Chewievette Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 My buddy and I have recently been inspired to get a parts runner / shop truck. The inspiration came when I just barely fit my "new" 240z hood in the back seat of my car! Anyways, I was at the junkyard and I spotted an old Datsun pickup, early 70's, but it has a junk four banger and stick four speed. Would it be worth while for us to pick it up and try to wedge one of my L6's in there? I've got a spare L24 to use and a set of rims and tires to throw on it. The guy said that it drove in but the engine was making some serious kind of racket. It has a lot of rust and it looks about par with most old vehicles up here in Michigan but just for being a parts runner it doesn't matter. I am interested in this truck because the L6 should technically be a bolt in right? If it will fit that is. So, Cheap shop truck or big 'ol can of worms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruez Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I think the nose is too short on the trucks for the L6... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewievette Posted April 14, 2006 Author Share Posted April 14, 2006 Yeah that's what I was thinking, but I remember an Audi I looked at in a j/y once that had the radiator off to the side of the engine bay and the engine was basically up against the back of the grill. I think it just might barely fit like that. I'll have to weld in new engine mounts but that's not a huge deal. I'm more worried about the engine bolting to the trans and being able to interface with the existing systems in the truck. I'm going to go back up there sometime next week and do some measuring to see if it would fit and to get an exact price for it. If he wants much over $500, I'll keep looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slownrusty Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 An L6 will NOT bolt in - I guarantee that, you will have to quite a bit of fabrication to get it to fit. The truck that you came across is more than like the awesome Datsun 620. Its my favorite Datsun truck. I have owned a few of these now and know my way around them quite well. Yasin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 well if you can put an L6 into a 510 you should be able to put one in a pickup...I think I have sen a datsun pickup with an L6 in it before somewhere on the web... slownrusty: nice pic...and yes it would take a bit of fabrication...but it is worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewievette Posted April 14, 2006 Author Share Posted April 14, 2006 Eh, I dont know... I'll go back out there and measure the engine bay to see if I want to attempt it. If the guy doesn't want a couple of arms and legs and it's close I might be willing to try it. I'll keep thinking about it, I'd still like to hear your ideas / comments. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy 77zt Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 it will work but you will have to cut the fire wall and work on the heater-or put a smaller heater in.stock motor mounts will probably bolt in-you just start from there and work back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrett76Zt Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 it definitely wont be an easy task, ive sized it up myself. If I had the choice . . . i would definitely get a turbo KA setup going in there. Course it doesnt sound like this is a worthy candidate with the rust and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewievette Posted April 15, 2006 Author Share Posted April 15, 2006 If I wanted to make it my project I would definately keep looking for something with less rust, but since I just need something cheap with a bed that fairly reliable I think this just might work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewievette Posted April 20, 2006 Author Share Posted April 20, 2006 I went back up there yesterday and he wants $400 for it. I dont know its pretty bad. I measured it up for the L6 and if I use the stock engine mounts it will put the front of the pulleys directly behind the grill and the firewall will have to get pushed back at least 8" I think I could do it, I would need to crawl up under there and take a look at the trans mount and see how it could be modified. Its acctually a 1979 620. the brakes look very similar to my 280zx, any chance they will swap over? Turns out I dont have a set of wheels and tires because I didn't realize they were using six bolts on a mini truck. I found an '85 chevy pu that looks pretty solid for $600 I might just go for that. I have to think about this some more, what do yall think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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