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SMDonner

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Hello all! I posted here a while ago talking about how I want to get a 510. It didn't know much about them at the time, but now I've done I lot of research and I think I know much more about them. But, I won't truly know about them until I get one and start to work on it lol. Since my last post things came up and I won't have the money for another couple months, but close! And I've acquired my grandma's 2004 Honda, so I don't have to worry that the 510 will have to be my daily. I really want it to be a daily driver, but I also want it to have some power to it. I've noticed that the KA24DE has quite a lot power and decent MPG, is that right? I really would appreciate any information you can give me on engine swaps i should look into, suspension, brakes, wiring, paint, tranny, MPG. Anything helps. Sorry for the newbie questions, I'm learning lol. Thank you so much if you took your time to read this and write back. Much appreciated!!!!

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I think you're in over your head already and don't even have one yet. They aren't like fruit on a tree where you go out and pick one. Sometimes it takes years to find what you want and seldom is it exactly what you want. I admire your enthusiasm but better get and drive your dream car first. Get to know it. Fix it up. Make some improvements in the brakes, suspension, tires and interior. They are a lot of fun as they are.

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I think you're in over your head already and don't even have one yet. They aren't like fruit on a tree where you go out and pick one. Sometimes it takes years to find what you want and seldom is it exactly what you want. I admire your enthusiasm but better get and drive your dream car first. They are a lot of fun as they are.

Thank you for the reply! I am aware it takes time to find a car. Especially an Import car from the 70's. I found one that I almost got in SF for around 2000 that was rewired and had really clean interior and exterior. It didn't have an engine or tranny but since I'm planning on doing an engine swap it didn't seem necessary. From the rate I've been seeing them coming and going from craigslist, I'm pretty positive that I'll see on come through with my expectations within the end of 2018 at the most. But who knows I may become shit out of luck. I'm just trying to figure out a plan and cost right now since I'm kinda tight with money. And I know that I'm a teenager and this car dream might fail terribly but I'm trying to view this as a learning experience that might be awesome and workout or just fail completely. Thank you for your response!! :))

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If you have never done a swap before you better save up $10K or more and buy it already done. A KA swap is $4-$7k if you do a lot of the work. Beware the incredibly shitty and scary swap engineering shortcuts made by others. This swap is not cheap if done right.

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You don't need us to tell what options there are. You need to tell us what you want to build and we will help you figure out steps will get you there.

 

All the info you want is on this forum, you just have to do the reading.

 

Build threads are fantastic ways to pick up tricks and learn stuff. Guys bury great info on those. Also often entertaining.

 

Just by reading various 510 build threads you can learn more about various engine swaps and why guys chose them. What interior upgrades get done. How to restore various interior and exterior components. What suspension upgrades do what.

 

Just start reading and find out someone who has a build going the direction you want to go. Then research everything they do.

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Find car exactly the way you want it, expect to pay well over $10K

 

Spend the most money you can afford for the most complete example of the car you want.

 

You may have to settle for a running 510 in fair shape. A fixer-upper. If this is the case, lack of money dictates you don't do a KA swap.

 

When a tall building is designed by an architect they don't start at the bottom floor, they start on the roof and top story and work down. This way each additional floor is designed with enough strength to support what's above it. When you run out of proper support this is your maximum height. Same with a car. You need suspension, tires, steering and BRAKES suitable for an engine with twice the power of the original 50 year old car. Spend a year or two getting the car set up.

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You have tools? You know how to fab? You have friends that are mechanically inclined? You have a dedicated garage for said swap?

I have most of the tools. I'm in a special program in my school that is teaching me fab this year. My dads good friend has a fab shop and has a 510 that he's worked a lot on. I have my grandpas shop space and he has also worked on many cars and datsuns before. Thanks for the reply!

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Find car exactly the way you want it, expect to pay well over $10K

 

Spend the most money you can afford for the most complete example of the car you want.

 

You may have to settle for a running 510 in fair shape. A fixer-upper. If this is the case, lack of money dictates you don't do a KA swap.

 

When a tall building is designed by an architect they don't start at the bottom floor, they start on the roof and top story and work down. This way each additional floor is designed with enough strength to support what's above it. When you run out of proper support this is your maximum height. Same with a car. You need suspension, tires, steering and BRAKES suitable for an engine with twice the power of the original 50 year old car. Spend a year or two getting the car set up.

I really want a project car. I know it will be tough but i have many people that can help me. I can't afford to spend 10 Grand upfront on a car. I can afford to spend 2500 on a project and after a couple years finish it. I may be over my head, or maybe I'm in a really good situation that offers me to do what i want. I want to be able to say that i worked my ass off working for a car and built it. I don't have a lot of money but i have enough. I do though have a lot of time. This may be a failure or it may be an awesome story to tell. lol i know you know a lot more then me about datsun, but I'm not some blind teenager. From what i've read and what i've been told by close friends that know about a 510, they've said i can do it, so im gonna try 

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In that case, get a stock 210 and manage to keep it running until you can afford to do everything in one shot.

 

By the time you get there you would have already upgraded brakes, steering, wheels, etc. You might actually find that you enjoy it as is.

 

 

Find out how much fun the 510 before you go trying to "improve" on something you know nothing about.

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In that case, get a stock 210 and manage to keep it running until you can afford to do everything in one shot.

 

By the time you get there you would have already upgraded brakes, steering, wheels, etc. You might actually find that you enjoy it as is.

 

 

Find out how much fun the 510 before you go trying to "improve" on something you know nothing about.

Thanks for the advice. I actually really like 210s. I don't know what it is but i love the 510's. My grandpa has a 66 datsun wagon and it drives like a little sports car lol. Just its something about the 510s

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I have most of the tools. I'm in a special program in my school that is teaching me fab this year. My dads good friend has a fab shop and has a 510 that he's worked a lot on. I have my grandpas shop space and he has also worked on many cars and datsuns before. Thanks for the reply!

...that's a good start. Where do you live? Have you checked out EVENTS on this site, may have a Datsun event near you and see other people there that did the swap..good luck.
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I really want a project car. I know it will be tough but i have many people that can help me. I can't afford to spend 10 Grand upfront on a car. I can afford to spend 2500 on a project and after a couple years finish it. I may be over my head, or maybe I'm in a really good situation that offers me to do what i want. I want to be able to say that i worked my ass off working for a car and built it. I don't have a lot of money but i have enough. I do though have a lot of time. This may be a failure or it may be an awesome story to tell. lol i know you know a lot more then me about datsun, but I'm not some blind teenager. From what i've read and what i've been told by close friends that know about a 510, they've said i can do it, so im gonna try

I applaud your ambition....

Sounds like your only draw back is gonna be cash...

If it was me I would do it in 2 stages.

First Get your self a good runner..... fix and upgrade the neccessary things, and drive it...

2nd if you a really bent on a motor swap Get yourself a donor vehicle, that way you have most of what you'll need...

Plan the whole motor swap out on the side... maybe build into a stand....

Then you get to drive the 510 while you prepare and buy everything neccessary for the swap...

Good luck....

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I applaud your ambition....

Sounds like your only draw back is gonna be cash...

If it was me I would do it in 2 stages.

First Get your self a good runner..... fix and upgrade the neccessary things, and drive it...

2nd if you a really bent on a motor swap Get yourself a donor vehicle, that way you have most of what you'll need...

Plan the whole motor swap out on the side... maybe build into a stand....

Then you get to drive the 510 while you prepare and buy everything neccessary for the swap...

Good luck...

Thanks for the reply. Thanks for the advice man, I'll def look out for a runner.

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I think you're in over your head already and don't even have one yet. They aren't like fruit on a tree where you go out and pick one. Sometimes it takes years to find what you want and seldom is it exactly what you want. I admire your enthusiasm but better get and drive your dream car first. Get to know it. Fix it up. Make some improvements in the brakes, suspension, tires and interior. They are a lot of fun as they are.

What Mike says at the end ( They are a lot of fun as they are.) I have enjoyed mine since about 1979 all stock. And good luck on your search for one.

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I have most of the tools. I'm in a special program in my school that is teaching me fab this year. My dads good friend has a fab shop and has a 510 that he's worked a lot on. I have my grandpas shop space and he has also worked on many cars and datsuns before. Thanks for the reply!

Sounds like you have the makings of a good start on one. I would get one stock and work on it and read about it a lot at your age being a teenager your somewhat ahead. I didn't get me one till I was about 20 and that was 40 years ago and there was no info about one I knew about back then except that they raced them. Save plenty of money and then do what you want or you can get one already done as long as you know it was done up right. And still read a lot about all that was done to it. Either way you'll have fun driving it, just respect her.

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