Jump to content

'cuz racecar! 1969 Datsun 510 2dr


carterb

Recommended Posts

So my son Corey decided he was going to claim my 72 4dr 510 (see build thread here: http://community.ratsun.net/topic/63690-greengo-1972-datsun-510-4dr/

 

I had long-term build plans with a VG30, but since this will be his first car, I want to keep it more simple (and more slow) so I sent off an LZ22 to be rebuilt for it, But I needed a 5spd tranny, so off to craigslist I went.

 

I found an add for a car in Puyallup area with a whole garage full of parts. 

 

marks_4door_for_sale.JPG

 

There was a Z 5spd listed in the collection.  But it was listed as all or nothing, and they wanted a good chunk of change for the car, so I didn't act on it.  But a week or two later I contacted the owner to see if they were interested in parting it out, or to get the contact info of the new owner, or...  

 

Turns out they sold the car only (anyone on here?) and still had all the parts.  Okay, now we're talking!  We agreed on a price and I headed on down to load up the truck.  Turned out to be quite the haul!

 

02232014_parts_haul.JPG

 

All kinds of goodies to go along with the 5spd.

 

03072014_race_car_parts_1_.JPG

 

03072014_race_car_parts_2_.JPG

 

03072014_race_car_parts_3_.JPG

 

03072014_race_car_parts_5_.JPG

 

03072014_race_car_parts_6_.JPG

 

03072014_race_car_parts_7_.JPG

 

03072014_race_car_parts_8_.JPG

 

Many of these parts have already found their way into getting other people's cars on the road!

Link to comment
  • Replies 90
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

So a couple cool things happened when I went to pick up the parts... 

 

First thing was when I made the final turn onto their street, there was a 1972 510 4dr w/ 68 dash and fenders.  I've been looking for that car for years!!! 

 

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/59060-anyone-know-tim-from-tacoma-w-this-4dr-510/

 

The fenders and hood are now black (?) but he still drives it and loves it (dang!)  I'm kicking myself for not getting a picture!

 

The second thing was that he and his "brother" Marc had another car (1969 2dr) they would be willing to sell.  After a brief description and price, I told them I was interested and to send me photos and I'd arrange a car trailer and come down and pick it up.  It was supposedly a rolling shell with front and rear flares and a couple sets of wheels and tires, including some nice wide Rewinds.  It also had (now remember this) "No Rust"!

 

I started forming a picture in my head of a street 510 built up like a racecar and started trying to sell the idea to Corey in hopes that he would like this project better than Greengo so I could have my 4dr back.  :angel:

Link to comment

I started making arrangements to pick up the car while I waited for the promised photos to arrive. 
A few hectic phone calls and texts preceded the trip, including some worries about a missing strut and hub assembly and no confidence any of the tires would hold up for the ride.  No problem.  I told them I'd bring down everything they thought I might need so I stole a hub assembly off of my 2dr

 

03022014_stolen_parts.JPG

 

and grabbed a pair of wheels and tires to put on the back of the car so I could dolly it back up to my house.  I took a small (this is important later) supply of tools to re-mount the hub and wheels just in case they didn't have anything handy.

 

Finally, after I had the borrowed dolly (thanks Jeff!) on the back of the suburban and I started the trip south with Corey riding shotgun, I got the photos of the car I was on the way to purchase:

 

03012014_race_car_2_.jpg

 

03012014_race_car_3_.jpg

 

03012014_race_car_4_.jpg

 

03012014_race_car_5_.jpg

 

Oh boy...  Looking rough!

 

The weather was nasty heading down too (cold and raining, actually, I think there was snow mixed in with the rain - it was in February) so this was definitely shaping up to be an interesting trip...

Link to comment

All kinds of goodies to go along with the 5spd.

 

03072014_race_car_parts_1_.JPG

'69 dash

 

 

03072014_race_car_parts_3_.JPG

 

An unsmogged L18SSS flat top Hitachi SU set up. Probably never used here yet.

 

 

03072014_race_car_parts_5_.JPG

Two L20B blocks and an L16 or L18 at bottom.

 

 

03072014_race_car_parts_8_.JPG

Four L20B heads.

 

A shorty FS5W71B. Unfortunately the hard to find rear tail case isn't around.

Link to comment

So as we made our way to the highway on the surface streets.  I could hear an odd noise now and then.  I pulled into a parking lot to see if something was dragging but I couldn't find anything.

As we made the corner to the on-ramp, the noise was back so I pulled to the side of the road to check again.  Ah!  This time it was obvious.  I didn't latch the ramp in their up position so every now and then, they would rotate down and drag on the pavement a little.  Corey stood on the nose of the ramps to rotate them back up on the dolly, I released the pin to hold them in place, and we're off!

The noises were gone but I'm always pretty hypersensitive when towing.  A couple times, I could feel a slight drag or deceleration in the suburban.  I assumed it was the truck, maybe the carb needs some adjustment.  The "hesitation" would only last for a couple seconds and then was gone for miles so I didn't think too much about it. 

Then, all of the sudden, about half way up 167, just north of Emerald Downs between Auburn and Kent, I felt the deceleration again but this time it didn't go away, and it was accompanied by a screeching noise and lots of smoke! 

I quickly pulled to the shoulder to investigate...  Any guesses?

Link to comment

03012014_race_car_7_.JPG

 

The suburban was fine.

The trailer was fine.

But the rear end in the 510 had locked up and the left rear wheel stopped rotating, turning itself into a giant rubber anchor brake on the freeway.  Awesome!

 

I was just explaining to Corey that I love the drive home because every mile we cover is one mile less that we'll have to be towed home if something bad happens. 

Link to comment

With daylight coming to an end, and with near freezing temperatures outside, I began to investigate the damage to see what I could do to get out of the situation and get home.  I loosened the lug nuts on the rear wheels and then dug out the jack I had brought to mount them at the PO's house and lifted the back end off the ground. 

After removing the rear wheels it became obvious that if I wanted the rear end to roll again, I would have to disconnect the half shafts from the hubs. 

No one realizes more than me how dumb this was but the only tools I had with me were a crescent wrench, flat blade screwdriver, needle nose pliers, and ball-peen hammer, which I had only brought because I used them to get the hub off my other 2dr in order to get this one on the trailer!

A couple of the nuts didn't look too bad but without the ability to rotate the half shafts, I would have to access and remove all four nuts and bolts from both sides of the car in whatever orientation they were currently in.  This was definitely going to be a challenge!

After 10 minutes or so of delicate/purposeful movement of the crescent wrench and screw driver, I got the passenger side complete.

The driver's side was not so "easy" however, and with my shivering body a couple feet from highway traffic, was not quite as "relaxing" either!

After about 10 or 15 minutes on this side, I had almost given up.  But after taking a short break to collect my thoughts and let Corey know what was going on, I made one final attack at the last nearly inaccessible nut/bolt and finally broke it loose using the screwdriver and hammer of all things!

 

I dropped the half shafts and secured them under the car with rope..  Then I re-mounted the passenger side wheel/tire assembly but the driver's side was not exactly round any more!  (pictures later)  So I found the best looking wheel/tire combo that came with the car and mounted that with crossed fingers and a prayer.  After lowering the car back to the ground, double checking everything, and putting away the tools (and the parts they were buried under)  I had Corey stand on the side of the road as I slowly rolled on by so he could confirm both wheels were rotating freely.  I got a thumbs up, helped him back in the cab, and with heater on HI we were headed north again, shivering and nervous and thankful at how many things went just right to make this bad situation not nearly as bad as it could have been.

 

About 10 minutes later we were on 405 and it was raining again, but we made it the rest of the way home without incident.  Thank God!

 

Here is what it looked like when I pulled in the driveway:

 

03012014_race_car_9_.JPG

  • Like 1
Link to comment

 

A spinning driveshaft spins the mainshaft in the transmission but not the countershaft that splashes the oil around, when in neutral. You could leave the engine running in neutral during the tow, or maybe fire it up every 15 miles?

 

Over 30 miles take the drive shaft off the diff and wire it up out of the way. Better yet tow with the rear in the carrier and the steering wheel locked or tied in place with rope..

Link to comment

A spinning driveshaft spins the mainshaft in the transmission but not the countershaft that splashes the oil around, when in neutral. You could leave the engine running in neutral during the tow, or maybe fire it up every 15 miles?

 

Over 30 miles take the drive shaft off the diff and wire it up out of the way. Better yet tow with the rear in the carrier and the steering wheel locked or tied in place with rope..

 

No motor, no drive shaft. Just a relatively unloaded rear-end locking up while going straight down a freeway.  Must have been dry as a bone in there.

Link to comment

Good to see this thread started Carter. The rust should be a great learning experience for your welding skills. Did you pick up a welder yet?

 

Rust?  The POs said there wasn't any rust! 

I don't think they were being "other than truthful", they treated the rust and there was no orangey-brown on the car.  But there was rust at one point in time and it certainly left it's mark!

 

Front end:  Valence is going to require some work.

03072014_race_car_1_.JPG

 

Engine bay:  Void is going to require an engine.

 

03072014_race_car_2_.JPG

 

Upper frame rail: Rust damage will require some repair.

03072014_race_car_3_.JPG

 

Lower frame area: More holes that will require some repair.

03072014_race_car_4_.JPG

 

Upper frame area:  More of the same.

03072014_race_car_5_.JPG

Link to comment

Lower frame rail: More rust damage repair required:

03072014_race_car_6_.JPG

 

Left front 3/4 view:  Must stand back and regain perspective.

03072014_race_car_7_.JPG

 

Left front door and rocker:  With the other nearby holes, I'm nervous about what's beneath this paint.

03072014_race_car_8_.JPG

 

Lower left rear quarter:  You can see why I'm nervous about the rockers.

03072014_race_car_9_.JPG

 

Left rear 3/4 view:  Something seems to be missing, just can't quite put my finger on it.

03072014_race_car_10_.JPG

Link to comment

Trunk floor:  Okay, so there is some orangy-brown stuff.  And more holes...

03072014_race_car_11_.JPG

 

Missing taillight panel:  That's why I can't put my finger on it...  It isn't there!

03072014_race_car_12_.JPG

 

Rear suspension:  At a minimum, a new rear end will be required.

03072014_race_car_13_.JPG

 

Right rear 3/4 view:  More "acne" on this side too.

03072014_race_car_14_.JPG

 

Right rear 1/4 panel:  What horrors lay beneath that bondo?

03072014_race_car_15_.JPG

Link to comment

Right side view:  Looks like I made the right choice in what wheel NOT to put in back.

03072014_race_car_16_.JPG

 

Right lower 1/4 panel:  Looks like the other side, rust damage very symmetric on this car.

03072014_race_car_17_.JPG

 

Right side door and rocker:  If this was your car, would you send it to the sand blaster to start with?

03072014_race_car_18_.JPG

 

Right upper frame rail:  More rust repair required.  Oh, and some suspension work.

03072014_race_car_19_.JPG

 

Right lower frame rail:  You guessed it, more rust repair required.

03072014_race_car_20_.JPG

Link to comment

You sir are a brave sole, and your wife,,,,, very understanding of your condition/problem.

Glad to hear you made it home safe with just minor PTSS, and thanks for another well documented road trip. Sounds a bit reminiscent of your Coupe Canby trip.

Maybe you should put a flatbed trailer is on your Christmas list. Just saying. :thumbup:

Link to comment

Brave or stupid?  ...remains to be seen.  If I had looked at it first, I would not have bought it.  But I have reconciled the purchase by thinking this will be a great weld/repair/bodywork training vehicle.  We'll see... 

 

And a flat bed?  That would be outright dangerous.  If I had a flatbed and a bigger garage...  Definitely dangerous.   :no:

  • Like 1
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.