For Sale: 1971 Datsun 510 Solo Racer
It’s time to move on from one of my main projects for over a decade. I’m looking to find the next owner of my 1971 Datsun 510 prepped for SCCA Solo racing.
For Sale: My 1971 Datsun 510 that is built to SCCA Solo Racing Prepared Class. I am the second owner of this vehicle and have made considerable upgrades to the car while owning it for over a decade now. The car was originally imported to the United States from Puerto Rico I believe, original color was Robin Egg Blue. The car was built in phases to its current form by the previous owner during the 80’s and 90’s and campaigned at a regional level in the SCCA successfully.
I have documentation and receipts that show previous build notes/progress prior to ownership as well as my own documentation of upgrades and repairs during my ownership of the car since 2012.
The car has a title and it has been garaged during my entire ownership, the last five years in a climate controlled garage. There are many details and historical parts to this car that I will try to encompass all in a detailed description to follow. When I purchased the vehicle, it also came with a second parts car and a stash of parts. I have a considerable amount of parts that I would like to sell with the car as well, including original steel body panels, headlights, dashboards and wheels.
Asking Price: $25,510
Chassis Details
1971 Datsun 510 2 door coupe. History includes being imported from Puerto Rico per previous owner. Original paint code of car was Robin Egg Blue.
Chassis weighs approximately 1850lbs per previous owner’s build notes.
Chassis is mostly original with some repairs that have been done over the lifetime of the car.
The drivers side floorboard was patched/repaired prior to my ownership.
The rockers have had repairs done to them prior to my ownership.
The hood and trunk are custom made fiberglass with dzeus fasteners. Very lightweight.
The custom roll cage based on an Autopower kit and integrates the relocated rear suspension shock mounts. Roll cage is from interior firewall to back of vehicle, it does not extend into engine bay.
Fiberglass flares are epoxy bonded to steel front fenders and rear quarter panels.
Windows are replaced with plexiglass for safety and weight reduciton
Suspension Details
This car has been extensively modified to the allowed limits of the Prepared category racing rules and also incorporates many modifications outlined in the classic “how to build a B-Sedan 510” books. DP Racing components are used throughout the vehicle.
Front suspension features older tilton style camber plates, old style Tokico racing shock inserts with Ground Control coilovers (no leaks and low miles), DP Racing 1-1/8” front sway bar with mounts, Front crossmember modified to relocate control arm pickup points to correct geometry, DP racing steel bushing kit, DP Racing tubular steering rods with double rod ends, DP racing bump steered steering arms and knuckle risers. DP Racing Steering box brace added.
Rear suspension starts with the modified rear slotted crossmember for adjustment. Rear suspension design was based on Kelvin Deitz’s extreme solo racing rear suspension setup from early 90’s and changes the rear shock mount location. This new setup is Prepared class legal as the crossmember is a modified original and it uses OE rear control arms. Crossmember is also modified to utilize the 2.5” Ermish Racing exhaust.
The rear shock design has been modified extensively. The car utilizes Koni 30 series racing shocks and the shock travel length has been increased over stock shock design. Rear shock towers/tire wells have been modified for clearance of shocks, however they could be converted back to original if needed. The rear sway bar setup utilizes the DP racing “cowbell mount” and a 1” diameter bar setup with welded on mounts, aluminum arms and adjustable end links. DP racing steel bushing kit utilized and the crossmember utilizes steel bushing mounts as well.
Drivetrain Details
The car’s running gear has been extensively modified to be within the limits of the SCCA Prepared Category rules. Many engine components have been prepared and modified by Rebello racing. The car is tuned to run on AVGAS 105LL. The engine compression ratio is above the 13:1 figure and the ignition rev limiter is set at 8500 RPM.
Engine Bottom End
Datsun L18 block, overbored .040”
Cosworth high compression pistons
Lightened, balanced and polished connecting rods
Rebello knife edged and race prepped L18 crankshaft
Datsun comp style extended capacity oil pan
Oil pump has been worked to provide higher pressure and has strengthened gear drive per the classic “how to hot rod your Datsun/B-Sedan Race car” literature.
Lightened flywheel
Oil Filter relocation/sandwich plate with accessory ports to plumb Accusump oiling system and camshaft oil spray bar.
Engine Top End
Fully prepared Rebello Racing Autocross race prepared A87 closed peanut casting cylinder head.
44mm intake valves and 36mm exhaust valves
Cylinder head has been shaved .070” to increase compression ratio.
Spark plugs are indexed with appropriate washers to correct positioning/tolerances.
Rebello 202 AE/AI cam.
Rebello/Datsun Comp spec valve train components.
DP Racing/ Nissan Comp camshaft oil spray bar
Rebello racing modified and reworked Mikuni short ram intake manifold. Cut, ported and re-welded for maximum performance.
Mikuni 44 PHH carburetors with custom Malvern racing 37mm Venturi’s
Short Ram Mikuni Velocity Stacks
Mikuni single throttle cable linkage system
Exhaust
The exhaust system was completely overhauled in 2020 with the following components:
Troy Ermish Racing header
Troy Ermish Racing complete mandrel bent 2.5 exhaust system
Magnaflow racing muffler.
Troy Ermish Racing installed wideband O2 sensor bung for future capabilities.
Transmission and Drivetrain
Tilton racing clutch mated to lightened flywheel
Datsun Competition FS5C71A early 5 speed transmission with the Z car long tail assembly. This is the same transmission used in the 240Z Z432 with the modular bell housing able to be used on both S20 and L series engines.
Very rare Datsun Competition “Middle-Close” gear ratio set with steel synchronizers
Matching Datsun Competition 510 conversion 2 piece drive shaft for use with transmission
Datsun Competition R190 limited slip differential
Tilton Racing 5:143 ring and pinion set for R190 differential
Custom CV axle kit utilizing Porsche 930 style CV joints.
Fuel System
Fuel system was completely overhauled in 2020 with the following components:
Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator for low pressure systems
5 gallon aluminum fuel cell in custom frame located in trunk.
Holley Fuel pump
Holley Racing fuel filters, serviceable type with AN fittings
Entire system is plumbed with AN standardized fittings and stainless braided hose from the fuel cell to carburetor inlet.
Cooling System
Cooling system was completely overhauled in 2020 with the following components:
Koyo racing radiator with Moroso overflow tank
SPAL 10” high flow 750 CFM dual fan setup in push/pull configuration.
CSR Datsun L series electric water pump
Z Car Depot Thermostat housing and coolant neck
AIM water temp sensor to work with AIM motorsports MXM dash/datalogger
Ignition System
Ignition system has been completely overhauled in 2020 with the following components:
FAST HI-6R E6 CD racing ignition with rev limiter
CD ignition capacitor installed for optimum performance
Updated FAST optical trigger conversion installed in Datsun distributor
FAST Racing E93 ignition coil
FAST 8.5mm Spark plug wire custom set
Electric System
Vehicle electric system completely overhauled in 2020 with the following components:
Complete electrical system redesign and implementation following modern best practices.
AIM Motorsports MXM dashboard datalogger installed. Sensors for water temp and oil pressure are currently installed.
Deutsche connectors and Eaton components utilized throughout the redesigned system. Components sourced through Pro Wire USA, Deutsche Connector Store, Pegasus Racing and The Wire Barn.
Custom aluminum center console mount installed to house electrical, ignition, and AIM datalogger connectivity ports
Main electrical lines routed through interior to separate electrical and fuel lines
Bulkhead electrical connectors used for interior to engine bay connections.
Optima red top battery located in trunk with electrical kill switch mounted in rear of vehicle.
Custom aluminum enclosure switch panel with rocker switches installed within easy reach of driver mounted on transmission tunnel. Kit is designed for easy connectivity for troubleshooting/modification.
GM style Powermaster 75 Amp single wire alternator installed utilizing L20B alternator bracket and Futo-Fab Alternator adjuster bracket.
Brakes
Complete braking system overhaul was performed during my ownership with the following components:
Nabco/ OEM 510 Brake master cylinder - This is new stock and not a part sitting on a shelf for decades.
Complete brake line system overhaul with cunifer brake lines and AN steel fittings utilized. System design follows Carroll Smith’s “Engineer to Win” series of books for race car braking systems
Tilton brake bias adjuster installed on transmission tunnel for on the fly adjustment if desired
Front brakes consist of Wilwood forged 4 piston calipers, custom rotor hats and caliper mounts from Don Oldenberg at DP Racing to utilize Wilwood 10.25” by 0.35” steel rotors. This system is a copy of the multi-national championship winning D Prepared Toyota AE86 Corolla of Chris Dorsey at the time.
Rear brakes consist of Don Oldenberg at DP Racing’s Wilwood 2 piston caliper rear disc brake conversion that utilizes 200sx rotors.
Caliper and rotor combination was designed to work with 13x7 wheels
Stainless braided flex lines used were required to connect hard lines to calipers.
Complete system uses new AN style junction fittings where necessary.
Wheels/Tires
Car is set up to run the following:
American Racing 13x7 Libra’s (2 sets of wheels)
Hoosier Cantilever Bias Ply Slicks - Currently running Formula Ford 20x7.5x13 R25B compounds. Car has fit 20x9.5x13 slicks as well.
Second set of wheels have Yokohama R888’s mounted.
Vehicle Interior
Vehicle interior was stripped again and repainted in 2020 with the following components:
Techno Toy Tuning aluminum seat brackets used with Sparco Sprint Racing seat
New 5 point harness installed in 2020
New roll cage foam installed in 2020
Custom aluminum dash restored in 2020
Techno Toy Tuning door cards with pull handles installed in 2020
MOMO racing steering wheel installed in 2020
Vehicle Spares & Parts
As part of acquisition of the car I have also a cache of spares and parts that will go along with the car.
Original steel hood and trunk painted to match the current color of the car
Spare L16 engine block
Spare L series cylinder heads
Spare engine front covers and oil pans
Spare rear chassis crossmember
Spare rear control arms
Spare various exterior trim components
Spare interior dashboards
Various spare interior components
Brand new QA1 Double adjustable racing shocks and springs (never installed)
Summary
Thanks for reading through the detailed build of the car. I have quite an extensive collection of documentation of the car over the years. Please reach out to me with the form below and feel free to include your contact information in the message. Thanks for looking!
Pase Del Niño Parade
The Pase Del Niño parade in Cuenca, Ecuador, takes place every year on Christmas Eve. It is one of the largest celebrations of the year in Cuenca, with the culture of Ecuador on full display.
The Pase Del Niño parade in Cuenca, Ecuador, takes place every year on Christmas Eve. It is one of the largest celebrations of the year in Cuenca, with the culture of Ecuador on full display. I had the chance to witness 2024’s celebration while visiting my Fiancé’s family for Christmas. I capitalized on this opportunity and brought my Leica SL2-S and Summicron 50mm lens to document the parade as part of my one camera, one lens, one-year project of 2024. I hope you enjoy the series and my commentary.
With this being only my second trip to Ecuador, I did not know what to expect from the event. I was told it was a big parade, however that was an understatement. The parade started around 10:00 AM, and we were told it lasted until 5:00 PM, well past when we decided to leave. One thing that stood out to me was the energy of the participants. The dancing spilled into the streets as each group went by. At some point, I realized I became a participant vs a bystander, waiting for the right moment of eye contact or an interesting expression.
I felt very much right in the middle of the action, often spilling over into the street of the parade from the push of the crowd behind me. Often with my camera up to my eye, I felt the breeze of the dancer’s dresses rushing past my face. All of this added up to create a very interesting experience combining composing and taking photographs while feeling overwhelmed with the sounds and sensations.
All I could do was grin and live in the moment. Some of the photos demonstrate the performers catching my gaze and resulting in a smile back. Perfect moment. Click.
This series will always remind me of the beautiful culture that has welcomed me into their family. Muchas gracias, Ecuador.
Porto
Porto is a city that will turn you into a romantic and leave you wanting more. A truly one of a kind destination.
At the start of early fall this year I was called and asked, “Do you want to go to Portugal?”…
This is how one of the best trips I’ve taken started. Long story short, some of my fiancé’s family had decided to move to Porto earlier in 2024. Now settled in, we had an opportunity to visit and explore. I was given the choice of planning a trip to Porto or Istanbul. While both locations would be amazing, I don’t regret choosing to visit Portugal in the least. Portugal provided one of, if not the most beautiful sightseeing trips I have taken. Not a bad way to visit Europe for the first of hopefully many times. As I begin writing this blog a couple of months after our Porto trip, as I am sitting in Ecuador on our current journey, I can’t help but have a smile and a romantic sentiment thinking of Porto.
Porto is a city that is hard to describe, but I’ll give It a shot. There is an unmistakable energy to it, with lots of commuters coming into the city daily for work. Factor this in with the popularity it has gained as a tourist location, and there is always a thriving amount of people and traffic. Thankfully, this doesn’t mean that you are waiting in lines everywhere you go, I would describe it more like a steady fluid movement of locals and travelers flowing through the city with quieter spots all around. A good sign for the health of the city is the amount of construction and renovations under way around the city. Locals informed us that due to the influx of interest in the city, it has brought good investors to preserve the beautiful architecture yet modernize the city. A good thing, indeed.
Porto proved to be a multicultural melting pot of locals and immigrants from all over the world, each with an interesting story. I would highly recommend taking an Uber to help get across the city and experience some of this yourself. Nearly everyone spoke English and was overall very friendly. Nonetheless, I would advise downloading an app like Duolingo and learning a couple of basic phrases in Portuguese in preparation, as you never know if you will need it, but also out of respect to the locals. Remember, you are a patron of this beautiful city to ensure all of us can still visit.
The Ribeira district viewed from one of the many river boat tours. Taken with the Leica SL2-S and 50mm Summicron.
The Ribeira district is going to take your breath away with the architecture and color. There is nothing like it in the United States that I have seen to date. For the sunset lovers, nearly every evening there will be a local gathering at the park across the Dom Luis I bridge to watch the sunset over the beautiful cityscape of the old architecture. There will usually be live music, some vendors and a laid-back environment. Trust me, it will not disappoint you unless it is an overcast day.
Porto is a very walkable city, however, sometimes it will be better to take an Uber, especially if you have a considerable distance to get to the historic part. Good walking shoes are a must in Portugal for travelers, as Porto and Lisbon will give your legs a workout if you are not used to climbing hills. But don’t worry, you will have more of an excuse to keep eating all of the amazing food and pastel de natas as you walk by the small shops.
The Douro wine valley tour should be at the top of your list of things to do in Porto.
I normally avoid touristy things like the plague, as I prefer to wander and people-watch with my Leica camera hanging on my shoulder. However, I stand corrected in the instance of traveling to Portugal. My Fiancé and I took a tour of the Douro wine valley, which would provide some of the best landscape views of the entire trip. We signed up for the Douro Valley tour with Living Tours Porto, which I would highly recommend. Our tour lasted the full day, arriving at 7 A.M. and returning to the city around 5-6 P.M. We were well fed and were able to sample some very good wines. One of the nicer things about the tour was the multiple stops in smaller villages and the time to have a quick tour, get a snack, and take some photos at good viewpoints. The last leg of the tour involved a river cruise to tour the Douro Valley and offer breathtaking views of the landscape that has been transformed solely for the production of wine. The terraced hillsides and the color of the grapevines provided a unique combination of light, texture and color. Deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site, I can’t recommend the experience of the Douro Valley enough, and if capable, I would look into staying a day or two there to fully soak it in.
Maybe it was the wine, but it’s hard to top the scenery of the Douro Valley.
I can’t say enough good things about the food in Portugal. Everything we tried was delicious, and more importantly, didn’t leave you with the saturated feeling like many American restaurants. It may sound weird, but trust me. There is something to be said about food quality, and there is plenty of it in Porto. Thankfully, we had some good pointers from our extended family that had been living there, but I doubt you will find a bad meal unless you deliberately set out to do so.
A couple of restaurants I can recommend:
Sabores D’ Fininha – This restaurant has fantastic seafood. It is located along the Avenue de Diego leite. Sitting outside gives you a great view of the historic Ribeira buildings across the river.
Empanadas Malvón – This was our favorite place to stop and get a quick bite to eat. In fact, we went there at least 3-4 times while walking around the city. The staff was very friendly and spoke English as well. I recommend trying as many of the different empanadas as you can. My personal favorites were the spicy chicken and pork.
The Ribeira district at night. Taken with the Leica SL2-S and 50mm Summicron.
Porto is an experience that I hope to never forget. I would happily return again, preferably in the summer months to experience a different season than our first visit. For a midwestern American who has never been to Europe, I don’t think I chose poorly on my first destination. Knowing that this would be a near once in a lifetime trip, I made sure to bring along my Leica SL2-S and Summicron R 50mm lens to document the trip. This was my first trip with this camera system as well, and I can say I was not disappointed with the results. I made sure to take this opportunity to work on my current photography project, or personal challenge, which is to commit myself to one camera/one lens for an entire year. This project was inspired by reading Ralph Gibson’s Refractions 2, amongst other voices I admire in the photographic community, to commit to limiting yourself to grow as a photographer. I will delve into this project in more detail at a future date.
One of the best lessons Porto taught me though was this: Don’t be afraid to travel. In fact, I think it stirred something up inside of me. Despite my general travel anxiety, the experience of going to a new and beautiful destination and fully immersing yourself in it is an exhilarating experience when it all goes well, and truly feeds the creative spirit. Don’t hesitate, do it.