"The Goon" Build (KA Datsun)

[WagDatto]

First, I'd like to say what's up, everybody. I'm Sean from Sacramento, CA. I've been lurking around the forums for a few months, reading up and learning a lot, so thanks in advance for all of the help you guys have unknowingly given me!

This is my first post, so let's start it right! This is my project (AKA The Breadbox), and I've had a blast working on it with my older brother. I've learned a ton about Nissans, and the racing pedigree they earned back in the day under the Datsun brand.



A few months back, I bought this 1972 Datsun 510 Wagon with the stock 1800cc motor and 4 speed tranny that was nearing the last leg of its life.






My brother and I decided to scrap the stocker and upgrade to a KA24DE with future plans on turboing and driving on around 250hp. First thing's first, I tore out the stock L18 and 4 speed tranny, cleaned the engine bay, removed the windshield wiper motor assembly, cleaned the engine bay some more, and sanded it down. I sprayed a few cans of "Truck Bed Liner" rattle-can paint as a base, and finished it with a semi-gloss black. It came out really nice for nothing more than some elbow grease and 10 bucks from NAPA.





A trip to the local junk yard, and I scored some 280zx struts and breaks for the front to give this beast some true stopping power, also allowing me the opportunity to go back and upgrade to drilled and/or slotted rotors when we turbo. I cut and flipped the engine crossmember to clear the stock oil pan and took the struts, control arms, TC rods and x-member in for powdercoating (as long as I'm doing it, I might as well do it right, yeah?). After some wiggling, we got the engine and tranny in and seated with a new transmission crossmember, all new steering linkage, poly bushings and some fresh grease all around to replace the worn out, 30 something year old parts.

(Pics of front suspension will be added this weekend sometime)



As it sits now, I have to shorten the stock driveshaft, finish fab work on my custom stainless fuel cell, figure out where I'm mounting the intake, get a radiator and electric fans small enough to squeeze in front of the motor, and get exhaust done, but I'm hoping to knock out those small things within the month. After that's done, I picked up some BRE style fiberglass flared front fenders, and some rear fender flares to match.



However, as you can see, the rear flares can't just be molded on and call it a day, as they were meant for a 2 door. The idea for now is that we're going to have to recut the rear doors and retub the wheel wells to allow the flares to be molded in so some big-lipped, low offset wheels can come in! After some flare-age, the whole car needs a trip to the paint booth for a nice red color to cover up the stock... I have no idea what to call that color!

I'll keep updates coming as I can, as well as some more recent pictures as soon as I get over to my brothers house to take some. Any feedback is welcome, but I'd prefer constructive criticism over outright flaming, if at all possible, haha!