air is bad around here. This car sat in a guys back yard right on the river for some years. I only got it to get the motor from it.

[psychrome86]

wow, even scavenged junkyard cars don't look that bad.

[Llittle_Llama]

wow, even scavenged junkyard cars don't look that bad.

 

yeah, but he got a lot of good shit off of it and then sold it back to the guy, lol

[datzenmike]

Most of thoas holes were caused by 'lead corrosion'.

 

[psychrome86]

updated the first post ^^^