 | Projects North West Datsun Enthusiasts Forum : Member Rides : Projects Topic: 521 to be crewed | of 3 Next >> |
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layinga521
Enthusiast 
Joined: 12 June 2003 Location: United States Posts: 611 |
 Topic: 521 to be crewedPosted: 19 March 2006 at 9:46pm |
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Ok so I was searching craigslist for a tranny for my truck when I found a 69 521 in my area, my neighborhood to be exact. Iinstead of just trying to buy just the bed I bought the whole thing to take what I wanted off it & part as much as I could & junk the rest. My buddy at work however got me thinking to use the cab of this 1 to turn mine into a crewcab! The more I think about it, the more I like the idea. I know its gonna be a ton of work & probably just as expensive, but I think the end result will be worth it. I wanna now what you guys think & also has anyone here ever attempted this on any vehicle? I have a crude (lol pun intended lol) photoshop for you guys too:
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Bleach
Guru 
Joined: 04 December 2002 Location: United States Posts: 4806 |
Posted: 19 March 2006 at 10:37pm |
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How about a 'sport' crewcab. Just make it a nice deep kingcab with a small bench seat maybe out of an early 90's toyota. Then have half rear doors that open forward.
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layinga521
Enthusiast
Joined: 12 June 2003 Location: United States Posts: 611 |
Posted: 19 March 2006 at 11:21pm |
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Yeah I think the rear doors being as big as the fronts looks a little TOO big lol. I want the rears to open suicide though & have the latch for the fronts on the leading end of the rear doors kinda like back doors of a van. There is already a nice bench in the 69.
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pac. coast 521
Expert 
Joined: 17 November 2003 Location: United States Posts: 1427 |
Posted: 19 March 2006 at 11:50pm |
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I say go for it! Im only 5 hours away if you need help
 Im here to help you brainstorm as well, Id like to see it at Reso 06 !!!
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My 1965 L 320 {all original}
69 L 521 w/KA swap 94 Hardbody [custom] 74 620 project |
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steroid
Enthusiast
Joined: 10 January 2003 Location: United States Posts: 749 |
Posted: 07 September 2006 at 11:23pm |
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Hi James,
Here is the picture that I found in the Japanese magazine Truck Trends # 10. If this is Your truck, let Me know. It was photographed at a show called Wildfire Casino Car Show. This photo was in the April 2005 issue so it was probibly photographed the end of the year in 2004 or early 2005. 
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Mike
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datslamd
Groupie 
Joined: 14 June 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 81 |
Posted: 08 September 2006 at 2:15am |
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Originally posted by layinga521
Yeah I think the rear doors being as big as the fronts looks a little TOO big lol. I want the rears to open suicide though & have the latch for the fronts on the leading end of the rear doors kinda like back doors of a van. There is already a nice bench in the 69. I like this idea. Very contemporary while still maintaining a mini look. Plus I've never seen it done. Would you stretch the frame? Lates |
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BEEBANI
Enthusiast
Joined: 22 July 2005 Location: United States Posts: 792 |
Posted: 08 September 2006 at 11:07am |
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Damn I wish you were closer James! I'd be all over helping ya! Make it a dually while your at it!
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'76 620
'97 D21 4X4 on 33's '05 Xterra 
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layinga521
Enthusiast
Joined: 12 June 2003 Location: United States Posts: 611 |
Posted: 10 September 2006 at 7:41pm |
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OMG! Yes Mike thats my truck! Wow, I didn't even show at that show, just attended. Sorry guys, for the moment, I'm not gonna crewcab it. Maybe for a redo after I get some paint on it as the single cab that it is now. Yes the frame would be stretched to do it & I'd prob go all out and stock-floor bodydrop it at the same time.
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icehouse
Expert
Joined: 05 April 2005 Location: United States Posts: 2115 |
Posted: 11 September 2006 at 12:19pm |
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What exactly is a stock floor bodydrop? How much drop do you get?
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layinga521
Enthusiast
Joined: 12 June 2003 Location: United States Posts: 611 |
Posted: 11 September 2006 at 12:35pm |
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A stock floor body drop is building an entire frame or from the firewall back so that its up higher than the bottom of the truck w/o having to cut the floor out & move it up to do it. Most still have to slightly raise the trans tunnel, but for the most part the rest of the floor stays stock.
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icehouse
Expert
Joined: 05 April 2005 Location: United States Posts: 2115 |
Posted: 11 September 2006 at 1:46pm |
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I seen a dualy at sema where the dude chopped the bottom of the frame off, he channeled it to add some strength back. Would something like that work on a 521? It seems like it might be easier just to do a standard body drop.
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BEEBANI
Enthusiast
Joined: 22 July 2005 Location: United States Posts: 792 |
Posted: 11 September 2006 at 1:52pm |
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Ice, we're only talking like 1-2 inches of drop on these trucks here, I personally don't think it's worth all the time and effort for such little gain. My 620 cab is only 1-1/2" off the ground when I'm laid out, not worth cutting up the cab and firewall for that. That's my 2 cents! |
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'76 620
'97 D21 4X4 on 33's '05 Xterra
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icehouse
Expert
Joined: 05 April 2005 Location: United States Posts: 2115 |
Posted: 11 September 2006 at 2:11pm |
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If you chopped the rockers off as well you could get a little more drop
 some day I want to do that to my king cab.
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]2eDeYe
Expert
Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 1116 |
Posted: 11 September 2006 at 7:06pm |
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mmmm draggin doors.... :D
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dos datsuns
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airedout
Enthusiast
Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 266 |
Posted: 11 September 2006 at 9:19pm |
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Originally posted by BEEBANI
Ice, we're only talking like 1-2 inches of drop on these trucks here, I personally don't think it's worth all the time and effort for such little gain. My 620 cab is only 1-1/2" off the ground when I'm laid out, not worth cutting up the cab and firewall for that. That's my 2 cents! Thats just to the pinch, correct????? My 521 is around 2 3/4 to 3 inches to true rocker. Im planning on replacing the rails under my cab with 2x3 then doing a round a 1 inch traditional body drop on mine. Dwight Fahrenthold www.AcrophobiA.net |
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BEEBANI
Enthusiast
Joined: 22 July 2005 Location: United States Posts: 792 |
Posted: 12 September 2006 at 11:56am |
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Right Dwight, (no rhyme intended) I'm pretty happy with how low mine is. Plus, with the seats on the floor, my head still almost hits the roof! If I had to raise the floor at all, I would be screwed. Then you have to buy (if you can find it) a cowl hood, or build one, section the firewall, section the tranny hump, change the core support, possibly z the frame in the front or move the body mounts, etc., etc. I'm tired just talking about it! |
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'76 620
'97 D21 4X4 on 33's '05 Xterra
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airedout
Enthusiast
Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 266 |
Posted: 12 September 2006 at 1:55pm |
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I hear that, is gonna be kind of a pain to do. Im gonna have to section my oil pan, and drop the motor mounts to clear my stock hood. And probably have to modify the air cleaner too. All the other stuff is no problem. The only thing that bugs me still is the damn soild shaft steering column. I might just say f**k it and go mustang II front end. Dwight Fahrenthold www.AcrophobiA.net |
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BEEBANI
Enthusiast
Joined: 22 July 2005 Location: United States Posts: 792 |
Posted: 12 September 2006 at 2:41pm |
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You should check out some of the discussions here on using 720/z-car steering parts. I'm also making some control arms that will convert these trucks over to ball joint in the front for using newer disc brake parts.
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'76 620
'97 D21 4X4 on 33's '05 Xterra
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airedout
Enthusiast
Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 266 |
Posted: 12 September 2006 at 8:02pm |
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Yeah ive heard about that, probably gonna look into that soon. When you get those control arms worked out let me know. Are 521 and 621 suspension parts the same, they look very similar, and would your arms change the hub to hub width at all????? Dwight Fahrenthold www.AcrophobiA.net |
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icehouse
Expert
Joined: 05 April 2005 Location: United States Posts: 2115 |
Posted: 12 September 2006 at 8:06pm |
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I want to do it.... maybe this winter, get a bunch of beer and a good wielder. I'm working on my ka swap now, trying to find some nissan mounts that will bolt in. Maybe this week I can get some photos up
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