Jump to content

Red 71 4dr - Carbed KA24DE


demo243

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 618
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

In the process of tearing the wiring apart I decided it would be easier to upgrade to Speedhut Gauges and build my own dash then try to adapt all the 510 gauges. 

 

So I ordered a set of Speed huts and began work on a custom dash

 

Speed huts are in

 

36827329291_e30d833e67_z.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Started with cardboard templates

 

36782198942_b608563a39_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Then transferred it to metal. Ordered some metal from onlinemetals.com got some thin alum sheet metal.

 

36557080510_c919571407_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Used the corner of a 2x4 and some clamps on the work bench to make the bends

 

36557047420_c38fc24eef_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36813478101_09375ca91d_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36144992513_2e49c0238b_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Then used the appropriate hole saws to cut holes in the dash

 

36953227995_e61a6b1965_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Got some universal 12v cig lighter and usb adapters, and painted it matte black

 

36953238175_5f7f0da9bb_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36144709893_f9735de0dc_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36556939640_468d864cf7_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36118807744_e90a9dff78_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

  • Like 6
Link to comment

While all that was going on I had Ray at Garage Autohero fab up a custom rear sump pan and pick up for me. Really great work, the end result was pretty awesome--- big thanks to Trophy again for letting me borrow his block so Ray had something to fab it up on since I was down here in CA and Ray is up in WA... its a bit expensive to ship a block up....

 

36118710604_0a77cd363f_h.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36557219450_95a553be34_h.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36118881654_51cdfd8a71_h.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36765817456_70c5529a8b_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36144941073_87b052b97b_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36765516356_68b134d31f_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

  • Like 2
Link to comment

Then I began work on building the motor- 

 

Parts back from the machine shop... both heads were really bad... rolled the dice on a Rock auto head... its working now...  but not without its trouble....

 

36782164532_8f1c598843_b.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Custom trigger wheel instal for the EDIS/MegaJolt Install

 

36557045560_4ab439b58f_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36796170392_5b9ed28809_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Rock Auto Head

 

36557217860_4e8363ec19_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36953061195_c5f3200da6_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Core Plugs installed and block painted 

 

36779672386_ce00216991_z.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Fresh bearings 

 

36782258292_f5e5b92ba7_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36813500331_fc19d99e91_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Wiseco Pistons and Eagle Rods

 

36782155552_ce9f2fdee5_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Working on rings and bottom end install

 

36118795124_8e868704a2_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Coming together

 

36953225155_e3cd4c4b21_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Timing done

 

36118747724_1b73be05d5_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Buttoned up

 

36953169465_6f1980821b_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36765505316_cd7422c2d8_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Home work bench aluminum stock custom fab hahahah --- block offs and trigger wheel sensor mount

 

36557213780_365e990734_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36953360025_5461d0f884_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36765521956_ba2a4d4d9d_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Ready to drop in

 

36557109020_654e40d366_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

  • Like 2
Link to comment

Dropping it in did not come easy.... some issues I was expecting... but not as many as I encountered... 

 

36557088800_84a9d3edc3_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36557041570_ae8581f290_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36813779511_a62e812985_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

The biggest issues were with the motor mounts and trans bracket.... currently running the T3 trans bracket and McKinney motor mounts... not really happy with either....

 

Ray fabbed the pan up with a stock 510 xmember and stock 510 soft mounts... but when I went to mount it up something was different with the xmember.... so it didnt fit right.

 

I ended up using the McKinney mounts to get the extra height to clear the pan from the xmember and the steering linkage.... not stoked... but they will work... 

 

Was having a hell of a time getting 510 soft mounts to work

 

36765664256_e08f830635_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36782199562_4c7699569d_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Also I felt the engine was really far forward... so with the help of Rag10 I got some custom hard mounts fabbed to set the motor back further into the bay

 

Will need to get some shots of these... cant find em on my phone/flickr

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Then I began work on building the motor-

 

Parts back from the machine shop... both heads were really bad... rolled the dice on a Rock auto head... its working now... but not without its trouble....

 

36782164532_8f1c598843_b.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Custom trigger wheel instal for the EDIS/MegaJolt Install

 

36557045560_4ab439b58f_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36796170392_5b9ed28809_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Rock Auto Head

 

36557217860_4e8363ec19_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36953061195_c5f3200da6_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Core Plugs installed and block painted

 

36779672386_ce00216991_z.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Fresh bearings

 

36782258292_f5e5b92ba7_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36813500331_fc19d99e91_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Wiseco Pistons and Eagle Rods

 

36782155552_ce9f2fdee5_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Working on rings and bottom end install

 

36118795124_8e868704a2_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Coming together

 

36953225155_e3cd4c4b21_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Timing done

 

36118747724_1b73be05d5_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Buttoned up

 

36953169465_6f1980821b_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36765505316_cd7422c2d8_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Home work bench aluminum stock custom fab hahahah --- block offs and trigger wheel sensor mount

 

36557213780_365e990734_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36953360025_5461d0f884_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36765521956_ba2a4d4d9d_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Ready to drop in

 

36557109020_654e40d366_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

That is sweet I want one for my car.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Couple of other issues... 

 

The OBX 4-2-1 header wasnt even close to fitting... even with a big F'n hammer.... 

 

Ordered up a Megan 4-1 shorty and it fits great. If you are handy with a welder you could clock the flange on the lower pipe a few degrees and it would fit fine too... for me a temporary solution of a 2" exahust extension flange allowed me to clock the lower portion as needed... the rest of the exhaust is pretty hacked together but it works... definitely needs a visit to a good exhaust shop.

 

36813731951_c09002ba88_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36765731696_f96290b1ec_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36118753174_64da083490_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

 

Another issue I encountered was the trans bushing/isolator. Most said the 240/260/280 worked fine.. but with the T3 crossmember it sat realllly low.... ended up picking up this energy suspension one, Ill have to dig up the part number. fixes it well enough... although I did need to open up the trans mount holes to allow it to slot forward and backwards... 

 

36158345403_3a007e937e_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36158345153_87cd60d3fa_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Long story short... not impressed with the Mckinny Mounts or the T3 trans xmember... Still amazed someone hasnt "dialed" in this swap and offered mounts... but I guess there are alot of different routes people go.

 

Once the engine and trans were in I had to sort out the drive shaft. --- the shaft that came with my car had seen better days, and rather then shorten it again and rebuild it, I called the guys up at the driveshaftshop.com and had them custom make a 3" aluminum driveshaft.

 

36557213820_44b182b054_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Fit in perfectly - great guys over there

 

Radiator also needed to be taken care of. Really didnt like the CX racing one and had heard of people using the AFCO 80104N but without many photos... liked the dim's and price an pulled the trigger

 

36118757944_d046798d34_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

This shows a comparisson to the Koyo 510 rad -- AFCO on left and Koyo on right

 

36765728136_74f6990129_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36765503416_9abdc99109_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Found some generic floor isolators on Grainger for the lower mounts and bent up some aluminum stock for the upper mounts

 

36557044570_cf9ade74fc_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Then went to oreilly and politely asked the guys to let me browse their rad hose selection to see if I could find some that fit --- Part numbers still on hoses- they were cut down FYI so the ones off the shelf are longer with an extra bend or two

 

36144687873_40f5f4ae31_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36765746256_54ab99bf9d_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Due to the rad inlet and outlet being bigger then the KA inlet and outlet I did need to use some hose shims that were aquired off of summit racing

 

You will notice in this shot I had to go to an inline thermostat in the upper hose... more on that latter

 

36781637212_7b768d88fa_z.jpgIMG_2198 by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

  • Like 2
Link to comment

side note---  back to electrical... 

 

Oddessy PC680 using T3 bracket mounted to a piece of alum stock behind the passenger seat

 

36118556934_620e06595d_z.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Hard to see in this photo... but ran power to a 200amp circuit breaker mounted under the pass seat then goes to the started an a 175amp mega fuse in the engine bay

 

36765506686_ed55af1a8e_z.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

  • Like 1
Link to comment

At this point we were good to fire.

 

Cranked for oil pressure... nothing... pulled the filter back filled the pump from the filter adapter and pre filled the filter. Cranked again... OIL PRESSURE!

 

Now we are good to fire...

 

Go to start... no spark... first though was the edis coil and the plug wires thinking they werent contacting each other... swaped to a different coil... still no spark... a little more digging to relize that when the ignition was on the megajolt unit had power, but when I turned the igntion to start the megajolt unit would lose power --- hence no spark since I am running a hard limiter on the megajolt board, power to the coil is provided from megajolt. 

 

A few calls with Rag10 and we had that rewired and sorted out to provide constant power when cranking.

 

Next issue... wont fire... keeps trying and backfire out of the carbs but wont run.... seems like timing is off... hand crank to TDC and check all the markings and the trigger wheel and sensor... everything is lined up perfect.... 

 

Did some reading on the Autosport forums (megajolt forum) and someone mentioned they crossed the coil wires and had to swap the plug wires..

 

Swap the plug wires... FIRES FIRST TRY!

 

36145159963_e7170b20a1_b.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Plugged in a straight 15 degree map and damn it is dead on with the timing light... 15 degrees does not budge.

 

Shut it down to drive it the next day. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Get home the next afternoon - fire it and let it idle (while varying the throttle and rpms) to warm it up and do a quick initail tune on the mikunis.

 

Thanks to DUKE the mikunis are pretty close to dialed right off the bat

 

Let it warm up and all seems fine. 

 

Take it for a quick spin around the block- 1/2 mile maybe? --- All is good around the first turn, second turn, third turn, and fourth. Go to pull in my drive way and get stuck 3 wheeled because of the angle, back up and glance down at the temp gauge and it had pegged... shit.... shut it down open the hood and can see the coolant pissing out of the back of the head.... well shit

 

Let it cool and go out 2 hours later since I need to fire it again to get it in the garage... fire it , back it up so I can swing out to get into the drive, wait for traffic, get a break and pull in. 

 

Get out of the car to see a massive line of oil.... 

 

Do my best to mop up the oil and prep for the worst. 

 

36850015606_70055caccf_z.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

36230481893_43759c12b7_z.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Next night I go out to figure out where the oil came from.... 

 

Cant find anything... 

 

Finally pull the oil filter... the gasket gave on the  filter

 

37038216365_68e905fbc3_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

No more nissan filters for me... the gasket is super flimsy on these and I am surprised this doesnt happen more often.\

 

I have since swapped to Bosche filters as they have a nice big thick rubber gasket.

 

 

 

Next step was to pull the head as I though the headgasket had popped.

 

--- side note here, it did over heat, but I dont think it actually got that hot since the heat tabs on the head desinged to melt in an overheating situation to allow the machine shop to void the warranty did not melt

 

 

Pulled the head, checked for flatness... thankfully still flat

 

new head gasket installed, all torqued back up... go to fire...

 

Still leaking..... now I am able to see that it is actually leaking out of the core plug at the back of the head....

 

Decide its easier to pull the whole engine instead of the head so get to work.

 

Pulled the engine

 

36118554434_29427a9856_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Made a core plug remover with some spare alum stock and a self taping bolt

 

36557173020_e0df479857_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Pull the plug, clean the hole, replace it, and drop the engine back in

 

Fire it up...leaking worse then before... I can now see a steady stream of coolant coming out 

 

Pull the engine, pull the plug, clean it, replace it and put it all back together --- used aircraft gasket maker both times to seal the plug...

 

Before I even fire it, I can see it leaking.... 

 

At this point I decide its time to pull the head an take it to a machine shop, plan was to have them bore it out and put a new larger plug in.

 

Called 3 machine shops.... none of them could do that... 4th one finally says yes they can, bring it on by.

 

After talking with them in person they can see why the plug wouldnt hold... there were some small scuffs and a gouge but they were convinced that the plug should hold despite that... they offer to make an aluminum plug for a good chunk of change instead of boring the hole out or suggest that I just take it home use some sleeve retainer on the new plug (3rd one) and then epoxy the shit out of it.....

 

not wanting to dump money into this rock auto head I follow their suggestion. 

 

Took it home, cleaned it really well, applied sleeve retainer to the hole and the plug, installed it, let the sleeve retainer set up, and then epoxied the plug in... long store short this plug is not coming out easily

 

36118799254_a9fc0682f2_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Put it all back together

 

36557087680_f64da7d9c8_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Let the epoxy cure 

 

Fire it! No LeakS!!!!!!

 

Its is now running and driving.

  • Like 2
Link to comment

Also to be noted.... 

 

I could not get the stock KA thermostat to work.

 

Very inconsistent temperature readings.... with a 160 thermostat in the stock location on the lower hose, I quickly saw 180+ at the sensor in the intake manifold ( coolant outlet for the engine) without the thermostat opening....

 

This is what I believe to be the issue of the over heating, plug popping, oil puking issue.

 

Even when I was able to get the thermostat to open, it would quickly close and then not reopen... tried two different thermosats with the same issue

 

At that point i went to an inline thermostat in the upper hose and have had zero issues since.

Link to comment

As it sits right now... 

 

We unfortunately are on hold again... 

 

Life is taking me and the 510 back east again - Boston here we come!

 

 

So there will be some more updates, but mostly likely mostly reposting preferred old photos...

 

There are a few issues that still need to be dealt with.

 

--- 

 

Something is draining the battery... as its not holding a charge

The TPS sensor will calibrate fine, but once the engine is started, it doest read....

Exhaust desperately needs to be done

 

Will need new tires soon--- these are getting worn and two of them sat in oil for a bit as well

 

needs some sort of trans tunnel repair or cover to seal that back up

 

Going to need to do some serious 3m adhesive tape/foam to deal with rattles... installed the T3 rear firewall and deck lid... but with the poly engine mounts and trans mounts the car vibrates...

 

Something might not be right with the trans... cant tell if its just the hacked exhuast rubbing the trans crossmember bolts or if its the trans itself... but its loud in 4th and 3rd especially on decel.

 

It also unfortunately seems I failed at RTV and the oil pan seal is leaking a bit too.... 

 

 

Lots of work to still be done.... 

 

Ill do my best to keep it all updated.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

FYI on the odd thermostat problems you were having. 

 

The hose behind the thermostat goes up to the intake and the heated water is pushed to the back of the thermostat causing it to open. 

 

I, like you, did a clean up of the hoses and found this out the hard way.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • 3 months later...

Not much too update...

 

Car made it back east! Was a bit nerve racking... Unfortunately I couldn't use the same trucking company I did to ship it out west since my wife's company was paying for it (yea full relo package... I am working in the wrong industry... but at least I married someone who is!) so they farmed it out... talking to the company the promised it would only go on one truck... well sure enough I guy shows up with a small 3-4 car trailer and obviously that wasnt going across the country... short for time I had to just load it and deal with it. Then it got loaded on a bigger truck to make the full trip. I was a bit nervous due to it not holding a battery charge and needing a jump and also that it needs to crank a bit after sitting since the oil pressure switch doesnt let fuel flow till there is oil pressure.

 

Made it fine.. with only one decent dent in the lower portion of the megan header... I figured this will get replaced when I get the exhaust done... so no big deal.

 

Getting picked up - 

24883255997_85d181b5eb_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Dropped off- 

37734638761_99dcbad2d7_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

For some reason they never want to drive it off... so both times I have driven it off 

37064154563_7b1400d7f3_b.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

Back east -

 

37702591772_88d1dc96c6_k.jpgUntitled by Devon Mitchell, on Flickr

 

unfortunately for now the car is stashed in CT in my mom's garage, and will be for the next 16+ months... Ill still be down to drive it and work on it, and hopefully get it back out autocrossing in Bridgeport Ct this summer. The hard part is all my tools are up in Boston. 

 

The biggest issue now is getting it compliant with MA laws... I though Cali was bad... MA is worse... MUCH WORSE.... 

 

To reg it in Cali all I had to do was drive it to the DMV and get it VIN verified... the guy even commented on how good the engine looked and how much work I must have put into it... and it passed fine

 

Massachusetts is a different story... being a '71 there is no emissions... but it does have to pass a saftey inspection every year and MA just added cameras to all their inspections bays so nothing can pass through.... 

 

 

Also side note---- 

 

All photos between page 2 and 25? have been removed... I did this before I realized there was a hack for the photobucket issue... either way I cant support a company the tries to screw over so many people... so I deleted all my photos off of photobucket and deleted my account. I have uploaded a bunch of them to Flickr and will move forward with them

 

depending on how motivated I get I may try and reinstate some of the photos ... or just redo a few of my first posts with a overall ... will see...  

Link to comment

Current to do list--

 

-Figure out battery draw/drain issue

-Figure out throttle positions sensor issue and upload proper tuning Map

-Exhaust work - header back (was hoping to get my spare rear crossmember exhaust opened and adjustable... but I dont think thats gonna happen... Ill just go full 2.5" or full 3" and have then do a smaller pipe through the x-member and replace it down the road)

-Get a trans tunnel cover fabbed and welded

-Fill or plug the random holes in the floor and firewall

-Figure out whats needed to pass MA saftey inspection

-New tires- these Falkens are getting old and beat... time for something new and sticky

 

 

Eventually-

-Redo motor mounts

-Better trans mount

-Adjustable LCAs, TC rods,  ties rods --- possibly T3 GTX2s

-Redo steering - all bushings etc --- possibly rebuilt box

-Race seats --- Corbeau likely 

-New wheels --- 13x7 race wheels --- possibly 15x7ish Rota Grids for daily use

-Rear Coilovers

 

 

... Im sure there is more

 

 

Also getting the itch to get a 2nd 510... should have done this while I was in Cali... but year couldnt afford it. This is probably 2 years out pending on buying a house (2+ car garage required)

Link to comment

Demo243.... where abouts are you in mass... ?

I am north of Worcester in leominster...

 

Everett just outside of Boston - Was just out your way- there is a 4 door shell for sale... but its pretty stripped and beat up. Went to check it out. Considered grabbing it and parting it, keeping the x-members and rear end.. but cant justify it right now -- https://worcester.craigslist.org/pts/d/1971-datsun-nissan-510-sedan/6435080805.html 

 

Welcome back!  Tits cold out here!!!

 

Youll probably driving right by me everytime you come from mass, if you want to borrow any tools!

 

Im at the bottom of I91, and right by harbor freight too!

 

Yea not too far away- Fairfield. Although I typically end up running down 84 and then 8. 

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.