1971 Datsun PL521 - The Hulk

So about this truck - what makes it special and different? Really not much. I found it in the online classifieds, and for the price, I couldn't pass on it. The PO had run the guts out of it, killing the otherwise bulletproof L16 by driving for God-only-knows how long with a blown head gasket. Warped the smithereens out of the head, chunked a piston, and basically gave up the ghost.
Me being me, I made a pain of myself on the 510 maillist and did some research (links below). I learned that a 2.2L would fit right in where the L16 used to live - a bolt in increase in power and torque, can't complain! I found a LZ22 Frankenmotor for sale locally, and after cleaning it up and painting it, in it went. The head was warped .018", so it promptly blew a head gasket. And the longer stroke of the 2.2 bottom end was hitting the oil pan. Out the engine came for those repairs, then back in.
Other than that, I've been tinkering away... installed some carpet, painted the wheels, added a stereo, removed the ladder rack, put on a set of 38mm SUs... typical low-budget improvements.

Enough typing! Let's see it!

click each image for full size


Probably the worst angle - bent bumper brackets, banged up fender.	See my bike? That's what I wanted a truck for! You can see Darren's 510 in the background. Nice color, huh? (this car was killed by a drunk on July 15, 2000)

Pretty darn clean for an almost 30 year old truck. If you really look, you can see my broken '69 2000 Roadster in the garage.	Ahh, the heart of the machine. Pretty filthy under there, but at least the engine is clean. Can you see the green? That's where it got the nickname "The Hulk".

Just in case you don't believe me - this sucker is GREEN. I saw this color at Super Shops about ten years ago, and never again until recently... love it or hate it, I just had to go with that color.	Hooking up bellcrank operated SUs to a cable setup is a challenge, but it worked out pretty well. I used a piece from the original carb, and modified it a bit. Click here for another angle

I couldn't have built this truck without lots of help from: