DRIVEN Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 I guess this will be the official spot. I bought it a few weeks ago at a tow yard auction. It will be the replacement for the other wagon I picked up last year. The first one was going to require quite a bit of body work. Since my brother is going to be doing the majority of that part of the project, it seemed like this one might be a better place to start. Here she is... There IS actually an L20B under the hood. I have no clue why it sits the way it does. There are 2" blocks in the rear and unknown spring on the front. It must have been driven that way for a while because both front tires are worn to the belts on the inside edges. The front seats look like they may be Cavalier or Grand Am but are in nice shape. The back seat, door panels and headliner are better than average. This car is being built as a replacement for my wife's aging Neon. She will be making most of the calls on how it turns out. The short term plan is to get it road worthy first just to get an idea of how it will need to be improved. Long term plans include 280zx struts and coil-overs, paint, interior and an engine upgrade. Possibly a GM series II 3800/4L60E. I considered keeping it in the family with a CA, SR, KA or VG but this actually has a great deal of potential -- 200hp and 30mpg with common parts. We want to be able to cruise anywhere and not have to worry about parts availability if we have a breakdown 1000 miles from home. Stay tuned. Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted October 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Today was the first time I actually did anything to it. The auction guys had scribbled a note in the windshield that said "Runs great - just needs head gasket":lol:. So I bought it basically expecting the engine to be toast. I picked up a head set this morning and got to work. Started by cleaning up under the hood. Then I pulled the thermostat and flushed the engine. You'll notice the radiator is missing. It's currently in my brother's 521. I plan to do a Scirroco(sp) radiator install. Tore it down and it looks like the head hasn't been on all that long. Only place I saw a problem was a major gasket distortion in the area that I'm pointing. Didn't see any cracks. Put it back together, adjusted the valves, rerouted some wires and hoses and fired it up. I couldn't run it too long without a radiator but at least it ran and moved under it's own power. *note the Ratsun battery hold-down. The next step is to swap out the front spring with stockers. Hopefully I can dial in the ride height. I have some 280zx struts/brakes and a master cylinder for it and I think I've located some coil-overs but I can't install that stuff until we decide on the proper style wheels. The 13s that are on it now won't clear the ZX assemblies. Quote Link to comment
Pacific coast Datsun Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Another wagon build...yay! I kinda like the rims on it now..:cool: Kool that it runs, thats half the battle. Quote Link to comment
hang_510 Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 This car is being built as a replacement for my wife's aging Neon. She will be making most of the calls on how it turns out. "just another wagon..." have your wife slap you!!! Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted October 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 I picked up a set of stock springs this morning from Mike Klotz. I also am expecting to get a radiator back from my brother pretty soon. Hopefully I can drive it before the weekend is over. Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted October 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Got a little done today. First photo is my "Ralley" ride height. Pulled the springs and set them next to the set I got from Mike. I think the stockers had been clipped a bit. The end ride height is about 1.5" lower than my blue wagon. End ride height (which I expect to settle even more once it is driven around... That's a 5" drop! The front wheels are toed out probably an inch but I will need to replace ball joints and tie rod ends first. I also removed the fighting dragon tramp-stamp from the windshield. Replaced the lame stock wheel with a 240Z... Parting shot... Quote Link to comment
mklotz70 Posted October 24, 2009 Report Share Posted October 24, 2009 oooooo.....that's pretty much perfect...could settle another 1/2" or so. Very nice :) Quote Link to comment
Pacific coast Datsun Posted October 24, 2009 Report Share Posted October 24, 2009 Verrry nice drop...:D Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted October 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 I learned something today that lots of you guys probably already knew. While looking around online for ball joints and tie rod ends I found that 510s share front end parts with B210s. As luck would have it, I parted out a low miler '77 B210 a couple years ago and saved the front suspension/steering. Free parts! Got them swapped out and did a "close enough" alignment. As you can see by the first photo in the thread - the front valance is pretty boned. I spent a couple hours with hammer and dolly and got it in much better shape. Then my brother happened to show up and got it even smoother. Still no radiator yet. Tomorrow I plan to hit the yards in search of a Mazda wiper motor. Quote Link to comment
pl521sss Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 Wagon looks good Is there a part number on that blue distributor cap? Quote Link to comment
mklotz70 Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 Isn't there a radiator in the blue one?? Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted October 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 There was. It was pulled to be used in my brother's 521 -- then it developed severe leakage. Then he got the one out of this wagon. He had a line on a permanent replacement but hasn't worked it out yet. I was considering a VW upgrade but am trying to avoid spending any money right now. No job, no prospects, my last week of unemployment, property taxes, the holidays around the corner -- it's the perfect storm.:mad: Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 At least you have your priorities right! Unemployment running out, property taxes due, holidays looming, but wait a minute, what's that? A Datsun wagon! Seriously, you will need transportation and that wagon will be just what you need. Good luck! Quote Link to comment
hang_510 Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 510s share front end parts with B210s. As luck would have it, I parted out a low miler '77 B210 a couple years ago and saved the front suspension/steering. Free parts! any chance you have the strut top hats laying around??? :D Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted October 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 I do. They are still attached to the struts. Quote Link to comment
hang_510 Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 when/if u seperate them, and have no use for them... im intrested! no hurry! Quote Link to comment
b210in Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 dam, what a good score. you say you have plans for an engine swap? cool. how about an engine that very few have swapped. fwd vq30de, with a z32 tranny (they make an adapter for this), and a custom sheet metal intake to swap in three two barrel demon strombergs, just a thought. Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted October 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 hang 510; If you get up to the Portland area let me know. We can work something out. b210in; That would be an impressive swap. I keep changing my mind and can't seem to settle on what swap to do. Rest assured that it won't be a super common one. I have complete respect for the SR, KA and VG guys but I really want something less mainstream. The prerequisites are (1) reliability, (2) common parts availability, (3) increased power and (4) reasonable economy. If it isn't better than the L that it's replacing in all those areas -- it really isn't worth it to me. Quote Link to comment
Spades Posted October 29, 2009 Report Share Posted October 29, 2009 b210in; That would be an impressive swap. I keep changing my mind and can't seem to settle on what swap to do. Rest assured that it won't be a super common one. I have complete respect for the SR, KA and VG guys but I really want something less mainstream. The prerequisites are (1) reliability, (2) common parts availability, (3) increased power and (4) reasonable economy. If it isn't better than the L that it's replacing in all those areas -- it really isn't worth it to me. all i can say is dont go NAPS-Z....lol...its taken me far too long to swap in my z20s, and it still isnt tuned yet. not only is the swap alot of time and effort, the gains are pretty small...but the main reason i say stay away from the naps, is because any part I have had to get other than basic tune up parts has taken lots of effort to track down the part, and most of the time, the part is 3 to 10 bussiness days out. unless you have a surpluss of naps z's laying around or large numbers in local junk yards, i would say go with a L20B, or the swap I had planned on before the naps, a CA18DET...its a excellant motor, and IMO better than the SR20DET...whats more, you can pick up everything needed for the swap for $1400 SHIPPED from japanese importers. also, a CA18DET isnt the normal fanboy sr20 motor, and its design is similar to a skyline motor with 2 less cylinders. Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted October 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2009 I love the CA too. If my 1200 gets swapped -- it'll be CA18DET. I'm thinking something with a bit more torque for the wagon though. Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted November 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 I suck! I've done dozens of head gasket jobs on cars far more complicated than this one. Finally got a radiator so I could fire it up and go for a drive. FAIL! More here: http://forum.ratsun.net/showthread.php?t=16884 Feel free to chime in with opinions and advice. At this point I am searching for another L-motor. I just want to get this thing drivable so that I can develop a real-world opinion about that I like about it and what I want to improve. I have a line on an L16/dogleg but haven't settled on a price yet. I'm still researching final engine swap alternatives and have ruled some out. Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted January 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Pulled the head and checked it. Found it was warped and twisted and had several low spots. My buddy has a surfacer at work. He said he quit counting after 5 passes (he took off a bunch). I made cam tower shims and ended up with .010" and .012" front and rear. It's back together and I have fired it but the radiator is beyond shot. Picked up my new wheels and another replacement radiator from Klotz this morning. More to come... Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 need another head? :rofl: Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted January 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 What are you talking about? It's practically a peanut now, right :rolleyes: ? I'll get the radiator in tomorrow and run it for a while. Hope it lives. Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted January 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Got the radiator in and it now holds it's coolant. I ran it for about 45 minutes and made a couple laps around the neighborhood. It runs a little higher than halfway on the temp gauge but never pegs out. I think that's probably due to the 195 thermostat I put in (heater works great, though). Since the red wheels didn't really go with the orange, I painted them a dark grayish-brown. With the trim rings cleaned up and some new chrome lug nuts I think it looks pretty good. You might also notice that I put some 240Z aluminum drums on too. I also scuffed the hood and top of the fenders and gave it the flat-blackness. Everything seems to work so far except for one headlight and the wipers. I'm on the hunt for a Mazda replacement. The carb still needs some work too. It seems to run pretty good once warmed up but pretty cold blooded. I'm also thinking it might look better if I take 1/2" out of the lowering blocks in the back. Maybe I'll just go lower in the front. I don't know. Quote Link to comment
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