Description

Datsun Pick-Up 1977 Service Manual

You’ve got a 1977 Datsun Pick-Up in the bay – maybe a 620 series. The customer says it’s running rough, the brake pedal feels soft, or the clutch won’t disengage. You grab a generic repair book from the shelf, and the torque specs are wrong, the wiring diagram doesn’t match, and you spend an hour guessing. I’ve been there. That’s why you need the Service Manual from Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. – the actual document the dealer techs used. 537 pages of factory data, no aftermarket shortcuts. This is the same binder that sat in the service manager’s office at your local Datsun dealer in 1977. It’s got the step-by-step procedures, the required tool lists, and the warnings that keep you from breaking a head bolt or frying a wiring harness. You don’t have time to reinvent a wheel that was already engineered to a spec. Pull up the PDF, find the section, and get it done right the first time.

1977 Datsun Pick-Up Service Manual: What’s Inside

Open the Quick Reference Index and you see 22 sections – from General Information (GI) all the way through Service Equipment (SE). Each section starts with its own table of contents, so you’re never flipping through dead pages. The foreword, written by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, reminds you that this manual assumes you’ve got specialized tools – they list those in the SE section. You won’t find any “skip this step” shortcuts here. Every fastening torque, every clearance, every wire color is the same one that left the Yokohama factory. Need the charge pressure for the L20B? That’s in the EF (Engine Fuel) section. The brake system section (BR) covers everything from master cylinder rebuild to bleeding sequence. And the Electrical section (BE) gives you the full wiring diagrams for all lighting, ignition, and accessories. No generic diagrams – factory originals.

Does This Manual Cover the L20B Engine?

Yes, if your Pick-Up is a 1977 model year. The Engine Mechanical (EM) section covers the L20B and the earlier L16/L18 variants used in the 620 chassis. You get the cylinder head bolt tightening sequence, the valve clearance specs (intake and exhaust), and the timing chain adjustment procedure. The Engine Tune-Up (ET) section gives you the dwell angle, ignition timing advance curve, and carburetor float level settings. If you’re swapping a motor, the Engine Removal & Installation (ER) section walks you through the hoist points, mount orientations, and the 55 ft-lb torque figure for the bellhousing bolts. That’s factory data – not a third-party estimate.

3 Critical Sections You’ll Use Most

First, the Cooling System (CO) – if your customer complains about overheating, you’ll find the thermostat rating, water pump bolt torque, and radiator cap pressure test specs. Second, the Transmission sections – Manual (MT) and Automatic (AT) – both include the shift linkage adjustment points, oil capacities (3.6 pints for the manual, 6.8 quarts for the automatic with converter), and the spline lubrication notes. Third, the Brake System (BR) – every drum brake spring orientation, wheel cylinder bore size, and the master cylinder pushrod clearance of 0.010 to 0.030 in. Those three sections will save you more time than any aftermarket DVD ever could.

Torque Specs and Fluid Capacities: Where the OEM Data Lives

Look at page 73 [DATA NEEDED] of the Engine Mechanical section – you’ll see the cylinder head bolts must be torqued in three steps: first 40 ft-lb, then 60 ft-lb, then an additional 90-degree turn. That’s the factory spec for the L20B. Miss that last step and you’re chasing a blown head gasket two months from now. The Cooling section lists the coolant capacity at 6.9 quarts (with heater). The Fuel section gives the standard carburetor float level at 0.591 in. Every number here came out of the Nissan engineering department, not a forum post.

Factory vs Aftermarket: Why You Need the OEM Print

I’ve seen aftermarket manuals that claim to cover a 1977 Datsun Pick-Up but show a 1978 alternator wiring and omit the vacuum routing for the emission control system (which is a separate section EC in this OEM manual). The third-party books often skip the Body Electrical (BE) section’s connector pinout for the combination switch. This factory manual includes every bulletin and correction up to the date of publication – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. reserves the right to alter specifications, and they printed the latest when this went to press. You want the data that matches the VIN on the truck, not a generic approximation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this manual fit a 1978 Datsun Pick-Up?

No. The 1978 model year introduced changes to the emission system and body panels. This manual covers only the 1977 model year (620 series). Check our related listings for later years: Datsun 510 and Pick-up 1968-1972 Service Repair Handbook or Datsun 280ZX 1983 Service Manual – OEM Factory Specs.

Is this a PDF or a printed book?

It’s a digital PDF format – 537 pages, searchable, printable. You get the exact same content as the original paper manual.

What sections cover the clutch and transmission?

The CL (Clutch) section gives the pedal height adjustment, disc runout limit, and release bearing preload. The MT (Manual Transmission) section covers the full tear down of the 4-speed F4W71B, with gear backlash specs (0.004-0.008 in) and synchro clearance checks. The AT (Automatic Transmission) section is separate and covers the 3N71B unit.

I need the wiring diagram for the taillights – where is it?

Go to the Body Electrical System (BE) section. It includes the complete harness routing, connector locations, and wire color codes for every exterior light. The diagram also shows the ground points on the chassis – missing those can cause intermittent bulb failures.

You’ve got the truck. You’ve got the tools. Now get the data that matches the engineering. Access the Factory Manual for your 1977 Datsun Pick-Up and put this PDF on your tablet or print the pages you need. No guesswork, no wasted time – just the original OEM specifications.

Related manuals you might need: Datsun 280ZX 1981 Service Manual – Factory OEM Specs. External reference: Automotive Industry Overview and Automotive Industry Overview.