Quote:
Originally Posted by Jtuned_andy
Pretty soon there isn't gonna be any stock 510s around, everyone feels the need to swap them and turn them into drifters 
Nice wagon...I guess. Rare to see them around. |
They're a "dime" a dozen around here- three or four beaters on Sac Craigslist at any time, all for under $1000 or so... I guess we've got it good here in NorCal!
And honestly, having owned a few VERY stock 510 wagons, they stink when they're stock! Squishy suspensions, gutless motors... what's the point? If Sean wants to drive a boring car, he has his Galant!
I told Sean I'd give him as much of a back story as I could, so here goes:
I picked this wagon up a few years ago from a guy named Toby in Rancho Cordova, who had owned it for only a few months. He has a really clean 240z, and wanted another piece of Datsun history. Long story short, he ended up in over his head and bailed out on the project.
Prior to him owning it, the car was owned by a guy named Victor, who had picked it up from some tweeker in the sticks. This tweek was the one responsible for cutting the hole in the hood (for a 300zx hood scoop that supposedly flew off at 140+ MPH- yeah right!), as well as blowing up what was likely the original engine.
The car was originally an automatic, and when I bought it from Toby it had already been relieved of the engine and transmission. A buddy of mine came out to trailer it to my house on a Wednesday night, and while we were loading it he bet me I couldn't drive it to work the following Monday.
Being the bettin' man I am, I accepted his wager (lunch at my choice of any of the fine fast food eateries near our shop!) and got to work.
I've read what it takes to convert a 240 from auto to stick, and I assure you that everything is easier in a 510! Basically, swap the pedal assembly, mount a clutch master cylinder, plumb it to the slave, and drill some new holes for the trans. crossmember, and you're golden!
I pirated the L18 and 4 speed trans. from my '71 Datsun pickup, and I drove that poor car to work on Monday! Granted, it had no lights, bumpers, hood, or exhaust, but it made it!
Anyway, the motor was tired when it was in the truck, but two more years of (ab)use and it was finally time to retire it. I hear it's in a 2 door 510 now, so best of luck to the new owner!
I'll leave it up to Sean to write the next chapter in this car's book, but now he (and you, loyal readers) know the history. Sorry for the novel, but if I don't put it down somewhere I'll forget it eventually!
-Phil