Am I in over my head? '70 2 door from scratch

View and post your 510 project(s)
User avatar
ostaylor
Supporter
Posts: 479
Joined: 19 Dec 2020 08:40
Location: Victoria, BC

Re: Am I in over my head? '70 2 door from scratch

Post by ostaylor »

Next up was solving / progressing the complex connections and fitment of the CX Racing intercooler and radiator and the Vintage Air AC Condenser. As you can imagine, there's a lot going on here and running the lines and crossing fingers that everything will cool OK. I wish there was a better option than the poor quality CX Racing option. As I have posted previously, my intercooler was warped and I got NO response from them so I had to pay to have it fixed myself. Unfortunately, the only other option I could find was 4 or 5 times more expensive and a long wait.

Here's the condenser and Intercooler connected and then some spacing that needed to be done to keep things from rubbing or rattling. Getting very close to finished in this area. You can also see the boost controller installed on the driver side wheel well. I've got that all wired in and connected. Just need to modify the connection to the wastegate from the exhaust for a better fitment and flow. That should be complete next week.
Condensor and Intercooler connections.jpg
Condensor and Intercooler connections.jpg (347.96 KiB) Viewed 1791 times
Rad condensor intercooler spacing.jpg
Rad condensor intercooler spacing.jpg (247.38 KiB) Viewed 1791 times
Finding radiator hoses that will work was not easy. Thankfully, my local Key-2 Auto Parts let me poke around in their radiator hose section of their storage area. It took me 45 minutes and I almost went away with two separate hoses that I hoped would work. But then I found this Goodyear 61043 hose that was quite long and had both an "S" section for the top connection and an "L" section for the lower connection.
SR20DET CX Racing Radiator Hose solution.jpg
SR20DET CX Racing Radiator Hose solution.jpg (235.45 KiB) Viewed 1791 times
A single hose that looked like I could use if for both the upper and lower connections between the SR20DET and the CX Racing radiator... and it worked!
Rad hoses 1.jpg
Rad hoses 1.jpg (272.81 KiB) Viewed 1791 times
Rad hoses lower.jpg
Rad hoses lower.jpg (238.43 KiB) Viewed 1791 times
I have ordered an aftermarket 200sx throttle cable and fond this 1991-1993 Nissan Sentra gas pedal. This is a known solution for the SR20 swap into a 510 and I hope to have this all installed in the next few days. I had to have the aluminum piece custom fabricated but I'm feeling good about solving one more outstanding item.
Throttle pedal replacement.jpg
Throttle pedal replacement.jpg (268.93 KiB) Viewed 1791 times
Sanded, primed and then painted it all up. Looking good!
Throttle pedal painted.jpg
Throttle pedal painted.jpg (443.08 KiB) Viewed 1791 times
My Link ECU needed AFR input so decided to go with this AEM AFR gauge which has finished up the centre console really nicely. I splurged the extra $15 to get the silver bezel to better match my other gauges.
Centre guages with AFR.jpg
Centre guages with AFR.jpg (346 KiB) Viewed 1791 times
Off topic... but too cute not to share. Our neighbours got a new puppy, Sunny. She's a cutey. We had a few friends over to enjoy the warm patio last night and after running around the yard for a while she needed a nap - thankfully, she chose my lap 8)
Attachments
Sleepy puppy.jpg
Sleepy puppy.jpg (382.37 KiB) Viewed 1791 times
Regards,
Owen
70 Datsun 510 2 door - SR20DET - https://www.the510realm.com/viewtopic.php?t=34572
95 Lotus Esprit S4s Monterey Edition
65 Sunbeam Tiger MkI
User avatar
Nerius
Posts: 123
Joined: 12 Jul 2020 08:29
Location: the Netherlands

Re: Am I in over my head? '70 2 door from scratch

Post by Nerius »

Fantastic
Werner
Even the pain is fun.
https://www.instagram.com/dutchydatsun510/
User avatar
ostaylor
Supporter
Posts: 479
Joined: 19 Dec 2020 08:40
Location: Victoria, BC

Re: Am I in over my head? '70 2 door from scratch

Post by ostaylor »

More things finished or progressed...

My fabricator made this little adapter to accommodate the 200sx pedal that I sourced from eBay. It fit perfectly and looks great after primer and paint.
Throttle Pedal Adapter.jpg
Throttle Pedal Adapter.jpg (400.66 KiB) Viewed 1651 times
Attaching the pedal was easy!
Throttle Pedal Installed.jpg
Throttle Pedal Installed.jpg (357.98 KiB) Viewed 1651 times
Bought some pinch seal tape for the shifter hole and the cover that I had fabricated.
Shifter pinch seal.jpg
Shifter pinch seal.jpg (266.28 KiB) Viewed 1651 times
My fabricator did a good job on the cover. It still needs final fastening, but it is a great fit and the original 510 shifter boot is going to be a nice touch.
Shifter cover fitted.jpg
Shifter cover fitted.jpg (330.4 KiB) Viewed 1651 times
Painted and ready for rivnut attachment in the next few days...
Shifter painted and fitted.jpg
Shifter painted and fitted.jpg (272.65 KiB) Viewed 1651 times
I had no idea what a PITA the heater hoses are on SR20s. What a mess of spaghetti it all turned out to be. I think we finally have it sorted to accommodate my setup. We'll see if it all holds together or not...
Heater Hoses redirect.jpg
Heater Hoses redirect.jpg (216.85 KiB) Viewed 1651 times
I am still struggling with the Classic Auto Air AC Connections... This has been expensive and time consuming and still not done. Argh. At least the bulkhead looks good. Also happy with my fuse block, but wish it didn't have the grounding terminals. If I can find a similar one without the grounds, I will swap it out at some point.
Heater bulkhead connections.jpg
Heater bulkhead connections.jpg (223.1 KiB) Viewed 1651 times
Happy (almost) 5/10 day everyone!!
Regards,
Owen
70 Datsun 510 2 door - SR20DET - https://www.the510realm.com/viewtopic.php?t=34572
95 Lotus Esprit S4s Monterey Edition
65 Sunbeam Tiger MkI
User avatar
ostaylor
Supporter
Posts: 479
Joined: 19 Dec 2020 08:40
Location: Victoria, BC

Re: Am I in over my head? '70 2 door from scratch

Post by ostaylor »

I have more to update on, but thought I'd share this video... It shows my Silvermine electric power steering operating for the first time and I've got to say, I'm super happy with it at least in operation in my garage.
https://youtu.be/Cp0NLBeXB7w?si=63i_ndPIsd38wDtK

Stay tuned, planning for the first start up on Tuesday June 10th!
Regards,
Owen
70 Datsun 510 2 door - SR20DET - https://www.the510realm.com/viewtopic.php?t=34572
95 Lotus Esprit S4s Monterey Edition
65 Sunbeam Tiger MkI
User avatar
ostaylor
Supporter
Posts: 479
Joined: 19 Dec 2020 08:40
Location: Victoria, BC

Re: Am I in over my head? '70 2 door from scratch

Post by ostaylor »

Forgot to post the start up video which did happen on June 10th.
Here's the actual first start - only runs for two seconds so we could check everything... the belt squeal is because it was loose and the alternator was under load.
https://youtu.be/ivqr8FmaaPQ

Here it is running once it was clear it wasn't going to explode :^)
https://youtu.be/7WHypGXJEns

It was purely a trial start. We ran into some idle issues, which we solved today and took it for it's first drive. This video is total crap - sorry and better ones to come but I was too excited and wanted to get the tune good enough to get it in for alignment and inspection which will happen over the next few days!
https://youtu.be/Rc0w_k9gqco

I also got the mirrors installed tonight... I went a little further ahead than stock (I think) but I really like the placement. #nofendermirrors :lol:
Driver's side door mirror.jpg
Driver's side door mirror.jpg (251.87 KiB) Viewed 986 times
Passender side door mirror.jpg
Passender side door mirror.jpg (305.8 KiB) Viewed 986 times
I need to go backwards and post some of the prior progress that I just haven't had time to get posted.
Regards,
Owen
70 Datsun 510 2 door - SR20DET - https://www.the510realm.com/viewtopic.php?t=34572
95 Lotus Esprit S4s Monterey Edition
65 Sunbeam Tiger MkI
User avatar
Nerius
Posts: 123
Joined: 12 Jul 2020 08:29
Location: the Netherlands

Re: Am I in over my head? '70 2 door from scratch

Post by Nerius »

What a fantastic milestone!
Werner
Even the pain is fun.
https://www.instagram.com/dutchydatsun510/
User avatar
eastbaysolo_73
Supporter
Posts: 731
Joined: 18 May 2014 09:28
Location: Northern California

Re: Am I in over my head? '70 2 door from scratch

Post by eastbaysolo_73 »

Great build bud. Get after it.
1970 2 door sr20det cookie cutter build
My build thread
http://www.the510realm.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=30772
Nor Cal Meng !
User avatar
shlammed
Posts: 38
Joined: 19 Dec 2022 12:38
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Am I in over my head? '70 2 door from scratch

Post by shlammed »

after all of this, would you still do the HVAC stuff the same if you were to do it over? Im at the point now I would need to get the under dash stuff done if im going to. I really want A/C and I have no idea if my heater core leaks, etc.
User avatar
Stu
Supporter
Posts: 334
Joined: 02 Oct 2019 19:32
Location: Vancouver, WA USA

Re: Am I in over my head? '70 2 door from scratch

Post by Stu »

looking awesome. Of my entire build, mounting the mirrors was the most stressful
Stu

1972 4-door 510
2004 Volvo V70R 6spd manual
Factory Five Racing Cobra
1991 Ford F250 4x4 extended cab
2005 Mini Cooper S - death via forklift :(
Post Reply