Tikka Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 We've all heard the story about that guy who stumbles across a great find in a barn or old garage? Well, here you go: Twelve years ago, when I was between jobs, I began doing handyman work for an elderly woman and her son. Under a cover in the garage was an obnoxious, orange, little car on four flat tires. As it turned out her nephew had left it there 30 years ago while moving out of state with the intent of coming back for it. He never did. Turns out he had a falling out with the family and broke off all communication. Over the years I became great friends with the woman and her son. Last year they put me in charge of somehow getting rid of the car so they could have their garage back. I managed to track down the nephew on the opposite coast and, as required by the PA abandond vehicle laws, sent him a letter regarding the car(see where this is going???). Long story short: The final reply was that he no longer had an interest in the vehicle. When I shared the information with my friends they agreed that If I could get it out of the garage I could have it. I just received the title to a 1972 Datsun 510 with 29k miles and hardley a scratch in the tangerine paint. This car was set up for autocross with all the required equipment. I joined the site looking for insite and support in getting this thing back on the road. As soon as I figure out how to post pictures I will include them. Looking forward to the project. 2 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 That auto cross 'equipment' is at least 30 years out of date.... but I certainly hear you on this car. Go to General Discussion forum and look near the top is the pinned "Photobucket and Ratsun" topic on how to post pictures. We all would love to see this car. Let's get her on the road. What are your plans, a nice sporty street car? with auto X capability? Quote Link to comment
Tikka Posted September 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 I do not intend to race this car again. Nice sporty street car. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 Well auto X is only a 'race' against the clock, so little chance of hitting anything. Quote Link to comment
Tikka Posted September 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 Hope I got the pics right. These pics were taken after I got the brakes unfrozen and put on new tires. I pushed it out of the garage to get a better look at it. It was the first time in 30 years that this car had moved. It is currently in my garage gutted of seats, carpet, fuel tank and fuel lines. [/url]">http:// Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 You lucked out! Nice find. I would do a compression check, drain all the fluids and leave it as is. Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 I would buy a garage for this its typical Datsun owner. I seen more than a few abandon in yards or the woods. Quote Link to comment
Tikka Posted September 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 Already in the works. Quote Link to comment
Tikka Posted September 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Does anyone know what air filters (part number) I should be looking for? These are Solex carbs and the old foam filters are dry rotted. Also, I added more pics which show interior with part of the carpet pulled out. [/url]">http://http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/tikka16/media/20160906_185755_zpswpgr3xsr.jpg.html'> 1 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Those look like aftermarket filters. If the rest of the car looks like that engine bay....you scored massively. :cool: Quote Link to comment
Tikka Posted September 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Sorry, the other pics are gone. Must have done something wrong. I'll try posting pics again after a little practice. But the rest of the car looks better. If you click on the picture yo ucan see the other pics on photobucket. It's the best I can do right now. 3 Quote Link to comment
hoodradKyle Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 MAN oh man, that's a beautiful car and you're in Lancaster?!? Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 damn dude!! Quote Link to comment
Tikka Posted September 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 hoodradKyle, Yes. I live in Lancaster too. Great to see someone from my neck of th woods on here. Was hoping to have this thing ready for the Neffsville show on the 17th but don't think I'm going to get the time to put it back together. How about you? [/url]">http://http://s1174.photobucket.com/user/tikka16/media/20160827_161033_zpsu8ylrzdy.jpg.html'> 3 Quote Link to comment
thatguy Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 Awesome find. Love the rims too. Quote Link to comment
Tikka Posted September 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 Thanks. Rims originally had slicks on them. I let the kid at Pep Boys have them. I've also got a set of aluminum oval slots for it but I like the looks of these better also. Quote Link to comment
paradime Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 Tikka, I just stumbled onto your seat thread and left some info for you there. As for the car... my jaw is dangling around my belt. What a gift from heaven. I would be curious to know what has been done to the motor, and suspension as that will strongly influence it's drivability on the street. Hight compression pistons and stage 2 cam would make it a bit high strung for street use. It doesn't look like it's been lowered much, so there may be no need to deal with slotting the rear, or bump steer. All that will come out in the wash though once you start driving it. Congratulations and welcome to the nut house. Quote Link to comment
hoodradKyle Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 hoodradKyle, Yes. I live in Lancaster too. Great to see someone from my neck of the woods on here. Was hoping to have this thing ready for the Neffsville show on the 17th but don't think I'm going to get the time to put it back together. How about you? I may check it out, I am waiting on my antique registration to come in the mail before getting the 510 out of the garage. Mine looks like it belongs in a scrapyard compared to yours though Quote Link to comment
Tikka Posted September 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 hoodradkyle, That may be, but I take no credit for it. I'm simply reconditioning mine. Restore and recondition are two entirely different things. So far all I've had to do is dissassemble the carbs and clean, replace fuel lines,pump and filter and replace gas tank with new fuel cell.Gonna bleed the brakes this weekend. Trying to get it running before the weather changes around here. I'm planning to "antique" mine also. How long has the registration taken? Quote Link to comment
hoodradKyle Posted September 10, 2016 Report Share Posted September 10, 2016 it has been more than 2 weeks so far, but lady at brimmers told me the antique department is really slow for some reason and that it could take 3-5 weeks. If you have the original plate with it you can use that, it just costs extra. I'm going to use a bicentennial plate I got at a swap meet with a '72 registration sticker still intact Quote Link to comment
Tikka Posted September 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2016 That's what I was hoping to do also. Worked on brakes this morning only to discover the master cylinder is bad. Setback number 1. Quote Link to comment
Tikka Posted July 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2018 (edited) So it's on the road. Took longer than I thought. Needed to put new carbs on it.Taking it to a shop to have them tuned tuned this week. Edited July 18, 2018 by Tikka insert picture 1 Quote Link to comment
heywier427 Posted August 7, 2018 Report Share Posted August 7, 2018 Holy F, what if the guy wanted it back!!! How could you not want that! Incredible score man! That guy had good clean taste for 30 yrs ago! What did you do with the old carbs? Can I have them ? Quote Link to comment
BambooU Posted August 8, 2018 Report Share Posted August 8, 2018 I can't get over that paint. Super clean. Super preserved. I dig it. Quote Link to comment
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