Project Assimilation

[Project Assimilation]

Awesome. Things are starting to clear up. Glad to have this community to help out. Thanks okayfine for your support!

We've shaved 22 grams off the 510, with our carbon fibre fuel filter bracket.
If anybody wants one, just PM us or send us an email.



Have a look at how it was done with the full writeup on our blog!

http://michaelduddy.com/datsun510/carbo ... acket.html

[indy510]

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I bolted the metal fuel filter bracket from underneath, instead of on-top .... just to make it easier to wax/polish the engine bay ...

[Project Assimilation]

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I bolted the metal fuel filter bracket from underneath, instead of on-top .... just to make it easier to wax/polish the engine bay ...

Good idea! I imagine you shortened the part of the bracket where the screw goes through so it turns down just short of the rolled edge?

[Project Assimilation]

Since we've taken the 510 through it's first Navigational rally, it needed something to minimize wildlife damage.

Have a look at the DeerKiller bumper making!!
http://michaelduddy.com/datsun510/mind-the-deer.html

[okayfine]

Is that attached at points other than the front bumper? 'Cause the front bumpers pretty flimsy (and flimsily mounted) on general principle.

[Project Assimilation]

Is that attached at points other than the front bumper? 'Cause the front bumpers pretty flimsy (and flimsily mounted) on general principle.

Nope. Mounted only to the bumper for now. It's better than nothing. Might not do much for deer...but will help for other smaller animals I'm sure...

Wondering if there are other mounting points possible that are not too complicated to get to.

Either way, wildlife will always be a risk with Nav rally.

Now the 510 will slowly make it's way into hibernation. Hopefully, we'll be able to work on some components over the winter!

[goichi1]

You really think that's going to do much? it looks like a foam core of some kind with pieces of carbon fiber?? As I think it looks cool as hell, I don't think it's going to fare well when it comes to contact with anything. If you just push on it you will probably break it. It doesn't look like there is much structure to it.

[okayfine]

A lot of actual rally cars in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10786

Nothing approaching a bullbar setup.

[Project Assimilation]

Alright back to the build. We bought these puppies:



We are guessing we have to cut the spring seat in order to fit these on the rear?

Here is the plan (let me know if this makes sense):

Purchase used 280zx front struts/hubs/brakes,etc.
Replace the shock with the one pictured above and install the whole unit on the 510 front.
Purchase 280ZX rear hub/brake assembly and install on 510 trailing arms
Change rear shocks with cut spring seat.
Replace rear coils with Dodge D230??(or something) springs cut 1"

How does that sound?? Will 510 brake lines bolt right up to the 280ZX calipers? and drums?

[goichi1]

If anyone says "yes they will bolt right up" and you go out there and find out they don't, you are going to be pissed, so you might as well just go out and try it, I'm sure they will as most brakes have the same type/size fittings, but if you find out otherwise you can surely fix it with a fitting of some sort. Part of building a car of any kind is just going out in the garage and going to it. It seems like you are asking really simple questions that you can figure out fairly easily yourself. Grab some tools and get to work, post some pics and show everyone what you have accomplished.

[HudsonMC]

What are those rear shocks from? You sure those will work in the rear of the 510?

[okayfine]

It seems like you are asking really simple questions that you can figure out fairly easily yourself.

As mentioned on Page 1, ZX brake swaps are the most documented mod for 510s, evar. It's all out there, multiple times. That's also why we document stuff like this. If you have a specific question about your specific swap, that's what The Realm is for.

[Project Assimilation]

If anyone says "yes they will bolt right up" and you go out there and find out they don't, you are going to be pissed, so you might as well just go out and try it, I'm sure they will as most brakes have the same type/size fittings, but if you find out otherwise you can surely fix it with a fitting of some sort. Part of building a car of any kind is just going out in the garage and going to it. It seems like you are asking really simple questions that you can figure out fairly easily yourself. Grab some tools and get to work, post some pics and show everyone what you have accomplished.

goichi1, we're looking at sharing the process and getting info from others. I understand most people would have something to prove and want to display their accomplishment. Mike and I have more complicated dillemas than auto mechanics and we've done our share that we don't need to get satisfaction in having figured it out on our own.
We know there are knowlegeable people in this forum and good project management is using all the tools you have, including surrounding yourself with people who know more than you on the subject.

We have no garage but we aren't scarred to lay in the yard under the 510 in the dark at 5°C to get something done. Being quite busy with other things, we apprciate researching subjects and getting the job done right the first time as I'm sure the neibhours wouldn't appreciate having a car in pieces out their windows (we both rent). And that is the beauty of our project: The challenge is bigger than it seems as we have no 'creature comforts'. This is a 'rolling project' which adds to the complexity of not tearing the car apart once and rebuilding it. Owning our 510 is in no way convienient, but we love the car. We really, really love the car.

Yes, we realize we've had many hints that the information we enquire about is well documented. But where is it? We've had little success in finding proper information. Even the DQ Articles (once okayfine was kind enough to post a link) seem to require hours of reading through .pdfs to find small nuggets of info. We're new to the 510 world and it would be unrealistic to expect us to have mapped out all the sources of information.

Won't this thread be pertinent to future members as we are not too proud or too embarrased to ask even the simplest of questions?

We want your input and were under the impression the community was keen in lending a hand. We hope it still is.

[okayfine]

The Realm is very keen on lending a hand. That's why it exists, as do why any forum exists. That said, if you (the generic you as being new to 510s or the information abounding, not you specifically) won't make use of the resources that already exist, you will find much less enthusiasm by those who've BTDT to supply you with what you don't seem to feel necessary to track down on your own.

The Realm is where you post your specific questions after you've done your research. It's not where you post generic questions that are answered six ways from Sunday, or could be found in a FSM (or something like the DQ (or, even, preceeding DQ the UFO Reports version of the same thing).

The DQ article on the ZX swap lays it ALL out there, including bracket design/dimensions as necessary for the rear stuff. It's up to you to find the issue, read it, digest it...THEN if you still have questions, post away with what you have, what you know, what you think you know, and what you need to know. THAT'S what The Realm is for. Someone will have BTDT for your specific problem/question, that's the advantage of a forum and its members.

If you are having difficulty finding the correct issue of DQ, PM me. That said, I'm just going to reference my Excel index file to find the issue, the very same file that I uploaded to the DQ directory on The 510 Archives that you could also download and search, just like I would. The info is out there and easily accessible. I'm more of a "teach a man to fish" than "give a man a fish."

[Project Assimilation]

Alright. I understand and totally respect your reasons. Each to his own!!!

Our project will now involve more google searches and page scrolling than expected.

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HudsonMC - Our shocks were purchased on the web listed as 280ZX shocks. We're going to cut the spring seat for the rear.

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During our Navigational rally outing, we met an older gentlmen that has had 510 parts in his garage for the last 20 years(at least). Skid Plate, stiffer coils(510) and other things I can't wait to see. We'll be picking those parts up as soon as we can.

And this past weekend was pretty hard on us... winter storage. Project Assimilation was going to sit on blocks over a tarp this winter. But thanks to a friends generosity, the 510 will sit out the next 4-5 winter months in an insulated, but not heated, garage. It will be very well accompagnied as it's sitting next to a 'youngster'.

Head over to the Shifted Racing Team facebook page to submit your guess.