New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

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old510ballz
Posts: 185
Joined: 15 Mar 2008 18:14

New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by old510ballz »

First off, I’ll apologize up front for the fatly winded post, but I do have 2 ¾ years to catch you up on, so if you’d like, read on or just skip straight to the pictures.

Hello to all on the Realm. I’m new to the site, and first wanted to say thanks to everyone that shares all the helpful information many of us need and use. I’ve been enjoying this community and that info you all put forth for a few years now, so I finally got of my ARRSS and signed up. I thought I would join in the fun by posting my 71 2 door that’s reached it's third year of hard work and struggle, and is now in the final stages!! Through this voyage I’ve learned more about people and business than I have cars themselves. Like most of you, the 510 has been my favorite car since childhood, and now in my thirties (hence my site name), there still hanging around like an old girlfriend that never seems to go away. My very first car was a 73 white 2 door I bought from some crack head in Berkley (I think in 1989 or 90) for $900 with a sick cassette player (LOL). Every Dime that I’ve ever purchased has gotten a beating and then sold. Never once fixing them up the way I wanted, mostly due to the all mighty dollar (or the present, worthless dollar). Its always been a dream to restore one the way I wanted, so after taking a hiatus and playing adult (its not what its cracked up to be), I’ve made the money to tackle this dream.
The goal for the car is Street/Track, so I tried to plan the build to hit somewhere in the middle (give and take if you may). Driving as comfortably as “possible” to the track, and once on the track (say Laguna, which is my first stop) spank the little shiny silver bumper off a $100k Porsche Turbo! With my goal set, I decided the most sensible engine swap would be an SR, and considering that the 510 (even though my favorite, its made of tin) isn’t the safest car, it was going to need a full cage. Unfortunately when you get older, you start to think about these things, but the good news is, it only slows you down in the streets, NOT the track!! Oops back on subject. To tackle building a cage was going to take some out sourcing, so that I did.
This is the part of the story when I learned about the business side of 510’s. It’s also the side that I hope can teach or give a little info to someone that’s in need. I was never aware of this side, because my dealing’s to this date have always been between friends or people with the same interest and love for the 510. Never has there been large amounts of money thrown around at any 510 in my life. Who would have thought!!! I think if I would have gone into this project with a business state of mind, (like I do when playing adult), things wouldn’t have turned out like sh_t. Threw all my research, I ended up choosing DGR to do the cage. All though 3 months late, it turned out incredibly nice (waiting to put it to the test yet). After getting it home with the cage finished, it was time for the swap. I planned on doing everything, but the electrical and welding. Well the adult thing came into play again, and before the housing market could collapse like a bridge on top of me, I needed to remodel and sell my house. I either could wait a year or maybe more to start my project (depending on whether or not it would sell), or the alternative was to find someone to do the swap and have it done before I was oldballz and had to take Viagra for a morning pick me UP!! Because the cage turned out so nice, I again sided with DGR for the swap. I decided they would do a turn key swap with a rack & pinion set up, so I could run the stock turbo location. TO THIS DAY, IT’S THE WORST DECISION I’VE MADE IN MY LIFE! This is the learning section; if you want it done right with the satisfaction you deserve, DO IT YOURSELF. It was 8 months late, which put me in a miserable situation considering my house sale, and in my “opinion” was unprofessional and unsafe (It’s only an opinion, so don’t anyone get butt hurt).
I finally got the car home (while towing it home the R200 leaked out all its fluid and cooked itself, because DGR didn’t bother to seal it up) :evil: and went straight into looking it over, and then tearing it down for paint. At this point, I’m waiting to get the car back from paint so I can start assembly. I have yet been able to drive the car so I’m itching to get it done!!!!
:lol:

The list of goodies I chose for the car is as follows:
The engine is an S14 black top, New T25 Garrett Turbo, Greddy intake, Tomei Expreme exhaust manifold, Nissmo 555 injectors, Jim Wolf ECU, Z32 MAF and Apexi filter.
Suspension is, Troy Ermish front and rear coil overs with 225lb springs and Ermish caster and camber plates.
Datsport ARC V4 and R200 mustache bar
Brakes are TSR 12” Brembo front and rear brakes (rear are over kill and not to sensible but I had to do it) with parking brake.
R200 diff
Interior is Stock except for the full cage and EVO Recaro seats that are mounted to the cage.
Wheels are 16x7 Watanabe RS8’s
I still need to pick out and mount the gauges and get some CV axles.
Here are some pics of my journey.
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mesojdm
Posts: 523
Joined: 09 Jan 2007 09:52
Location: NOR*CAL

Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by mesojdm »

IS your car getting painted by James johnson? pics pics!
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johnbureezu
Posts: 638
Joined: 07 Jun 2007 11:22
Location: Sunny Diego

Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by johnbureezu »

Peeks, we need peeks.
http://easytunegarage.blogspot.com/
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zootowndime
Posts: 921
Joined: 12 Oct 2005 19:08
Location: Missoula, MT

Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by zootowndime »

Yes picks please sounds like quite the project!

I would suggest going up in your spring rates. 225lb is obviously pretty stiff. I am running 275lb springs for basically the same thing you are wanting to do with your 510 (track/street sometimes) and I can tell you its really not that bad. It doesn't sound like this is going to be a daily daily driver so i would consider that, it will help out at a fast track like laguna. Good luck with the build and hopefully things start going better for you than they have.
Alex King
www.brewedmotors.com
old510ballz
Posts: 185
Joined: 15 Mar 2008 18:14

Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by old510ballz »

What, do you have a crystal ball Meso :lol: I see your from the Sac area, so you've probably bought something from him at some point of your build. By the way, thanks for all the great info and pics you had to share. Your build has been incredibly enjoyable. I tried to hunt down the company that you got your CV's from, but had no luck. Do you have there contact info??? Yea, James is painting the car. I cant comment on his work yet, but he's an extremely nice guy. Very passionate Datsun nut!! I know he's going to do a great job.
I'm the negative of computer savy, so I cant figure out how to attach my pictures. The site says the files are to big and I'm not sure how to shrink them down to fit. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks for the info Zoo. I'll keep that spring rate in mind and let you know how the 225's are when I get this thing road bound. Troy Ermish recommended them and with my 0 experience I agreed. I'm sure there going to be a good starting point. I'll post the pictures as soon as I can figure this dam computer out.
goichi1
Supporter
Posts: 4064
Joined: 22 Jan 2008 21:57
Location: Fayetteville, GA

Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by goichi1 »

wow, sounds like you have a great project going...can't wait to see it! I just hit the finishing/driving stages of mine and let me tell you...there is no greater joy than getting to drive it for the first time after having it all torn apart and then put back together in new trim......man it's great!!
to put pics....
save to desktop,
open in MS Paint
select "stretch/skew" punch in 50%
save
post

thats how i do it....and works great.
-welcome to the Realm and good luck on your project!! Rich
old510ballz
Posts: 185
Joined: 15 Mar 2008 18:14

Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by old510ballz »

Hello Goichi1, Congrats on getting your Bluebird on the rode!!! Ive been following your build since the first day, and its been awsome to see your progress. Its a beautiful car, and I love the color and attention to detail.
I'm not even sure what MS paint is, so I'm going to bring my laptop over to a friend that should be able to help me out.
I should have pics by this evening. Sorry for the delay, but I have 0 computer skills :cry:
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thisismatt
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Posts: 3438
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 18:12
Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by thisismatt »

If you want to email me pictures I'll throw them up

510@objext.com
I'm your huckleberry.
old510ballz
Posts: 185
Joined: 15 Mar 2008 18:14

Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by old510ballz »

I think I figured the MS paint thing out. Thanks Goichi
Here are some pics of the car in the condition that I bought it in.
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old510ballz
Posts: 185
Joined: 15 Mar 2008 18:14

Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by old510ballz »

Getting it ready for the cage. Because its going to be a track car and maybe seeing the Targa Newfoundland event I didnt mind over doing it. DGR did a great job of this.
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Must have Sierra Nevada for this job!!
Must have Sierra Nevada for this job!!
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old510ballz
Posts: 185
Joined: 15 Mar 2008 18:14

Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by old510ballz »

Some Cage pics. :twisted:
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old510ballz
Posts: 185
Joined: 15 Mar 2008 18:14

Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by old510ballz »

More cage need more cage!!
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old510ballz
Posts: 185
Joined: 15 Mar 2008 18:14

Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by old510ballz »

Few more. I have to go for now, so I'll add some more photos later tonight.
Cheers
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goichi1
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Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by goichi1 »

Man! that's a nice cage....makes me wish I would have done a cage too!! that's hot! looks like you got a really nice one to start with too! I was thinking back to when I stripped mine out....it's a lot of work and it's really hard to see the progress when you are doing all the work yourself....but when you look back at the thread and see for yourself it's really cool! did you do the cage yourself?? that is nice work. keep the pics coming!!
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Byron510
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Joined: 01 Jul 2003 23:06
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Re: New member 71 SR20det Black Top ground up restomod

Post by Byron510 »

Project looks good, feels good to see your project taking shape doesn't it!
I look forward to seeing your progress.
But I think I need to point out a mis-read rule in your cage construction.
The X in the back looks great, but both the SCCA and CARS (Targo Nfld) rule book will require two bars coming strait back from the main hoop to the same points you used to attach the X to the floor pan. The rear X will not be enough on it's own to appease the rule makers!

Keep us up to date

Here a pic of my rally car, you can see the rear bars and X in this one. I chose the same terminus for the rear stays and X as you did. But now would be a great time to add these bars if you car is still in the condition as posted above - later will be very difficult, and then added paint, ect.

Byron
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Love people and use things,
because the opposite never works.
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