CanadianST's 1970 Datsun 510 build

[CanadianST]

Hello everyone thought I'd throw up a build thread for my baby as there was some interest when I mentioned it.

To start off the story we have to go back to September when I noticed the car on a local internet classifieds site. At the time I was looking at getting a new project as my current endeavor of restoring a 1987 Honda Hurricane 600 was being wrapped up so I made the call.

Turned out the car was 100% stock with an automatic transmission and had been in Nova Scotia all its life and was bought new from a dealer by an older woman who drove it into town every now and again only in the summer. Eventually another older couple picked it up and used it for the exact same purpose sparing it from our vehicle destroying winters. They moved on to a newer car and let it sit in their barn for the next 5 years until it was put up for sale and I noticed it. I made the 400+ mile drive with a friend from Prince Edward Island to southern Nova Scotia to check it out and was greeted with an almost rust free (the quarters behind both front wheels were going bad) and totally original car. I ended up buying it on the spot and before I could leave the small town was flagged down by a guy who used to own a couple 510s. He had a bunch of parts from his sitting in his basement that he wanted to get rid of and ended up giving me a back window, new in the box tail light bezels, all new weatherstripping for the entire car, and a ton of other odds and ends for free. Score!

The car made it the entire trip back not burning a drop of oil and once a few hicups were worked out ran smoothly the entire way, not bad for a car that sat for such a long time!

A few pics from the ride home

Other car is a 2004 Mazda 6 running around 330hp at the flywheel, sold it to my sister to make room for the FiST

Up next the teardown begins! After I take a break from writing this novel.

 

[Colin1337]

Awesome! I love old Datsuns!

 

[CanadianST]

After getting the car home and fixing the fenders as well as a few other small things I drove the car around a fair amount while I decided what I wanted to do with it. At first it was a nicely built SR20 swap, then a KA or VG, then finally a built L-Series as I realized I really didn't have much experience with the cars and apart from restoring my bike this would be my first real project and didn't want to get in over my head. Plus add to the mix that I'm 20 and don't have the most experience yet lol.

I searched for awhile for a L20 but soon came to the conclusion that they (along with anything that age) are really scarce here on the east coast so rebuilding the stock motor it would be! I decided I was going to build the car up in a 70s style with no fuel injection, no forced induction, just a built motor with supporting mods that'll probably never see a track just some spirited driving every now and again.

To keep with the 70s theme I tried to find and use as many NOS or period parts as I could and the local classifieds have worked surprisingly well. Now on to some pics!

A new in box Edelbrock intake I found, going to run a 500cfm Holley with this once the engine build is done

Some vintage Aluminum slots I picked up locally

Eventually cam across a 5 speed from a 280z for $100 in working order, another score!

Plus some other random parts

New Rear vs Old

Plus some other odds and ends.

Once the winter hit I got to work tearing the car apart

Which brings us to about present day. The engine is at the shop getting bored out and new flat top pistons installed, once it's back I'll get started on the reassembly of the top end! Also picked up a R180 out of a WRX STI with a CLSD and some custom stub axles that I'm about to install in the next little bit. And to finish off I also came across this

New in box 8 track stereo, with box speakers, fm converter, and antenna with all hardware and manuals. Went about installing it yesterday does it ever look cool!

I'm hoping to have the car running under its own power by this summer but we'll see what the future holds. Stay tuned for more updates!

 

[stuntdoogie]

Awesome, just friggin Awesome!

 

[CanadianST]

Got the engine back and started the reassembly. I went with some .30 over flat top pistons and a closed combustion chamber head that had a ton of work done to it(porting, big valves with heavy duty valve springs) to raise compression to right around 10.5:1. Went with a big Isky cam (530 lift 306 duration) so should have a real nasty idle too. Got a fair amount done just waiting on some valve train shims to finish it up!

A quick pic with the valve cover sitting on.

And today I pulled it out of the garage and pressure washed the engine bay in prep for the built motor! Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[CanadianST]

Awesome, just friggin Awesome!

Thanks for the kind words!

Awesome! I love old Datsuns!

I looked for quite awhile before I finally found this one. I'm really surprised how many times I've been stopped while out with it before the built by people asking about it. Seems to have quite the following for a car you never see anymore.

 

[dmondi12]

wow i''m drooling everywhere

 

[CarefreeAZ]

Nice look. My oldest son had a couple of 510s in college while working at the Z-Car Garage in San Jose. Lot of interesting mods in the NorCal. Will try to track down some pics for you next time I see him.

 

[godofbiscuits]

Super clean, the engine looks great, and the 8 track is a nice touch.

 

[CanadianST]

Nice look. My oldest son had a couple of 510s in college while working at the Z-Car Garage in San Jose. Lot of interesting mods in the NorCal. Will try to track down some pics for you next time I see him.

I'd definitely like to see some pics! Sounds really cool.

 

[RAAMaudio]

I drove, raced, loved my 510s, 10 years, hundreds of thousands of miles and smiles The last one I had was 1980 or 81, then had a very modified 710 wagon I loved to beat up on Porsches in the SoCal mountains, really. I came close to getting another 510 a few times over the past decades but just never got around to it, now I would probably do a 240Z instead but I will always love the five and dime

 

[CanadianST]

Might as well throw a few updates here. Valve shims are ordered and once they get here and are installed I'll be able to throw the engine and transmission in. Got my interior put back together after my manual pedal swap and drilled a hole in the floor to mark where my shifter will come through, just need to cut it out. Picking up a clutch in the next few days as well. It's so close now!

It's got the right amount of pedals now!

Eagerly waiting to be installed.

 

[RAAMaudio]

Fun stuff indeed

Have you bumped up the cam a bit? I forget now how far or exactly the method since the last time I did so was in the late 70's or early 80's on one of those.

Cool manifold

I only had ported stock ones, all I could find back then or afford most likely, I preferred a progressive Weber over a dual with both opening, much more low end, easier to tune, etc.....

Best engine I ran in my 510's was an L20B with some really good port work, custom cam grind, shaved head, tweaked DGV carb, modified distributor, etc...in a very gutted car, not really fast by today's standards of cheap power but for it's day very quick and very fun on the tires we used to have to use, lots of sideways stuff when I wanted to.

I have seen many engine swap 510's and the only one I really wanted besides the L20B was when I found a 4 barrel version of the 215 aluminum V8, forget what brand of GM car it was, all the same basically anyway, but looked for a full year for a bell housing to run a manual trans, finally gave up and sold the engine only to find a bell housing shortly afterwards...figures.....

Keep us posted, enjoying the build very much

 

[CanadianST]

Fun stuff indeed

Have you bumped up the cam a bit? I forget now how far or exactly the method since the last time I did so was in the late 70's or early 80's on one of those.

Cool manifold

I only had ported stock ones, all I could find back then or afford most likely, I preferred a progressive Weber over a dual with both opening, much more low end, easier to tune, etc.....

Best engine I ran in my 510's was an L20B with some really good port work, custom cam grind, shaved head, tweaked DGV carb, modified distributor, etc...in a very gutted car, not really fast by today's standards of cheap power but for it's day very quick and very fun on the tires we used to have to use, lots of sideways stuff when I wanted to.

I have seen many engine swap 510's and the only one I really wanted besides the L20B was when I found a 4 barrel version of the 215 aluminum V8, forget what brand of GM car it was, all the same basically anyway, but looked for a full year for a bell housing to run a manual trans, finally gave up and sold the engine only to find a bell housing shortly afterwards...figures.....

Keep us posted, enjoying the build very much

I actually don't believe I have to shim the cam towers as the head was never milled but we'll see once my lash pads get here haha. And thanks! I was lucky and found it new in the box from the 70s (gotta love new old stock) gonna hook a holley 350cfm 2 barrel up to it. Was initially going to go with a pair of Mikunis but my dad got me away from that.
He had a 510 back in the day with an L24 from a Z car in it with the duals and he says he still has nightmares about tuning them lol.

And that sounds like a very cool swap! I'd love to do an SR or even a RB swap but would hate to cut up such an original rust free car. Guess I'll just have to find another!

 

[CanadianST]

Started to put my flywheel on today when i found this...

For some reason my automatic 510 had a pilot bearing. First an SSS grill and now this, my car's full of surprises haha.

Decided since I was throwing the flywheel on I might as well keep going. Also helped that my clutch got dropped off just as I was finishing up. Turns out my mail man used to have a 510, he was pretty interested in the project and we chatted for awhile. After three trips to Home Depot for bolts I finally had this happen

Engine and trans are in! Motor mounts are all bolted in, floor is cut with shifter coming through and the trans crossmember just needs some holes widened then it'll be fully bolted up. A great nights work!

 

[RAAMaudio]

Great progress, sure easier working on these than a FWD car, hugely easier, I had my 510 apart so many times I could do it in my sleep

SS grill is great to have, never seen a pilot bearing in an automatic car.

My best 510 and longest owned car of all time was a 72 with 26k miles and it had the factory tach which was quite rare.

Like all my cars it was debadged but it did have the Trans Am Championship commemorative horn button, shifter insert, and more as my buddy was the photographer for the team Custom shortend struts, cut springs from other cars(three sets for different courses and winter tall set) Mulholland shocks and sway bars, hand filled rear camber and toe adjustment, solid DIY front camber plates with much more camber and castor than stock....some sort of custom LSD. Back in the day it as the sheat, won 23 out of 25 events with it, a second after working all night and driving 150 miles, a 3rd in my wife's wagon with some of my parts tossed on it as I was doing an engine swap to a 2.0 with ported head, custom cam......

I have a huge list of fun times in that car, air time, sideways time, dirt, snow, rain, mountains, backseat, front seat.....


Keep us posted, I am very much enjoying your build

 

[CanadianST]

Great progress, sure easier working on these than a FWD car, hugely easier, I had my 510 apart so many times I could do it in my sleep

SS grill is great to have, never seen a pilot bearing in an automatic car.

My best 510 and longest owned car of all time was a 72 with 26k miles and it had the factory tach which was quite rare.

Like all my cars it was debadged but it did have the Trans Am Championship commemorative horn button, shifter insert, and more as my buddy was the photographer for the team Custom shortend struts, cut springs from other cars(three sets for different courses and winter tall set) Mulholland shocks and sway bars, hand filled rear camber and toe adjustment, solid DIY front camber plates with much more camber and castor than stock....some sort of custom LSD. Back in the day it as the sheat, won 23 out of 25 events with it, a second after working all night and driving 150 miles, a 3rd in my wife's wagon with some of my parts tossed on it as I was doing an engine swap to a 2.0 with ported head, custom cam......

I have a huge list of fun times in that car, air time, sideways time, dirt, snow, rain, mountains, backseat, front seat.....


Keep us posted, I am very much enjoying your build

They are so much easier, I love all the room! And the lack of wiring, that ones a saving grace for me haha.

The pilot bushing really threw me for a loop, no idea why it would have been in there, everything on the car was stock when I bought it minus the SSS grill. Probably will never know the answer lol.

That sounds amazing! Wish I had only a fraction of the knowledge and expertise you have with these, I'd have it done in no time! And thanks for all the kind words, info and stories I really appreciate it!

 

[CanadianST]

A little more done today! Got my starter, distributer and alternator hooked up as well as the trans bracket. Had to enlarge the holes in the bracket to get it to fit but wasn't too big of a pain. I have been pulling metal splinters out of myself since though haha

Also found out that my lash pads had an attempted delivery today but I was out getting bolts. Gonna grab them tomorrow and hopefully get this motor finished up!

 

[CanadianST]

Had my lash pads delivered and realized when I went to install them that I forgot to order the matching retainers.. d'oh!
They are on order now just another part to wait on haha. Also ordered a Holley 350cfm carb for my edelbrock intake and a few thread adapters for the senders on my autometer gauges. The project is nearing completion!

 

[RAAMaudio]

I have never forgotten to order a part......well, only a few times......

Just one time out of thousands of downshifts at speed I missed a gear and over revved the L16 that had many hard miles on it. I sounded pretty bad, pulled off the course, popped the hood off, valve cover, one of the retainers was out of place, put it back, never another issue for another year or so while running the crap out of it before I did the L20B swap, tough little engines!

Have you bumped up the cam timing or modified the distributor? I forget the exact procedures but both are pretty easy to do and help a fair amount.