For Sale: 1971 Datsun 510 Solo Racer
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 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 closed peanut casting cylinder head.
Cylinder head has been shaved 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 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!
