My first real 510 project. Help and criticism welcome.

[Sick620]

I have had more than a few Datsun's over the years but never a 510. Unless you count a totaled bent frame race car with no title I had for minute and used for parts. I have always wanted a 510 since I got into Datsun's 13 years ago. I should have worked hard and bought one then, but I was young dumb, broke and indecisive. I jumped from project to project never really finishing anything horse trading etc.. I probably had close to 25 project cars in those 13 years. I have a lot of regrets lots of projects I should have kept, hindsight is 20/20. I did gain a good working knowledge on general mechanics and especially datsun mechanics but I have nothing material to show for my obsession with old datsuns except for a datsun tattoo, and photos of past projects. I had traded away my last datsun a few years ago an air bagged 620 KC and I had mostly gotten out of the car hobby. I have had a couple kids, went through a divorce, met a new lady had a kid with her, and cars weren't really all that important during this time. Well that was until the girlfriend said she wanted a project car. I offered to help her put an old project car on the road but she didn't know what she wanted exactly. Obviously datsun came up and I showed her different body styles etc and she liked 521's... Fast forward we ended up buying her a 521 with some cool patina. Rebuilt an L20b for it (technically a z20 block) and got it running. This gave me the bug again, and we ended up buying a b210 from the same guy we got the truck from. That was going to be it for the datsuns, his and hers cheap projects, just get them running and driving, a little ratty and keep em on the road and vow to never sell... Understanding I just needed to hold on to a couple of Datsuns before I couldn't find any...

Well if you have been in the datsun world awhile, you know how it works... they multiply.... A 2 door 510 popped up on craigslist like 5 minutes from my house. Posted 7 hours ago, crap It had to already be sold, $2700. I message the guy, yep already sold. Damn. In desperation send him "I'll give you 3k right now". Hours later I get a phone call from him, cash talks if you give me 3k right now it's yours but we are not home so you'll have to venmo or paypal... Sight unseen I was the proud owner of a 72 510 stripped down for paint and body and never finished.

I finally have my dream car and plan to keep it. It's not a perfect starting point but its solid. I plan to keep it and finally see a project all the way through. The 521 will remain the girlfriends truck, and b210 will be kept from rotting and built with one of my sons when they are old enough.

Someone started repairing rockers and quarters and never sealed it so it started rusting again. I am new to body work but I plan to repair this all myself. then either shoot it in a single stage or let maaco shoot it. Going with the toyota blue color that it already is painted. I'm not trying to make this a perfect restoration or showcar just a "10 footer" driver I can enjoy for my life and that I can pass down to one of my kids one day. It came with an L20B out of a truck, and an original 4speed...

-This is going to be a huge project and In fear I will get un motivated and put it off for too long my short term plan is as follows-
Shave holes in engine bay and body work (this is what I am currently working on)
Paint engine bay either a fun crazy color or the body color
Por15 or similar on floors and undercarriage
install used l20b and 4speed for now
Paint interior of car window channels and inside of trunk
assemble car install glass etc make it a driver

then Ill start chipping away at the body work on the exterior of car and get it ready for paint. I have dreams of one day honda Kswapping the car but its such a big project for I need to keep it simple for a while.

car came mostly complete missing some dash pieces, windshield, and center part of grill.

Someone cut the spare tire well out of the trunk not sure why its in good shape maybe to weld it up flat? should I weld the original well back in or just sheet metal flat since it's already out?

I plan to just re attach the bre flares and run the front bre style fenders. I have the back flares. Should I body work and in old school fashion just rivet them on over the body, or should I kitty hair them in to the body work? Any recommendations for attaching them rivet and panel bond?

Opinions on stitch welding seams for a stiffer chassis? while I'm already welding up the engine bay I have been thinking about doing it at least behind the fenders. Worried it may introduce rusting tho.

Any pointers, words of wisdom, precautions, or if you think I should rethink my plan please let me know I want to make sure I get this thing done.

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[Sick620]

here's a picture of the car from around 91 when it was freshly stripped and repainted.

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[datzenmike]

Cutting the spare tire well out is likely preparatory to installing a fuel cell. If you have the piece and are not going to fuel cell I would weld back in to add structural strength..

[bertvorgon]

I agree with Mike!

Unless going racing, a fuel cell, albeit low CG, does put a LOT of weight further back behind the wheels, which from a pure handling point, is not the greatest for a 510 unless real compensation in the suspension is done. It is called the "polar moment" and can make a 510 a bit more loose on the back end..IE..the car wants to swap ends more easily and harder to bring back under control. Just a thought.

it's not only the weight of a cell, it is also the sum of the bracketry to hold that cell safely.

[cambo]

In today's market I'd say that for 3K you did well. While you have it all stripped down, and you are planning stiff suspension and a higher HP engine, I would stitch weld. The front of my car has been stitch welded for 20 years and Iv'e never seen any rusting at the welds. Body and paint work can take a lot of time and if you are willing to do it all yourself you will get a much better and longer lasting paint job than what you would get at someplace like Maaco.