"The Goon" Build (KA Datsun)

[ericcastro]

Its cruising the streets now, huh? nice

you get all the timing issues figured out? What color paint?

I remember when that article came out with Corolla and his Datsun 510. Forget what mag, but it must have been over 5 years ago. I also saw a BMW of his that he tried to bolt a Mustang turbo kit onto. Blew the motor, it was sitting at a BMW shop in the Valley.

i had a dude give me a head nod the other night. It was Friday, stuck in traffic into hollywood, and the dude was in a bright yellow lamborgini convertable with a hot chick. He looks past her and give me a head nod, while Im in my 240, crazy. Made me feel good! lol

[WagDatto]

Timing is all worked out, things are working like a top! If you look back a few pages, the plan is to go with a red/white two-tone. There's a body line (mid-doors) that circles pretty much the entire car, so we'll go red below it, white above it, and maybe a blue pinstripe separating the two (BRE/Datsun colors were red white and blue).

As for cruising the streets, I've taken it out on a few jaunts, but nothing spectacular yet... As it has no insurance yet! Keeping it local, taking it when there's something it has to be there for, like the exhaust shop or to Phil's house, etc. Since I just fixed the coolant leak, it's a little more reliable.

PS. When the gas station fillers "click," telling you you're full, I leak fuel. Full=Too Full. Just a little mental note...

[WagDatto]

Good news to report:
I drove it around a bit today to burn off the extra gas in the tank that was dripping (presumably from the breather tube), and even though I drove with the fan On the whole time (not brave enough to check the temp switch yet!), the OEM temp gauge seems to be accurate. It stays pretty level in the center of the gauge, now that I fixed the coolant problem. When I was really getting on it, and when I was stuck in traffic, the heat rose to around "M|P" (TEMP is written on the gauge, needle went right between the M and P), and when I started moving/dropped the rpm's a touch, it went right back to the center. All is goo to report, it needs some better suspension upgrades all around, though. I scrape BIG TIME over speed bumps, and I think the Ground Control coilovers in front need to be swapped for something a bit better suited for the car, as bumps tend to give me a big knocking sound (car landing back on the coil). The rear is okay, but I have a few new ideas for it too. First and foremost, I need to get the rear springs dearched and stiffened to get it lower and eliminate the 2" blocks I have back there. I want to also upgrade the front leaf spring mounts to a solid mount (been done for use with Roadster springs) to keep it from squishing around as much, and I want to do a "Torque Bar" type of mod to keep the axle from twisting on launches and slamming into a new gear, which is causing the nose of the diff to grind on the tranny tunnel (Rapid-fire banging noise).

Once that's done, though, I'm pretty confident that the 'Goon will be clear for takeoff! I'm going to try to get over to Maarco's tomorrow to get the exhaust finished up (for the time being), and kill this noise that's bound to get me unwanted attention.

O snapz @ teh PoPo!

[DJButton]

More good updates!

[WagDatto]

DJButton asked for more good updates, so here comes a pretty good one!

I got the muffler swapped out for something a bit different today! Some will cheer, some will cry, but it sounds way better now! No, I didn't film myself doing donuts with the loud exhaust, but it's still plenty loud, and you guys should have a video and some pictures of said donuts this weekend. When I got home, I called up Maarco Muffler and asked if they were too busy to get me in there today, and they assured me I should come right over.... so I did.

I revved, parked and got some love from an employee of the shop next door (some custom build shop of some sort). He was cool, asked if it was an SR without even seeing under the hood, so I knew he kind of knew the usual swaps for the car, and I filled him in on what it had so far. Even for a guy that drives a 62 Chevy, he said the muffler was too loud for my little car. I finally drove it up on the lift, they brought it up and I started snapping off a few pictures for you guys.

After checking out what they had upstairs, we looked at a few Fart Cannons, and they even had a stock Evo MR muffler (3" in, huge barrel), but honestly, when it came down to it, they were either beat to shit, too small/big, too noisy or too ugly for my to really want to put it on there! Old Tim picked up the Dynamax muffler and said if I wanted a quiet, muscley sound, that the Dynamax would probably sound pretty good. Being that he's nearing at least 200 years old, I took his advice. What was nice is that it had a "left in, center out" setup, so I could get the muffler moved a little further away from the fuel cell. I doubt it would have made a HUGE difference, but I didn't want my gas to be hot...

He cut off the old, welded in a new bracket and hanger, and welded on the new one. I was amazed how easily he welded the top of the pipe, but he assured me that mine was easy. He does it for a living, so I guess he's seen some wacky shit in his day. When I pulled up onto the lift, it was loud, abrasive and annoying (especially when I opened up the taps), but when I started it and backed it off the lift, I liked what I heard... It was really mellow and sounded pretty deep and meaty when you brought it to 2k...

Before: (2.5" pipe to the straight-through, custom Flowmaster)

Old Tim cutting off the old muffler:

Barren:

New front suspension shot:

Dynamax 2.5" in and out:

Tim welding her in:

Gettin' her done:

The New Rumble:

Finishing touches:


Like I said, I'll update with some new footage this weekend. Anybody in the area want to get together?

Edit: I just realized this thread has gotten to almost 10 pages long, and has over 10,000 views, so thanks everybody for the love and support so far, and I'll try to keep progress moving along steadily! Next on my list is rear suspension, and then some body work, so I should get some interesting pictures when I get there!

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by WagDatto

He cut off the old, welded in a new bracket and hanger, and welded on the new one. I was amazed how easily he welded the top of the pipe, but he assured me that mine was easy.

Any welder worth his weight shouldn't even blink at stuff like that.


BTW - I seriously want to see some video of this thing doing nasty, NASTY things.

[DJButton]

Ask and ye shall receive indeed, that update worked!

[WagDatto]

Originally Posted by Bubbles

Any welder worth his weight shouldn't even blink at stuff like that.
BTW - I seriously want to see some video of this thing doing nasty, NASTY things.

I agree, but I'm not a welder worth my weight... I weigh maybe 10-20lbs in welding, but I'm still shy about 230lbs!

As for nasty things, I'm thinking of getting together with another 510 and filming what they do with a cup. Mmmmm... I want to take it to a track and see what it does in the 1/4, as well as around some corners. It'd be nice to have some "before" to compare it to when I upgrade suspension parts and tweak what I've got, you know?

Originally Posted by DJButton

Ask and ye shall receive indeed, that update worked!

Glad to hear it! I've said it before, if there's anything you guys want to see better pictures of/more pictures of, PM me or request it in the thread, I'd be more than happy to whore it out a little!

Sunday, I believe is the day that I'll get a new video of it doing something. Better sound, dialed in timing, a few burnouts in its history, and I've swung it around a few corners... I feel confident in maybe a few attempts at a circle or two! At the very least, I'll be sure to throw out some smoke for the sake of the Zilvia!

[J-Style]

I just went through your build man and I love it! I have a good friend whom is trying to build a 510 two-door with a KA...but he isn't having much luck. I will definately show him this!

[cbcustoms]

Awesome build

[cbcustoms]

Paint it laser red

[WagDatto]

Originally Posted by J-Style

I just went through your build man and I love it! I have a good friend whom is trying to build a 510 two-door with a KA...but he isn't having much luck. I will definately show him this!

Have him check out the510realm.com and dimequarterly.com. Both of those forums have a lot of knowledgeable guys, and a few really good writeups. Tell him to man up and post some pictures, too!

Originally Posted by cbcustoms

Awesome build

Hey thanks... It's been a lot of fun, I've learned a lot and I've enjoyed doing things right on this car!

Originally Posted by cbcustoms

Paint it laser red

FAIL.

[cbcustoms]

Originally Posted by cbcustoms

Paint it laser red

Sorry it was a 350z color I painted a 240 around here. It looked really nice. Good luck with the project though great build

[Aeroscraper326]

I love you...

[WagDatto]

Originally Posted by Aeroscraper326

I love you...

Constructive feedback is always welcome here... I guess...

Spring break is officially on, I'll try to get a video of exhaust tone today, as kind of a teaser for you guys! I have insurance now, so I'm a little more comfortable driving it, plus it gets less stares because it's not as loud...

[kcndizzle]

+1 for insurance and having a running car

[WagDatto]

Originally Posted by kcndizzle

+1 for insurance and having a running car

Wanna go for a drive? I have a large cargo area....

Originally Posted by Aeroscraper326

Haha... I'm sure it sounds much better with teh new muffler.
Get on those rear flares as soon as you can! can't wait to see em'.

I love the new sound. Almost like a muscle car at idle, but still screams a bit when you get on it!

As for the flares, I don't know when I'm going to... The work involved is insane to do it right, and I need to get some money in the bank for other things, too! I need to fix all the locks and tie them into automatic locking for the new alarm, we need to finish wiring, do some bodywork overhauling, replace the oil pan gasket (minor leak, will be a bitch), get new motor mounts, get new gauges/make the ones I have work... For now, I don't even have wheels to stuff under some massive flares! I think I'll probably wait until after I turbo to do the flares, even if it means getting some new paint work done. Hell, maybe I'll just have it painted gray or something for now, and when I end up doing flares, I'll paint it how I want it. I just don't see flares or turbo coming up too soon, they're big projects, they're expensive (unless you want to donate some 15x9 or 15x10 rims or turbo parts), and I want to enjoy my car!

It hauls ass and looks/sounds pretty evil doing it right now, and I love every moment of it. I smile every time I blip the throttle, and when that gets old, I'll start thinking about getting a "pshhh" sound added in there.

[kcndizzle]

Originally Posted by WagDatto

Wanna go for a drive? I have a large cargo area....

Was that a fat joke? But do I wanna go for a drive, do you even have to ask!?!?!? Lets do this! I'd ask if you wanna ride in my 14, but it's not nearly as pimp-0-rific.

[Aeroscraper326]

Haha... I'm sure it sounds much better with teh new muffler.

Get on those rear flares as soon as you can! can't wait to see em'.

[WagDatto]

Gimme a call this weekend, we'll go for a cruise or something. Wear those sexy underwears you know I love so much...

[kcndizzle]

Originally Posted by WagDatto

Gimme a call this weekend, we'll go for a cruise or something. Wear those sexy underwears you know I love so much...

Consider it as good as done. and as for the undies, is it homo-erotic in here, or is that just you? lolz

[DOOK]

god i want a 510 so bad... fuck the east coast and our god damn rust

[Devios88]

No Hooommmmoooo!

[WagDatto]

Originally Posted by Devios88

No Hooommmmoooo!

LOL! QFT, man, but I don't care... You should hear the conversations I have with Phil!

[WagDatto]

Phil and I wanted to get some footage today, for the records and for Zilvia...

Drove to the usual spot, and had a blast on the way there. His SR definitely beats me from 3rd on, but off the line, he thinks I might have the advantage in torque, and could hold my own a little better. We'll see!

We got there, whipped out the camera, and I volunteered to go first. Mind you, this really is my first 5-speed, FR car, and I'm a noob when it comes to donuts/drifting in general, besides a little slide or a burnout here and there. I knew my rear suspension was squishy, so I just wanted to gun it, crank the wheel, and whip the tail around a few times and call it good until the suspension is all dialed in. But, as I'm sure you guys will see when Phil uploads the video and posts, my first attempt just didn't do what I wanted at all, so I went for a few circles... And that's when it all went bad!

Right when I was coming around, trying to get on the throttle a little harder to actually make it spin freely, I busted what we think was an axle shaft. When I lined up to do the burnout, it was made clear that the driver side wheel no longer spins (spooled diff). No big deal, I knew I could at least limp it home and park it until we get something to replace it. By the way, anybody have an AE86 rear axle for sale? Or maybe an older Ford 8"?

But besides the fact that it sucks to have happened at all, I'm not too upset about breaking the car. I loved the sound of the new exhaust bouncing off the rev limiter, and the car really is a blast to drive! Better that I broke it locally than at Thunder Hill or at a SF meet or something!! I made it home fine, obviously, and I still have a DD, so I'm not out more than the price of a new axle!

He brought his RHD SR Silvia, and had to one-up me, so maybe he'll post up his smoky donuts! We just put in some rear subframe collars on it, and installed an alarm in mine today, so we were productive as well as destructive today! All in all, though, it was fun, and the car still made it home, so it's not like anything TOO massive went down!

[fbiphil]

Well, here are some videos:

The Goon- On The Road!
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tklHh9dK0nE[/ame]

Sean's Car (can you hear the axle snapping?):
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juNp4upgkAA[/ame]

...I had to get in on the action a little, too!
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYq289bySQY[/ame]

We need a bigger, flatter parking lot for the next session- but this one is on our shop's property, so it's a little "safer"... for now!

Hopefully we can get a new rear suspension under the Goon in time for a good semi-local drift day- I want a chance behind the wheel, too!

Sean's poor car- when he gets on the gas, the whole rear shifts to the left like a hound dog! We'll get her back in shape and better than ever, though!

[WagDatto]

Before anybody asks, too, yes... The gold wheels on the Silvia are the old gold wheels from my 510. And yes, they're probably quite bald after ripping 2nd gear around the parking lot. Fortunately, though, I have Phil's Hayashi's, which Phil's tires, so payback will be just, and we will be even.... when I can drive my car properly again.

Soon, I'll have to get some better footage of the 'goon driving. Or maybe put somebody in the 'passenger seat' of the S13, rather than have the RHDriver try to take footage. It was fun tooling around, though. Phil felt bad for egging me on and then having me break my shit, but like I said, it's not irreplaceable, and it's not like it got buried into a wall or anything!

If you watch really close, you can see the rear "dig in" when I tried to run some donuts, and that's when it broke. It will be restored, not too big a deal, and I'm serious... I know from where we stood to video tape, it looks like there's almost no room in the parking lot, but it's on a slope, so it makes it look really narrow, but there's plenty of room to spin around in the lot, so long as you're watching for anything to go wrong (oh, I don't know, say BREAKING YOUR AXLE!), but I agree, Phil, we'll have to find something a little more flat and open next time!

If anybody has an AE86 "GT-S" axle they want to donate/get rid of, you have a buyer like NOW.

[kcndizzle]

yay for footage and donuts! Oh noooooooesss for a broken axle! i guess I'll have to wait for my ride...

[Jimmy Up]

Al Gore says your the cause of global warming..... Jimmy Up

Sick thread

[916S14]

was that Becks furniture you guys passed in the video? But yeah this thread makes me wanna drop a KA in my 71 datsun truck. I might be asking you for advice.