SSSEXXX

Not a whole lot of news to report. Finally managed to have my machined hubs and Wilwood big brake kit picked up from Al over at Datsun Parts. It was really a great experience working with him and he provided a ton of help and was kind enough to take the time to listen to me real off question after question. The kit looks fantastic and I couldn't have mentally pictured a better end result. Huge brakes, great stopping power, and sexy looks. Safety first and with a high HP engine on the horizon, I need to make sure the car can handle the speed. Soon I'll need to start researching a roll cage. I know I don't want a full scale track quality cage, but I'd definitely like something that will provide good added safety yet not take up the entire back seat. Purists can lament, but aesthetics and function are both important to me here. Yello620 - that setup looks great. I have a CAN/AM piece from Icehouse that I still need to figure out how to use and what exactly will need to be wired up separately, but this is a great idea. I like the homage to using Nissan parts whenever we can. Thank you for sharing the pics. I may message you some questions after I finish reading and researching the wiring. That cool? Dennis - I know exactly where you are coming from man. So many things to do and sometimes that garage is just not where I'm going to wind up. nclndym - thanks for the tip. I'm super nervous about jacking the car up on all fours. Wish me luck.

This might sound completely stupid, but does anyone know the proper place for me to jack the Dime up on 4 jack stands? Last thing I want to do is damage to my baby and I can't seem to find a DIY article. I know this is basic fellas, but I just am a little nervous about it.

Dennis to the rescue once again. I have a box of big brakes in my car that you wanted to see pictures of I recall. I'll have them to you soon. What is the word on your build? I see the engine is sitting in the bay and the valve cover is painted to match. Every time I look at your block I wish I would have used that color of engine enamel. Really makes it pop.

I'll be looking out for more information from you on how the re-wire goes. Particularly the headlight wiring you are speaking about. It makes more sense to me too. I took a look at my wiring diragram and I almost convinced that there are more effective ways to go about it than what was done in 1968. I am not read up enough on the topic to provide you anything tangible that would be of benefit to you yet, but give me a few weeks to read here and there and maybe we can put our heads together and make headlight magic happen. I am also looking out for some clear 6" lenses to replace the glass from the OEM lights. Thanks for the thoughts. I love this kind of stuff, makes you think and problem solve. Love it.

Thank you sir! I admittedly have a little OCD problem. And this build has been no exception. Almost therapeutic in that I have had to accept things like dirty parts and grime and have the foresight to not continue to clean and scrub the damn car down. No matter how much time you put in, the progess is a slow moving one. If it were not for the help of people like Dennis and Laecaon and more, I would have never been able to do any of this. I have spent a lot of time, money, and energy but have learned more about this car and how to work on cars than I ever thought I would.

Leacaon!! Long time my friend!! Thank you so much for that information. So it sounds like I will need to keep these or at least find a much better alternative in the aesthetic department. Wonder if I can install them with the fuse box on the inside of the cabin? Can't imagine why not...

Thank you sir. I am either brave or extremely stupid. It has definitely been an educational experience that I am glad I have undertaken. That being said, there are times that I feel very overwhelmed with what needs to be done. The idea of what I am doing with such little knowledge is scary. I try to go step by step and research each and every move before I take it. This weeks learning was all about wire tucking and why the fuel lines for the sr20det should feed up the firewall and not the same way as the L motor. Thanks again!!

Broad world view of the progress, no matter how little you may perceive it to be... Sans air filter as well FYI... They grow up so fast... er, I mean tear down so fast. Pushed her out in to the sun so she could get a bit of a tan... Grimey little fuse box. This will definitely be replaced with a '70+ variant. Sorry purists... Last thingamabob of the day. No clue on this one either. Anyone want to help a brother out?? Then it was back inside the miracle whip to disconnect the fuse box and wiring harness from inside the car... Tada!!!!! One Datsun 510 engine wiring harness is out and about. I'm sexy and I know it.... wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah..... It isn't a Rolls, a Lambo, Ferrari, or anything fancy, but this little vision makes me smile like it was... every single time... This shot looks kind of ominous to me... dark and gloomy... like a beast is on the horizon.... a 325hp beast of an sr20.... Well kids... time for the engine to come out. Disconnect the transmission, the exhaust, the driveshaft, engine mounts and lift that sucker the hell out. Right??? Help?? Oh and PS, threw away the JDM sr20det downpipe and miscellaneous attachments. They were so rusted I wouldn't have been able to salvage them... Well... hopefully the next time we meet kids the engine will be coming out and I will have both a Datsport kit and a more exciting set of updates. I know this might seem like lame stuff to some of you, but it is a lesson for me every time. There is always something we can learn. I need to go slow so that I can figure out what I am doing and do it in a safe way. I picked up my big brake kit today. Will take photos and post them this weekend. Till next time... as always, questions and comments are much appreciated....

Starting to look more and more like someone is about to be taken from her home..... Ah the fuel lines. This was the beginning of a lot of cursing and a lot of fumes and I found that one works quite well when high as shit. Being as how I have never done any drugs before in my life, I can say that I have been high now. I'm sure I lost at least a few brain cells and I didn't have much to lose either, but I digress.. See, now I thought I could remove the brake lines to the engine and drain the excess fuel in the lines. That little flash of brilliance forgot about one little lovely detail. It is called gravity. I had to drain these little bastards damn near all night long. It was either that or let the fumes build up and have a massive fire hazard on my hands. Safety first, right kids?? So, it was drain, work, dump, drain, work, dump, high, drain, high, high, high..... Another thingamabob that I have no clue what does. I didn't even to bother guessing on this one. It is electronic and on the driver's side wall and again I assumed useless for an sr20det... Center core support came off next. Now I couldn't tell if this was hacked to shet because a '70+ valence was used on the 1968 or because it was damaged in the lovely front end collision that left me with so much pretty bondo work... Another view.. you'll also note that the spark plug cables were taken off in the mean time. No photos of that one, blame the gas fumes...

Another view of the now radiator-less engine bay... if you pay close attention you will notice my uber swanky safety glasses. Safety first kids... Not going to lie, I have no clue what this little box is. If you recall from page 1 I have no experience doing any of this. My assumption was that it is some type of voltage regulator or just your prototypical "thingamabob." Either way I think it is safe to assume that the sr20det will not need one.... comments??? So my thingamabob was removed... Several things to be seen in this photo and I could really use any suggestions here. The fuel lines and i had a bad experience this night by the way (foreshadowing). But, look at all the rust on the horn bracket. What do you kids do with the horn? I literally tore it off, it was that rusted. Who knows how I will deal with this little gem... The other side was not much better, but at least I didn't tear it off. WD40 was nearly useless FYI.... The aforementioned torn out horn... FML...

Did you boys and girls miss me?? Still waiting for that Datsport kit to magically appear. Last time I elect sea mail for anything. Oy!!!! Let's spend some time working on engine break down shall we.... And to remind you where we last left off... Ugly I know... so the break down began with that Radiator overflow bottle and its lovely tubes... Next that big old, ugly battery. I know, I know... yeah it is still worthy of a picture... Radiator and battery out. Progress baby!!! Looking at this new view of the engine bay actually made me feel like I had accomplished something. Going to miss driving this girl while she is down and out awaiting for my lazy ass to get that swap done....

I have NOS ones. :P I was really hoping to avoid that. Argh!!!

Been actively looking for this center garnish. I have botht he lights already, just had the garnish stolen. It isn't on eBay, Yahoo Japan, anywhere!!! Does anyone know of a Dato lover that has one laying around in the old garage out back??? I could really use it.

Hahaha!! I know man. It has been so damn cold out in the garage that I have been making excuses. I plan on working tomorrow morning and Sunday night though. Need to get the 280zx strut hats off and prep them for powder coating. I can't reassemble the engine until I get the valve cover, lower oil pan, spark plug cover and intake manifold back. They are all going to be the same color red as the brakes.

fisch - thank you man! The build is moving a little slower than I would like, but definitely in a direction that has me excited. Dennis - cheap isn't my style either. My mentality is simple, do it once and do it right. I plan on keeping this car and driving it for years so the foundation, no matter the cost, needs to be one i can build on for years to come.

Thank you sir!! I have some more goodies on the way from ground control and troy ermish, but am going to take a break to do some work on the car this weekend. My poor wallet may need a month or two before we start talking again. Want to get the brakes, suspension and wheels on the car before the engine goes in. I think I under estimated how prepared I was for this project before I began. It also doesn't help that my OCD makes me not settle... PM'd you the source for the cover.

Don't worry Dennis, you didn't wait all this time for me to stop there. I know I owe you guys pictures and I intend on coming through... Custom front sump sway bar for the sr swap and great quality. Thanks again for the "heads up" Dennis... A simple, but pretty piece. A new billet aluminum valve cover center piece. A lot of guys go flashy and bling out this piece of the sr and I never really liked what it did to the aesthetic of the engine bay. I really want this swap to have a nod to the L series and a factory appearence. Considering even painting it the same color as the valve cover... AND FINALLY!!!! The thing that still has me grinning ear to ear... I feel like the damn Cheshire cat. There was a part of me that didn't believe it even after I paid for them. Sitting in the garage of an older Japanese guy's home in Japan were these NOS Watanabe RS-8s. 15" x 6.5" +21 and never mounted, never used, never been out of the original boxes. I have always adored these wheels, nay drooled over them and have seen plenty of sets in the last year. None, absolutely none of them were new. One set on ebay was being sold by a fellow 510er and they were near immaculate. Completely refurbished and rebuilt. Still yet, they were not as clean as these bad boys are. So I think you can feel my joy now. Vintage JDM NOS like this is something that makes me tear up in jubilation a lil bit... Now it is time to get back to work on the suspension, powder coating, and pick up the brakes from Al over at Datsun Parts, LLC. Still don't know where the hell my Datsport conversion and handling kit is. Getting a bit upset now at the gentleman that sold it to me....

Better late than never right??? Well kids, I'm back from the holiday with a lot of goodies to show you. I know a lot of people are not going to agree with the direction of some of the pieces I have chosen, but the good news is that the build is going in a direction that I very much like. So with no further delay, let's get to the new toys.... The 1968 Candian market dash to replace the current 1968 USDM version I have in the car. Here is where some of you will call me Satan or that I am destroying an icon or just tell me I suck. Well, I respect your opinion, but I have an end game and a vision. Have some faith in me folks, this thing is going to knock your socks off. I promise. Reasons for the swap? I like the aesthics much more obviously, but the dash is also metal versus the USDM plastic piece which has seen better days. The passenger's side has a bit of a dent in it too. Also, I am in the market for a 1968 SSS guage cluser with the round faces. Rare, sexy, and also aesthetically more iconic... Went with SSS side markers versus the 1968 USDM ones that came on the car. I did this for two reasons. First I needed new ones because my old markers didn't exactly come off too well and since I find some NOS SSS markers it was kind of a "no brainer." This is going to mean that essentially all the lighting on the car is NOS. Clean and sexy, the trend continues. The second reason is that the SSS markers are a slight bit larger and will match the '71+ front valence and lights that will be going on. And for those of you foaming at the mouth right now in pure rage, I will say that the car had a front end collision at some piont and the valence was already replaced with a bent and old '71+ valence. At least the one I am replacing it with is NOS.. Side by side comparison... Well, kind of. I was a bit too lazy to take the old one out of the bag... yeah I know, I suck... Had some Australian goodies courtesy of Datsport magically appear too... Lovely lil' pieces that they are... Transmission cover for the SR20DET conversion. Really quality piece. I can't praise Baz & T'race's customer service and product quality enough... Datsport steering box support. No clue, absolutely none, on how to install this. But, it sure does look pretty.. Good thing it came with this...

Well, this has actually been a point of major ambiguity and Dennis and I have been trying to figure it out. Everything he has read leads him, and myself, to believe that the Datsport kit just will not work well with 280zx struts. Since I am already commited to my 280zx struts and Wilwood BBK kit, I contacted Baz and co. over at Datsport. Trace said that +25 offset wheels would work fine with 280zx struts and I took a chance and snatched these +21 offset wheels up when I saw them. How often will we ever see a set of NOS Watanabe's and much less in that size?? Like Dennis mentioned +25 would be super hard to find and who knows what the condition would have been. So since the Datsport kit does push out the stance of the car, but the 280zx struts bring it in a little I have no idea where I will wind up. I am hoping that if I am the luckiest dude ever that I will have to do some fendor rolling and won't need spacers because the wheels will sit super close to flush with the camber plates maxed out. Odds are that it will not be that simple.... I promise pictures soon fellas...

Ha!!! It has gone to shit and that is my bad. Combined laziness with the a-holes at work cock blocking the use of flickr and I never get around to pictures. As soon as I get back I will have a lil' photo session and make you proud sir. Thinking I will just use parts from the Datsport kit if I don't sell it for what I want to. I have that sway bar that you and I spoke about and I doubt that will work with the Datsport kit, but I haven't really researched either.

WOW!!! Just scored some New Old Stock Watanabe RS-8s 15x6.5 +21. Literally brand new!!!! I am so excited that I nearly peed a little. Now I just have to do damn near anything and everything possible to make them fit lol!!!! I have a concert tonight and will be gone through Thursday. Expect lots of pictures of new goodies that have arrived. Datsport transmission cover is in, so is the steering support, and more!!

Pm'd

Now of that I am certain. I am not saying that I would do it. After the money I have dropped in to this build, it would be silly for me not to get a piggyback system to help with management. Don't get me wrong. The build has been fun, but tearing apart my engine again is definitely not on my top ten list brotha. PS called Datsport on the Watanabes... oddly enough they told me those would not fit????? Said +25 with the 280zx struts. Now I am really scratching my head....

Damn! I stand corrected. Well played sir. The last thing I worry about is a thread jack, as far as I am concerned I am just happy that someone out there cares enough to stop in and visit. Thank you for the support. You being able to run the ECU like that is unimaginable to me. Never thought it was possible.

Am I allowed to call a friendly "shenanigans?" That is a lot for the ECU to take without something like GReddy EManage or other piggyback.