Where we started:
We started with a Longbed 1979 Datsun 620, longbed.
The project began with the simple intent to swap in a KA24DE and upgrade the front brakes.
And, well, the project has grown in scope to include far, far more!
First; a hearty endeavor into rust repair in the engine bay:
Culminating in a full re-paint of the bay. Hole free!
Next, we jumped into bodywork on the bed. Sorting out years of dents!
And the doors.
Isaac-Powered.
Around this time, we got distracted.. My father and I began the ambitious effort of swapping his Datsun 510 wagon with a K20Z3
(how cool is this 3D scan??!)
A brief aside to appreciate the E30 lights.
To make a long story shorter, the KA wound up in my dad's 510, and the K20 is headed into the Big Hustler! More cool. More power. Far more work.
RX-8 Transmission
Exhaust passthrough on the subframe.
Exhaust passthrough on additional frame bracing. I started hanging out with Andrew a lot more, and realized just how hard he actually drives his cars. Decided to make the frame way, way stronger.
We also decided to do a full coilover conversion in the front, and a 5-link (or Watt's link) in the rear!
Look at this awesome longbed 620 I found out in the wild!!
Another shot of the engine bay. A can of spray paint fell and exploded, coating the bay in a layer of primer. This will be fixed.
Another shot of the Watt's link. With mounts for height adjustment.
Worth noting; the rear axle is a Dana 44 with an LSD! And we notched the frame so the truck can sit lower and still have ample travel.
And that is as far as we've made it so far. Andrew has been focused on his other cars; an E36 M3 and a Chevy Sprint Turbo, and I've been content to enjoy some time focusing on my myriad other projects.
At this point, I'm feeling very hot-rod about this build. I want to collapse some of the scope creep down to a lower level, but also want to just get stuff done on the build! So, really, I want to collapse our expectations, and just build something fucking awesome. Get the build to the point that it is running & driving, and then figure out the future nuance of refinement.
At this point, I'm feeling very hot-rod about this build. I want to collapse some of the scope creep down to a lower level, but also want to just get stuff done on the build! So, really, I want to collapse our expectations, and just build something fucking awesome. Get the build to the point that it is running & driving, and then figure out the future nuance of refinement.