I have decided to test the water with my 1976 Datsun 620 Long Bed pick up truck. It's a 4 speed, 2L engine (L20b engine - the smaller variant of the straight 6 in the 240Z)
I bought it in July '17 after searching for something old, rear wheel drive and Japanese. Once I'd seen these Datsun 620 I fell in love! There are only a handful on the road in the U.K so I had to source this example from the states where the climate has been very kind to it.
This was the original craig's list ad:
This is an honest truck with 253 K, a clean OR title and 5/18 plates that shows well. This truck spent it's early life in CA, being owned by a succession of two pastors and then by one of their elderly church members, who brought it up to Portland, OR many years ago. Service records, an original owner's manual and early registration that shows mileage throughout the years.
This truck has been driven regularly, so you won't have to be concerned about certain issues. Low mile vehicles that sit for years have numerous problems such as engine and transmission seals that dry up. And engines and transmissions that are not driven regularly have heads and gears that rust from condensation. (ex. Gears sit in an oil bath where the top half is exposed to the air and they rust. The same goes for the heads; all the oil pools in the bottom end and condensation wreaks havoc in the top end.)
Professionally done: Every fluid, filter, belt and hose has been replaced except for the fuel lines. A recent fuse box, NOS mechanical fuel pump (plus fuel line check valve) and a complete tune up with new points, cap, rotor and spark plug wires were installed. The brake system was refurbished including a new master cylinder, recent brake lines, fluid, drums and shoes. Driver side rear axle was leaking, and so inner and outer seals were replaced. An aftermarket Thrush glass pack muffler (see pictures) and new exhaust pipes have been installed along with a replacement gear shift knob (original included). Low profile 205 55 R16 tires on 16" Ultra aluminium wheels replaced the (included) 14" steel wheels and hubcaps. The non-original bucket seats are comfortable, but need a cleaning.
The carpet was removed to reveal a solid floor pan with some surface rust. The steering wheel is nice and the steering is tight. The headliner and doors and door cards are in remarkably good condition, and the gauges and dash board are nice with one 3" crack on the dash. The seat belts have seen better days and need replacing. The original Nissan jack and rod (no handle) are included.
The 110 horsepower L20 b 2.0 liter inline 4 cylinder engine is smooth, powerful, runs cool and doesn't leak or burn oil to any noticeable degree. The (4) speed manual transmission is smooth shifting; this truck is a pleasure to drive.
In my ownership I set about making it reliable whilst still keeping it someone period correct/in character. Being a California model, it was plagued with an unreliable dpf system and emissions control everywhere. I removed all of this, including the stock carburettor replacing it with a Yamaha R1 4XV carburettor mated to a Bogg Bros aluminium intake manifold. This along with a Ram air filter and solid state Facet electric fuel pump has transformed both the sound and reliability of the truck. All fuel lines have been replaced and it starts every time.
I have also refreshed the rats nest wiring as most things didn't work including some melted fusebox wiring. I made a double sided relay box and put all services on its own relay and have included a couple of security measures which I can show the next owner. Most bulbs are now LED and I have added a subtle high level led 3rd brake light.
The brakes are bleed including the tricky to get to load sensing valve and they work well for four wheel disks. I replaced the seatbelts with new Securon items.
I managed to find an original bench seat from a Datsun specialist but it is in a very worn state! I was planning to get it refurbished at some point. I think it is an auto model so could do with a notch cutting out prior to refinishing to allow the bench seat to move further forward. New owner is welcome to the seats it came with but they were from some hideous American sedan and fitted with blocks of wood. It reduced the room from 6ft or so driver to about 5ft 5! The bench seat is the best seat for these trucks in my opinion and they have designed it for maximum comfort. It also folds forward so you can access the jack, fire extinguisher or tools.
It's obviously a LHD, being an American import. My insurance is only around £120 for the year so it is a myth that it always costs more to insure an LHD car. It is over 40 years old so is also MOT exempt.
It is a long bed model, so the bed is 7ft long! Very handy for actual truck duty!
I have all the parts I removed, including the original carb. I also have the original wheels with chrome centre caps.
I also have a 3" drop kit that will go with the truck as well as an original Haynes manual printed in Yeovil in the 70s, sent to America and then sent back to me!
This truck is 44 years old and in fairly original condition and so there are dings, dents and scrapes. I was planning on getting the body work straight with no dents but leaving the paintwork as is but that's just my preference. There is surface rust underneath but no rot at all. I would get the bottom undersealed as they don't bother in the desert where this is from! I have never driven it in the rain even though I sourced an original wiper arm as one was missing! The footwells are in similarly good condition overall but there is a couple of small corners where the metal is on the thin side!
My long-term plans were to make a love child with this and a mk3 mx5 sport as the body and bed unbolts allowing easy access to the frame.
I now have a new member to the family now and this has led to my time being severely depleted and I want someone else to enjoy this truck instead of me not using it. I’m asking £8000 for it considering the cost and time of importing from America and looking at some of the overpriced versions that occasionally come up on carsandclassic for example.
Tons more pictures here: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TO9AfQmCSfhOGH-ik0xQwoYZ8xHJdQE1?usp=sharing
I bought it in July '17 after searching for something old, rear wheel drive and Japanese. Once I'd seen these Datsun 620 I fell in love! There are only a handful on the road in the U.K so I had to source this example from the states where the climate has been very kind to it.
This was the original craig's list ad:
This is an honest truck with 253 K, a clean OR title and 5/18 plates that shows well. This truck spent it's early life in CA, being owned by a succession of two pastors and then by one of their elderly church members, who brought it up to Portland, OR many years ago. Service records, an original owner's manual and early registration that shows mileage throughout the years.
This truck has been driven regularly, so you won't have to be concerned about certain issues. Low mile vehicles that sit for years have numerous problems such as engine and transmission seals that dry up. And engines and transmissions that are not driven regularly have heads and gears that rust from condensation. (ex. Gears sit in an oil bath where the top half is exposed to the air and they rust. The same goes for the heads; all the oil pools in the bottom end and condensation wreaks havoc in the top end.)
Professionally done: Every fluid, filter, belt and hose has been replaced except for the fuel lines. A recent fuse box, NOS mechanical fuel pump (plus fuel line check valve) and a complete tune up with new points, cap, rotor and spark plug wires were installed. The brake system was refurbished including a new master cylinder, recent brake lines, fluid, drums and shoes. Driver side rear axle was leaking, and so inner and outer seals were replaced. An aftermarket Thrush glass pack muffler (see pictures) and new exhaust pipes have been installed along with a replacement gear shift knob (original included). Low profile 205 55 R16 tires on 16" Ultra aluminium wheels replaced the (included) 14" steel wheels and hubcaps. The non-original bucket seats are comfortable, but need a cleaning.
The carpet was removed to reveal a solid floor pan with some surface rust. The steering wheel is nice and the steering is tight. The headliner and doors and door cards are in remarkably good condition, and the gauges and dash board are nice with one 3" crack on the dash. The seat belts have seen better days and need replacing. The original Nissan jack and rod (no handle) are included.
The 110 horsepower L20 b 2.0 liter inline 4 cylinder engine is smooth, powerful, runs cool and doesn't leak or burn oil to any noticeable degree. The (4) speed manual transmission is smooth shifting; this truck is a pleasure to drive.
In my ownership I set about making it reliable whilst still keeping it someone period correct/in character. Being a California model, it was plagued with an unreliable dpf system and emissions control everywhere. I removed all of this, including the stock carburettor replacing it with a Yamaha R1 4XV carburettor mated to a Bogg Bros aluminium intake manifold. This along with a Ram air filter and solid state Facet electric fuel pump has transformed both the sound and reliability of the truck. All fuel lines have been replaced and it starts every time.
I have also refreshed the rats nest wiring as most things didn't work including some melted fusebox wiring. I made a double sided relay box and put all services on its own relay and have included a couple of security measures which I can show the next owner. Most bulbs are now LED and I have added a subtle high level led 3rd brake light.
The brakes are bleed including the tricky to get to load sensing valve and they work well for four wheel disks. I replaced the seatbelts with new Securon items.
I managed to find an original bench seat from a Datsun specialist but it is in a very worn state! I was planning to get it refurbished at some point. I think it is an auto model so could do with a notch cutting out prior to refinishing to allow the bench seat to move further forward. New owner is welcome to the seats it came with but they were from some hideous American sedan and fitted with blocks of wood. It reduced the room from 6ft or so driver to about 5ft 5! The bench seat is the best seat for these trucks in my opinion and they have designed it for maximum comfort. It also folds forward so you can access the jack, fire extinguisher or tools.
It's obviously a LHD, being an American import. My insurance is only around £120 for the year so it is a myth that it always costs more to insure an LHD car. It is over 40 years old so is also MOT exempt.
It is a long bed model, so the bed is 7ft long! Very handy for actual truck duty!
I have all the parts I removed, including the original carb. I also have the original wheels with chrome centre caps.
I also have a 3" drop kit that will go with the truck as well as an original Haynes manual printed in Yeovil in the 70s, sent to America and then sent back to me!
This truck is 44 years old and in fairly original condition and so there are dings, dents and scrapes. I was planning on getting the body work straight with no dents but leaving the paintwork as is but that's just my preference. There is surface rust underneath but no rot at all. I would get the bottom undersealed as they don't bother in the desert where this is from! I have never driven it in the rain even though I sourced an original wiper arm as one was missing! The footwells are in similarly good condition overall but there is a couple of small corners where the metal is on the thin side!
My long-term plans were to make a love child with this and a mk3 mx5 sport as the body and bed unbolts allowing easy access to the frame.
I now have a new member to the family now and this has led to my time being severely depleted and I want someone else to enjoy this truck instead of me not using it. I’m asking £8000 for it considering the cost and time of importing from America and looking at some of the overpriced versions that occasionally come up on carsandclassic for example.
Tons more pictures here: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TO9AfQmCSfhOGH-ik0xQwoYZ8xHJdQE1?usp=sharing
