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Wife thinks I'm nuts..I love it!

55K views 274 replies 27 participants last post by  Gen1Trooper 
#1 ·
Yes she really thinks I have lost my mind..but seriously I have wanted to buy an early Datsun or Luv truck for quite some time..I sold my Rambler wagon project and started looking more seriously..Found this 71 Datsun 521 about 10 minutes away. 1 owner and very original..Actually the paint is all original..the owner removed the tailgate and had a camper installed in 71..sadly the tailgate is long gone (WHY!!!) Overall the bones of the truck are very good. No rust at all anywhere on the body or undercarriage..they had some rubber mats in the truck and so there was some surface rust in the foot board aread..thats it..totally nothing bad. The owner had Sears bucket seats which were made for this Datsun installed in 71 as well..They are acutally kinda nice and since they were made for the truck they are mounted like factory in the factory brackets..no mods so if I find a bench for cheap I may go back but since this is how its been since 71 I figure leave it alone....I found the sales order and receipt in the glovebox for the Sears seats lol. I removed the smokey and the Bandit antenna already and the rear glass is flat (missing now) and I am already scoping out a nice sliding rear window setup. I found a tailgate and its on its way already..Still has the Datsun AM radio..never cut or modified..no teenagers have screwed this one up..just a couple old man issues..lol..Everything works and it actually started right up but had a pin hole leak in a coolant heater hose..then the original owners daughter tells me the gas is 3 years old!...Yikes! shut her down and towed her home. So the plan is for me and my son (9) to get it cleaned up and sorted 100% mechanically (shouldnt be much)..then we will strip it down and have it painted inside and out. New upholstery on the seats and door panels as well as carpet or preferably vinyl flooring if possible?? I plan to remove the original Datsun large mirrors and box them up and save them..I was going to have it sprayed a factory color which is a light pistachio green but my son is really loving the "Nissan Blue" color which is a bright turquoise'ish blue..I think it will end up being blue..lol. Its still an available color that year..My vintage car brain says to respray it back to original white with the black stripe but to me the white looks too blah..
I will post up pics as it comes along..Should get cranking on it in January..
 

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#179 ·
Both lookin good!
 
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#181 ·
Well my birthday is coming up...I am hoping someone will buy me a go-pro..I want to make some videos of the cars for fun.... :D

I can't wait to see how the DP runs out compared to the old 1300...Put a new clutch in it and completely restoring the brake system at the moment. Can't wait to see the interior in it..going with the red. Shifting back to the Datsun next week...glass going in and dropping off seat for upholstery..finish installing the trim..
I haven't done anything to the Datsun in weeks...My brother passed in January (46 year old) so it's been a crappy new year..I just sort of lost interest but things are ok and now I am ready to get back into it..

Myathia Gravis sucks!

My brother owned a VW Squareback when we were kids...He would have like to ride in the VW bug.....
:cry:
 
#182 ·
I'm sorry about your brother. That's a tough thing, especially on someone relatively young. I had never heard of that disease before but it sounds not fun. I hope you find peace.

Good work on the cars. I'm sure the bug will look nice with the red interior! The DP will have a lot more top end, but paired to the stock transaxle, it might not be as good as they are on the freeway flyer transaxles. I just rebuilt a 1300 for fun, so I'm kind of interested in how it performs when I can get it installed in something.
 
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#186 ·
While the VW and Datsun are getting interior finished up....I picked up this little gem. Scheduled to arrive sometime next week. I just love the sleeper stock look of a V8, stick cheap sedan....
 

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#188 ·
Yer killin me. Man does that first picture ever speak to my heart. Dennis
 
#189 ·
DSUZU said:
Yer killin me. Man does that first picture ever speak to my heart. Dennis
Ditto that, especially the Killin me part.

That's the essence of what I'd like my Fairlane to be. Unfortunately I don't expect it to ever get there... I haven't the skills or resources, just the desire.... and a rusty hulk.
 
#191 ·
Going to be selling a clean 1966 Mustang. 289/auto. Found it for my niece but she wants a newer car now..
I like them but not my favorite...nice little car though..and yes I know the badges are in the wrong spot...a previous owner did that nonsense..
 

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#197 ·
FookinA!! That's badass.
 
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#200 ·
Okay, I thought you were killin me with the Nova! And now you've got something with a "W engine"!!!!!! You guys must have hit the lottery. You still have the '68 with the big block too don't you? New definition of "all the toys". Got anything with an Allison V 1710 ? Dennis
 
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