started out looking like this.
81 4x4


now, 3 weeks later it looks like this:



A bare 720 pickup truck frame..... so what does that have to do with a 521, you say?


Ah, here is more of what we are thinking of when we mention a 521... The "donor" truck that I bought for so ridiculously cheap its not even funny.


and.... this interesting bit of Datsun History... an SD22 diesel driveline...



and a little bitty bit of mock-up


Maybe some of you see where this is going??

please watch and I hope you enjoy my build.

You'll be going where a 521 has never gone before. I like.

This morning came in and finished up a couple little spots and started laying Epoxy primer.






Then I started laying color







I still have to do all the front suspension mounting, but the majority of the chassis is done and will just have to do touchup on the areas to be welded.

I decided on a paint scheme... and it is the same scheme I had on my 260Z, but never finished it and it was just Rustoleum...and I may paint the hood red.
Got a pinstriper who is going to do some silver pinstripe between the two colors as well.

Old school pics from 2006 of my gutted and LOUD 260Z






Ratsun jackstands:

man i'd love to have a car with a saperate chassis, would be very nice and handy to work on.

_________________
Japanseklassiekers!

1970 C30 Laurel
1972 240Z
1973 610 Wagon
1977 260Z
1995 Micra
1999 200SX

Started sanding some today with an air powered DA sander and 180 grit just to find out how BAD the roof damage is (farm truck, carried ladders leaning against the roof)



Looks like it should all be able to be filled in and re-contour'd with finishing putty. Going to apply seam sealer in the drip rails since the factory sealer is long gone.

Hit it with some flat black just to keep it from flash rusting.

Getting a little more bodywork done

removed the offending fender and wheeled it a little bit to smooth out the wrinkle... Geez that was a lot of bolts.



Cleaning up the SD22 motor


and painting crap

i like the way this is heading keep it up!

here are some pics from today.

valvetrain is pretty clean for a diesel...






painting more stuffff

Is that a Nascar in the back?

Looks like a great project. It'd be great to have a shop like that so I could finish mine.

I work in a race shop and we have a bunch of old cup chassis dormant right now.
have about 4-5 older(2007ish) cup cars that we run in ARCA that are race ready, and a couple 2010 nationwide cars that are about ready.


The shop space is nice, but this could pretty easily be done in a 2 car garage. Its just nice to have a little extra space.

Just played around a little today...


trying to figure out some geometry stuff with the front axle swap... (ignore the GM/ Circle track steering box, I was just playing with ideas but this one was not going to work too well)



Looks like I'm going to have to extend the frame rails and put the steering box pretty far forward. My wheelbase is going to have to be 2-3" longer than the stock 720, and about 14-15" longer than the 521.
Think about 113" is going to get everything to where it will work together.

Bracketry should be in tomorrow... ordered some stuff from Artec Industries.
this pair of axle side lower brackets:



Once I get motor mounts in, I can figure out where I can fit the 3rd link in.


one of these adjustable upper link axle brackets



two of these chassis brackets



Haven't decided on Johnny Joints or Crawler joints yet, but I gotta get stuff ordered!!!

Got in the brackets from Artec today.

Also ordered all the johnny joints I'll need for my front 3 link suspension, as well as all the rebuild parts for them when that time comes.

Made some progress on the steering section of this job. Steering was about the only thing I was too worried about but I think I have it pretty close.

Cut out the left front frame rail just inside the stock body mount


Welded in some 2"x4" rectangular material(still to be plated) and mocked up the steering box.








This makes the drag link 31", which makes quite a short Panhard bar but there isn't too much else I can do with this type of Saginaw steering box...

Test fit the motor again to check clearance with the front axle.
(note the post-apocalyptic sized fuel can that just so happens to fit between the frame rails, heh)







Near full up travel, gonna try to clearance the frame rail to be able to have more up-travel for the steering center link.







clearance between the side of the motor/oil pan and the chunk(should be plenty, and plenty of room for the driveshaft)


Also got in the 2.5" Johnny joints

lovin' this, keep it up!

You are literally combing two of my favorite types of car, old school japs and raw ass 4x4's. What kind of power will the diesel make?

Thanks bud!



Haha that's what I was going for. The diesel is rated at 62hp and 110Ft/Lbs of torque from the factory. With the gearing factored in, I forsee a top speed of around 70mph(2500RPMs) but probably a more realistic number is probably 65mph(2340RPMs).
Here's what is cool though..in low range, at say 700 RPMs, it will crawl at 2mph in 1st gear, and up to 11mph by 3000RPMs. Should crawl quite well.


I'll be running 37" hummer military tires on either re-centered 16.5" hummer beadlock wheels or 16.5"X10" diamond racing wheels.