1962 Datsun U320

[wayno]

This is the stock brake master.




Here is the new dual master brake cylinder.



The master kinda infringes on the battery space.

And here is the pedal connection, I made this pushrod from an old 521 pushrod, it is adjustable.

[wayno]

I also seen something I never seen before in a 320, here are a couple photos of it.


And here it is.

Does anyone know the 320 good enough to know what I am talking about?
I'll give you a little while to guess.

[510freak]

So much win, in this thread.Each and every time I read it

[wayno]

I went threw another pertronics EI again today, them things are to delicate, I did not short a wire out or anything like that, there just a crap product, so I am back to the points distributor, but Tana sent me some tune up kits, so it's running on points now.
I have it running on the key now, and I plugged everything in, the temp gauge works, the fuel gauge doesn't work, the oil pressure light works, but I don't think the alt. is working, I have no warning lights while it is running, but when I turn the engine off, the alt. light comes on and stays on, even when the key is removed, I have to remove the alt. exciter wire to make the light go out, and it shows the same voltage running or not, 12 volts.


I also mounted the master brake cylinder yesterday, here is the battery clearance, it's kinda tight.



I finished connecting all the rear brake lines, good thing I had a 320 axle out back, I needed parts to make the new and old parts work together.
Now I just need to make lines to set up the dual master, and bleed the system, and it should start, move, and stop.

[wayno]

Well I spent at least 4 hours trying to get the system bled, and I am still not happy, I had to redo half of it because of leaks, but I finally got all the leaks fixed, and got the rears bled good, but could not get the fronts to bleed, I took it out 4 times bench bleeding it, now the fronts are good, but I cannot get the backs to bleed, or maybe a better expression would be getting the pedal to feel good/right, so I gave up at about 10:30pm, came inside disgusted with the whole thing, after thinking about it for a while, I think tomorrow I will adjust the rear brakes, see if I can get them to actually put pressure on the drums when I step on the brake pedal.
At one point I started thinking that I ruined the back circuit trying to get the front circuit to start pushing brake fluid out the bleeder screws, this is likely the toughest job I have had in a while, very discouraging.

[z chopper]

And here it is.

Does anyone know the 320 good enough to know what I am talking about?
I'll give you a little while to guess.

isn't that a lighter delete plug?

[SS320]

Apparently it's the heater switch delete plug.
Heaters were an optional extra down here in AUS back then!

[z chopper]

Apparently it's the heater switch delete plug.
Heaters were an optional extra down here in AUS back then!

but isn't that a heater below the dash?

[K_trip]

isn't that a lighter delete plug?

That's what I would have guessed at first, but on a 320 it seems a lighter was more like an add on ...

... here's one with the correct lighter (CL lettering) and the Heater (H lettering) cable knob.

Interestingly, there is a heater in Wayno's little puppy???

[wayno]

Apparently it's the heater switch delete plug.
Heaters were an optional extra down here in AUS back then!

but isn't that a heater below the dash?

That is an air vent system, it's not part of the heater, as far as I can tell, this truck has never had a heater, one of the heater hose holes is in a strange place, not in the place that all the rest of the 320s have, I would be interested in seeing what the 62 220 heater box/core looks like, maybe this one was designed for that heater box.
There are no mount holes in the firewall to mount the 320 heater box that I got with this truck either.
I am now going to go out and try bleeding the brakes again, big sigh.

[wayno]

It's a miracle, the brakes are self healing, when I went out there today, they felt just fine, but I adjusted the rear brakes anyway, and the pedal came up a little, and it feels fine for sitting up on lifts, the true test will be on my street, which isn't likely to happen anytime soon, now I have the electrics to do, get it charging, and the headlights and wipers also need to work.
I suppose I should check into the chrome plating pretty soon also, if I want to have it for Canby.
I put the front wheels on, these are old ones, the 1962 version, instead of the inner wheel hub being welded onto the outer ring, it is riveted on, so I need tubes for these wheels/rims, anyway the rivets just barely touch the calipers, I can spin the wheel just fine, except you can hear the rivets tapping the calipers, only 3 of the 8 rivets hit on the driverside, the otherside scraps a little harder, I did not pull that wheel to look how many were hitting on that side.
I am going to let it sit for the rest of the night, need a break from it tonight. wayne

[kbagby]

Hello everyone. I am glad that this little U-320 is stirring up so much interest. That is most of the reason I sold it to Wayne. I live in NC and after purchasing a basket-case 63 NL I started a website called Olddatsunpickuplovers.com. It was an awesome site and with the help of several of you and Mike Klontz it was the site to get information on rebuilding the old trucks. We gave the site to one of the largest Nissan sites in the US because we couldn't get the site host to clean out a virus they had in their system. We had downloadable owners manuals, repair manuals, parts diagrams and crash sheets you could download for free. I don't know if they still have those things posted on their site as it appears all they worry about is how many sponsor ads they can put on their pages. My little NL is now pretty much finished and ready for one of you brave folks to purchase and show. I purchased the U several years ago on Ebay Au. It cost me three times the sales price (1400) to have it shipped here. I gave Wayne a price less than I paid for it because I want it to be seen. I think I am one of two total Datsun freaks in NC and we don't have any shows dedicated to Datsuns here on the east coast. Wayne, please don't put disk brakes on the front. When I sold it to you I asked you to keep it stock for a reason. It will be worth more if you keep it the way it was when it was built. Years from now people will wonder how the heck it was able to stop with the drum brakes. If I knew you were going to update things on the truck I would never have sold it to you. I've not read all the threads but I don't think he has told you that he also got the original canvas tool kit that came with the truck too. I will post more later. Ken Bagby

[izzo]

They stop ok with drum brakes, but discs sure work a lot better.

He could always modify a second set to install the disc brakes and keep the original setup so it's just a quick swap back to stock. Shrug, updating the brakes for a safer ride seems realistic and responsible... Just my .02

I always keep original parts, never cut wire harnesses. easy to go back if ever need be.

[draker]

This truck is definitely in good hands. Any safety upgrade is a good upgrade as long as it doesn't destroy the look of the vehicle. Brakes are a good upgrade, but I can understand your concern of keeping it bone stock. Wayno wouldn't ever toss a 320 part so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[wayno]

Hi Ken, I have done nothing to this vehicle that is not reversible, I even modified the master brake cylinder to fit the firewall, instead of modifying the firewall to make it fit.
I also bought a set of 320 drop arms, and disc brake brakets from MIke Klotz early last year in case I ever did get this vehicle, this has been a plan since I first talked to you back in late may 2012, it will look stock except being lowered a couple inches all around, the stock wheels will fit, as they are on it now, although in the end I will likely use late 620 rims with the stock 320 hubcaps, they look like the rims on the NL320 in the photos below.
I will not drive on bias ply tires, although I might have two sets of rims, one with stock tires for putting on the truck when I arrive at the show, that is yet to be determined.
This is the stance of my NL320 I bought from Mike Klotz, this is the planned stance for the U320.



This is not the color the U320 is going to be, it will likely be the stock color of the dash.
I will have a bin to put every part I do not use from this U320 in my shed, it is a 30 gallon bin, and it will not be full, fact is it will only have the front lower control arms and the spindle/kingpin assembly, and maybe the rear gears, as I do plan on running 437s, but no one could ever tell, as the cases on them are both alloy.
This vehicle will actually drive down the road now, but the Lucas alt. doesn't work, so I need to figure out what I am going to do about that, and then start hooking up all the wires to the headlights, turn signals, taillights, ect.
I am not hacking this vehicle up, the stock drive train seems to function, so I will leave it alone, the other guy that was interested in this vehicle would not have left it alone, you would not have been happy selling it to him at all.
My plan at the moment is to get this vehicle legally driving down the road with everything functioning, then after Canby I will likely take the body off the frame and either have it powder coated, or sand blast it and paint it, as it is very rusty, everything on the underside has a coat of rust from sitting so long.

Hello everyone. I am glad that this little U-320 is stirring up so much interest. That is most of the reason I sold it to Wayne. I live in NC and after purchasing a basket-case 63 NL I started a website called Olddatsunpickuplovers.com. It was an awesome site and with the help of several of you and Mike Klontz it was the site to get information on rebuilding the old trucks. We gave the site to one of the largest Nissan sites in the US because we couldn't get the site host to clean out a virus they had in their system. We had downloadable owners manuals, repair manuals, parts diagrams and crash sheets you could download for free. I don't know if they still have those things posted on their site as it appears all they worry about is how many sponsor ads they can put on their pages. My little NL is now pretty much finished and ready for one of you brave folks to purchase and show. I purchased the U several years ago on Ebay Au. It cost me three times the sales price (1400) to have it shipped here. I gave Wayne a price less than I paid for it because I want it to be seen. I think I am one of two total Datsun freaks in NC and we don't have any shows dedicated to Datsuns here on the east coast. Wayne, please don't put disk brakes on the front. When I sold it to you I asked you to keep it stock for a reason. It will be worth more if you keep it the way it was when it was built. Years from now people will wonder how the heck it was able to stop with the drum brakes. If I knew you were going to update things on the truck I would never have sold it to you. I've not read all the threads but I don't think he has told you that he also got the original canvas tool kit that came with the truck too. I will post more later. Ken Bagby

[wayno]

Yes there are parts I have not even looked at yet except to confirm they were there, here is the mentioned tool kit.




And here is the box cover.


And it does seem to fit.




I am sure there is other stuff I have not found yet also, I just have been focused on getting it running and driving for Canby.

[DRIVEN]

On the Lucas alternator -- judging by the shape of the brackets, it looks like this may have originally had a generator. If that's the case, you might consider one of these http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pwm-82051/overview/ . Certainly not cheap but has the "correct-ish" look that you are trying to maintain.

[wayno]

That's a bit spendy, but it does look like my generator on my very early 63(it's a 62 sold in 63), thanks for the link.
I believe that I am going to have to use what I have on hand for now, I will have the Lucas alt. tested, and if it is bad, I have a couple Delco 1 wire alts. sitting around that I might look at for fit.
The vehicle was originally positive ground, but it was converted over to negative ground and the Lucas alt. was used, so much for original, the external regulator is no where to be seen either, good luck finding one of them.
I have that 63 that is a totally original L320 that I could grab what I need to make the U320 correct, but then it(the 63 L320) would have to be converted, I don't really feel like doing that though, at least not right now.
I am just going to focus on Canby right now, I hope to have every part for the U320 installed by June, there is a lot of chrome plating and upholstery to be done.
I have thought about this rear bed cover today, every U320 that had the cover was the same except this one, I am thinking that they were not factory covers, but maybe dealer options, this one is kinda goofy, the edges will just flap in the wind, while all the others use a type of elastic cord and hooks to hold them on, see the hooks on the sides,


Mine are held on with roadster convertible top clips which allows the edges to hang out into the air, I actually don't like either way.

On the Lucas alternator -- judging by the shape of the brackets, it looks like this may have originally had a generator. If that's the case, you might consider one of these http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pwm-82051/overview/ . Certainly not cheap but has the "correct-ish" look that you are trying to maintain.

[SS320]

Hello everyone. I am glad that this little U-320 is stirring up so much interest. That is most of the reason I sold it to Wayne. I live in NC and after purchasing a basket-case 63 NL I started a website called Olddatsunpickuplovers.com. It was an awesome site and with the help of several of you and Mike Klontz it was the site to get information on rebuilding the old trucks. We gave the site to one of the largest Nissan sites in the US because we couldn't get the site host to clean out a virus they had in their system. We had downloadable owners manuals, repair manuals, parts diagrams and crash sheets you could download for free. I don't know if they still have those things posted on their site as it appears all they worry about is how many sponsor ads they can put on their pages. My little NL is now pretty much finished and ready for one of you brave folks to purchase and show. I purchased the U several years ago on Ebay Au. It cost me three times the sales price (1400) to have it shipped here. I gave Wayne a price less than I paid for it because I want it to be seen. I think I am one of two total Datsun freaks in NC and we don't have any shows dedicated to Datsuns here on the east coast. Wayne, please don't put disk brakes on the front. When I sold it to you I asked you to keep it stock for a reason. It will be worth more if you keep it the way it was when it was built. Years from now people will wonder how the heck it was able to stop with the drum brakes. If I knew you were going to update things on the truck I would never have sold it to you. I've not read all the threads but I don't think he has told you that he also got the original canvas tool kit that came with the truck too. I will post more later. Ken Bagby

Ken, I reckon you are underestimating Wayno's good intentions. He always keeps original parts and makes changes like he has reversible.
It's his car now and he can turn into a spaceship if he wants. (in my opinion)
Looks like the car may now be moving forward and on the road again someday with better brakes.
Down here in Australia we never knock a bloke who is just having a reasonable go...

[DRIVEN]

I think most would agree that an unoriginal driver is better than a completely original example that can't leave the garage.