681 replies to this topic

[jun]

I bought the car in October '09. At first I just wanted an economical car to get around town in, as my Titan sucks gas and is a pain to park sometimes. But in reality, I've always wanted a mildly modified 510 so I figured this was a perfect opportunity. After a long battle of convincing the wife to let me have a project car, the car was found and towed home. '71 wagon, pretty good condition. Body was dinged up good and on its 2nd paint job but it was mechanically sound and had an amazingly clean interior. Owner stated it needed a timing chain so it couldn't make the 150 mile drive home, so we towed it back using my Titan. After a quick check and test drive, it was on its way back to LA.

cranking it down to the trailer.


A few days later, I had a shop change the timing chain and go through it. They found a laundry list of things that needed attention but for the most part, it was a safe driver after the chain and fluid replacement. I figured I'd replace things on my own as it would also be a good opportunity to learn how to work on it.

I had a Japan trip coming up a few days later (I go there quite often for work and visit family) so I started tracking down shops and making a list of things I really wanted. Some nice wheels were in order as well as some fender mirrors. I found a set of SSR Star Formulas on a Japanese auction site and contacted my friend in Tokyo. It had a cheap BIN option and before I knew it, a set of wheels had been delivered to my friend's house. How I was going to bring them back to LA, I wasn't sure yet but I'll figure it out when I got there!

While in Japan my friends and I went to Refresh 60 in Yokohama, where Obata-san sold me some SSS fender mirrors for a very reasonable price. He had just pulled them off his red 4-door.

Here he is showing me a grille he didn't want to sell to me.


On the night before our flight back home, my friend dropped off the SSR's at the hotel. After a bit of time washing the wheels in the hotel bathtub (wife was not pleased) we were able to cut down a box to fit 3 of them. The 4th was...not going to fit. Mind you this is after spending 2 cold weeks in Japan so we were already overloaded with clothes, gifts, toys, SSS mirrors, and other stuff. After some careful repacking we were able to get the 4th wheel inside my wife's suitcase. She was really, really not happy about it but what are you going to do...hah.

Back home, I mounted my mirrors in their proper location (I think) and mocked up the wheels to make sure they'd fit. Looks good.



Then the real work would begin...

[JDM510]

i love your goon!!!

and your persistance on getting your parts back from japan

also looks liek you got quite a r/c collection!!

[jun]

Some things we changed right away. First was a trip to Earl's for stainless brake and clutch lines. then a much needed altitude adjustment. At first it was a mild drop with 2" blocks out back and chopped coils up front. It rode like crap but it got the job done, as I envisioned I'd be replacing most of it anyway.

I directed my attention towards the wheels. While I could have ran them as is, the anodizing on the rims were worn and the red paint had to have been its 5th coat of paint in who knows how long. The bolts were rusty so I took the wheels down to bare metal and refinished them. It took me a week of my holiday vacation to strip, sand and repolish the lips and repaint the centers. While at it I replaced all hardware with coated 10.9 buttonheads and stainless washers.

When it came to tires, a friend recommended either Toyo 888's or at the least, Azenis 615RT's. I had visions of a nice canyon carver and good handling, so good traction was a must. The Azenis were quite a bit cheaper at 195/60/14 so I went with those.

Mounted up, everything looked pretty good. Still sat too high, but it's a start. But it rode like total crap with the blown struts and cut springs.

[gokiburix]

LOVE IT!!

[jun]

The engine bay was previously a mess. The PO had spraybombed the entire bay a tractor green. Fuse box, all wires, everything was GREEN. I started removal of the paint on one side and sprayed some gray primer to clean it up a little. I just worked it little by little, hoping for a clean bay at some point. While at it I wrinklefinished the valve cover and a friend donated some Nology plug wires. Off to the right you can get a glimpse of the old Mark Ten CDI ignition connected to a dual points distributor. Between the two are a rat's nest of wires that will all go away when my matchbox dizzy goes in. I also completely disassembled, cleaned and repainted the wiper motor as it was also completely green. I didn't think it would work afterwards but it does, and much better. I guess all that RC stuff I do came in handy when rebuilding the electric motor




I noticed the core support wasn't exactly straight, which tweaked my grille mounts. So an afternoon with a body hammer and a lot of cursing got it straight!


As long as some of the car was apart, I decided to rebuild the heater core and install a newer radiator as both were leaking. The PO also had a spare heater core so I rebuilt that to keep my car running. It was a tedious and daunting task but when it was all said and done, I was very happy with both the looks and performance. Everythint was stripped, cleaned and repainted to look new. The heater works perfectly and the engine runs way cooler, and 0 leaks! It was definitely one of those jobs I wouldn't want to do again, but it was worth the efforts. Anyone wanting to do a rebuild on the heater, I found all the info in the How-to section of this site.


at this point I thought about mounting the dual SU's I picked up but decided to save that project for another day.

[jun]

@JDM510: I'm a toy designer, so I have a lot of toys. I have a lot of RC's, it's another passion of mine. In reality my 510 is like working on a big RC car, but I can ride in this one! I mainly do vintage Tamiya cars, and a few Kyosho's. Nothing modern really, I spend more time (and money) restoring old 80's cars.

[jun]

For the sake of time, I'll fast foward a bit and get down to a few weeks ago. Parts waiting to go on:


280zx struts
GC threaded collar
Eibach 200lb spring
280zx caliper and rotor
TEIN camber plates
T3 tension rods
1" swaybar
Koyo wheel bearings
Energy Suspension control arm bushings
bumpsteer spacers (don't know the brand)

all new balljoints, tierods, center link, idler arm,etc etc etc.

My policy with parts coming off is that they get cleaned and refinished (if needed) before they get reinstalled. The front suspension took 3x as long because every bolt was replaced and part repainted and clearcoated before reinstall. that went for the struts, LCA's, steering arms, etc. We also spent some time cutting a delrin bushing on a lathe for the new idler. I even painted and clearcoated the idler! A bit overkill but I like to do things once and not deal with it again. I try to, at least.

[jun]

out:

in:


new idler with custom delrin bushing. painted too!





I have to thank my friends Adam and Manson for devoting their weekend to getting my suspension dialed! Every bolt was replaced and torqued to spec, with procedures by the book, down to the wheel bearings. It's the only way.

[jun]

So this is how it currently sits. We redid the rear with 3" blocks and dialed the front so it sits with a smidge of rake. As you can see there is some bodywork going on but I am in no rush going about it. The fender on the other side was straightened out and is in primer. I'm slowly working the paint off this side. I have a VW MK1 duckbill coming tomorrow, so that should go on...just in time for the Torrance meet on Friday.

To be honest I like how it looks now, and with my recolor ideas changing daily, I'm just going to noodle it and run with whatever comes about. Being a designer I have a million and one ideas for it but don't have the time to work on it constantly. While it's in its paint-dilapidated state, I thought about making it look like an old school Japanese delivery vehicle- my wife is going to work on some logos for me and we'll see how it works out. More to come! Next steps are to address the power issue, or lack of! Who knows what they're doing when it comes to installing matchbox dizzys? I might need some guidance for that one.

[inline4]

looking good.

[gokiburix]

fellow designer with a goon... :high five: haha

[hang_510]

jun, on 01 April 2010 - 12:40 PM, said:

Who knows what they're doing when it comes to installing matchbox dizzys? I might need some guidance for that one.

follow the DQ write up.
simple!!!

first test drive =

[ichorid]

how did you get adam to work on your car? I need to bring my dime over to his house and put him to work. Further more GET HIM ON RATSUN!

Adam has an amazing set of cars too.

[thisismatt]

Nice lookin wagon.

[benzo]

nice pics and write up Jun. if you have a flickr account I need to link up to you. by the way I am in japan now and going to the NOS2day show in yokohama. will take pics. may go see Obata san also but more to just say hi

[Duncan]

Nice goon. I remember that one from Santa Maria area. I also remember how EVERYTHING was green spray bombed under the hood, and the timing chain rattle!

I like what you've done to it. I love the wheels!

[JDM510]

this thread= WIN!!!!

[Skib]

JDM510, on 01 April 2010 - 05:29 PM, said:

this thread= WIN!!!!

Indeed.

[motavated]

This is bad ass!

[5dimer]

Nice car!!!!!!!