Jump to content

Jeff made me do it - Cactus Green 1972 510 FJ 2dr


carterb

Recommended Posts

  • 2 months later...
  • Replies 121
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

A little behind on updates...

 

Once you start driving a "new" car, the mental list of things to fix starts to grow pretty fast.

 

One of the first concerns was a very loud electrical clicking noise I could hear while the car is running.  It will rise and fall with engine RPMs.  Sounded like it was coming from the passenger side.  Along with this, the voltmeter was reading pretty high.  Some kind of alternator wine?  Not sure - coming from the area of the MSD box though.

 

large.1407698584_11162018greenfj(1).JPG.

 

The PO said he installed a tach adapter but couldn't get it working right. 

 

large.1067721159_11162018greenfj(3).JPG.

 

I need to track down a wiring diagram I guess.  Seems like this should be hooked up.  Isn't it a capacitor for the tach circuit to even out the signal?

 

large.1476688749_11162018greenfj(2).JPG.

 

Well, whatever is going on there, see the white wire plugged into the side of the MSD box?

 

large.601569151_11162018greenfj(4).JPG.3

 

When I pulled that wire, the clicking went away and the voltage dropped 1-2V.

 

Now I'm at 13-14V at idle and cruise.

 

large.1185838061_11192018greenfj510(1).J

 

large.1175864679_11192018greenfj510(2).J

 

That made me feel much better because I was worried I was overcharging and really didn't want to boil a battery in my trunk next to the gas tank!

 

 

Link to comment

I had Corey drive it to school (he's getting in his hours needed to get his license) and he thought it was great!

 

http://datsun510.com/uploads/monthly_2019_01/11292018_corey_driving.mp4.3170f887b8b74e96fcee8ca1822d54ad.mp4

 

He said later that night, "that must be what it feels like when a dad gives hid kid the keys to his new Ferrari". 

 

: )

 

You're a great kid Corey!

 

Sunset that night...

 

large.1526770830_11292018sunset.JPG.ad5f

  • Like 1
Link to comment

The next noises to tackle are all coming from the suspension.  The front end is so squeaky!  The steering is also a little heavy too so I wonder if there is some issue with the upper strut bearing/isolator set up.  Also the tranny hits the tranny tunnel a little.  And of course there is that clickity clack lifter noise...  It all goes away when you put your foot down on the throttle though so after a few more days of driving and assuring myself the car is in good mechanical shape, there was nothing left to do but sign up for an autocross!

 

I was a bit weary of the 10 year old tires on the car though.  Although brand new, I was betting they were pretty hard - especially in the cold temps we'd be racing in.  I got up early in the morning and pulled the SSR Jilba Racing wheels and Federal tires off of Cooper since they worked well while auto-crossing that car.

 

large.850593456_12152018autocross(1).JPG

 

Thanks Cooper!

Also, my driver's mirror was broken when I got the car.  I glued it back on but it was not adjusted right and the glue kept me from changing it.  Brenda fixed that problem for me by walking by the car in the garage and breaking the mirror back off.  : )

 

large.2061282018_12152018autocross(2).JP

 

I reached out to the bluebirds google group and Steve on the east coast sent me a replacement which I mounted up.  Thanks Steve!

 

large.309469632_12152018autocross(3).JPG

 

But then I found a problem.  The rear fenders are not rolled and so the 200sx turbo rims barely fit - which means the other rims and tires definitely will NOT.

 

large.1248268779_12152018autocross(4).JP

 

large.395286380_12152018autocross(5).JPG

 

No problem I guess.  That wasn't the biggest issue on my list anyway.  The throttle had started sticking again, and barrelling into a corner with a stuck throttle did not seem like a fun problem to have on the autocross course so I turned my attention to the engine bay and removed and lubed the throttle cable AGAIN.  This time, after putting it back together I noticed that the sticky spot was "just" off idle, and the cable by itself didn't seem to have an issue there, and neither did the linkage by itself - only when the two were connected.  The cable was pretty taut so I loosened it up - giving it a little play at rest, and this made the problem go away.  YES!!!

  • Like 1
Link to comment

I drove to the Evergreen Speedway for the December 15 autocross and immediately found good company in Rick, with his 510 2dr "race" car.

 

large.344458609_12152018autocross(6).JPG

 

Really nice car!  Bought mostly complete and built in California I think he said.  Jeff's been helping him make changes to his car to get it going faster each event.

 

large.515771372_12152018autocross(7).JPG

 

large.1015457065_12152018autocross(8).JP

 

Speaking of Jeff...

 

large.545305995_12152018autocross(9).JPG

 

 

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Takeaways from the day:

This car will NOT turn in to low speed corners.  It pushes for days.  This particular course had two very low speed sections and it was so painful going through them at idle waiting to be able to finish the corner so I could accelerate.  I could have played more with steering with the throttle to rotate the car and get the corners over with but still - it was really bad.  Way worse than my coupe.

High speed stability and direction changes were good.

Brakes were good.

With the rear bar, LSD, and extra power, I was expecting to be really tail happy but that was not the case.

My carbs are really rich.  (I already knew that - but the black smoke screen on WOT acceleration was a little embarrassing - sure sounded good though)

 

Next time I will have different tires and then adjust my technique if I need from there.

 

A little side story - Three young Chinese guys showed up half way through the competition in their new BMW's and Porches.  Kevin had each of them do a ride-along with another driver so they could see the course before driving it themselves. 

 

Kevin asked if I'd take one so I gave Yicheng a ride. 

 

It was a good lap and I think he had fun.  Unfortunately, afterward, he could not find his keyfob and therefor could not start or drive his car.  He, his buddies, me, and a couple of the event organizers looked through my car almost a dozen times, stopping just short of removing the seats.  We looked everywhere at the track too around the cabin and between through the pits, even all the way back out to the track entry. 

 

No key.  He ended up having to have his car towed to the dealer at the end of the evening.  Such a bummer.  I hope he'll be back.

Link to comment

I was coming home from Volleyball the next night and a guy rolls up next to me.

 

"Whoa!  Is that a real Bluebird?!"

 

We had a short conversation before the light changed but it ate on me that I had "tricked" someone into thinking I had a Bluebird when I didn't due to the badging on the car.  Especially since I have actual Bluebirds.  Nissan to the rescue!

 

large.14540674_12202018christmaspresent.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

After Christmas it was time to fix some of these problems.

First step - roll the rear fenders!  (the front was already done)

 

large.158349080_01062019greenfj510(1).JP

 

large.966028769_01062019greenfj510(2).JP

 

I used a heat gun this time and was able to roll them flat with no cracked paint!  I was impressed.

 

large.1959308879_01062019greenfj510(3).J

 

Anyone looking for a set of 200SX Turbo rims?  These are as nice as I've seen!

 

large.1825153249_01062019greenfj510(4).J

 

Got distracted - replaced Bluebird badging...

I took the trunk lid off to do it.  Much easier than the contortionist's alternative.

 

large.1915819374_01062019greenfj510(5).J

 

Bluebird shadow:

 

large.1312374644_01062019greenfj510(6).J

 

large.90623101_01062019greenfj510(7).JPG

 

Nice fitment!

 

large.105950158_01062019greenfj510(9).JP

 

large.424834165_01062019greenfj510(10).J

 

 

Edited by carterb
  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • 3 weeks later...

Decided to get a set of wheels to mount some dedicated autocross tires on.

 

These 14" Focus Esprit wheels will do the trick nicely!

 

large.684998753_ebayfocusesprit14s(1).jp

 

Same seller had some 14" Star Sharks too.  I've always wanted a set of Star Sharks! 

 

large.1407683829_ebaystarshark14s(1).jpg

 

If you are looking for rims, look up D4rkr4in.2012    He has some nice sets available.

 

UPS guys apparently drug the boxes behind the truck.

 

large.1000045254_01162018jdmwheelorder(1

 

But remarkably they made it without damage due to some good packaging.

  • Like 3
Link to comment

Autocrossing may have to wait...

 

large.1079755344_02042019greensnow(1).JP

 

large.632261837_02042019greensnow(2).JPG

 

large.40049717_02042019greensnow(3).JPG.

 

large.2054967451_02042019greensnow(4).JP

 

large.1093770206_02042019greensnow(5).JP

 

large.512626450_02042019greensnow(6).JPG

 

large.381200547_02042019greensnow(7).JPG

 

Accumulated 6" of snow so school was cancelled today.  I taught Corey how to drive in the snow using the Neon.  He only just got his license so he'd never driven in the snow before.  It was a great use of time and the Neon is pretty sure footed while wearing snow tires. 

 

I've found 510's to be pretty good in the snow as well but I don't have the right tires at the moment and wasn't in a hurry to mount any.  Winter has been super mild up to this point and so thought I might get away without swapping the car over this year. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
  • 1 month later...

6" of snow grew to 14" of snow!  Crazy for this area.

 

large.1455640891_02122019greenfj510.JPG.

 

After a couple weeks I was finally able to get out of my driveway and up the hill so I could enjoy driving the 510 again.

 

large.37868992_02232019greenfj510.JPG.63

 

There is actually still snow on the ground in many places a month after that storm.

  • Like 2
Link to comment

R888R tires have arrived - finally! 

 

Bought them on-line from Walmart of all places.  Cheapest price (by a bunch) and free shipping. 

For over a week they were scanned in the morning and evening in Redmond - every day - without heading my direction.  We figured they must have mounted them to the delivery truck and were taking turns doing donuts in the parking lot!  : )

 

large.1468075080_02282019R888Rtires(1).J

 

I wish they were 185/55 R14 but these will have  to do.

 

large.802694514_02282019R888Rtires(2).JP

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • 1 month later...

LSD will add understeer in the corners. Softer rear or stiffer front sway bar. .... but there are a dozen other things that influence under/over steering. Even slowing down will fix it. 😄

 

Suspension squeak is likely the poly bushings... try some oil.

Link to comment
  • 3 weeks later...

A few updates...

 

After thinking more about the understeer, as well as the car's behavior on wet roads back and forth from work, I decided to take a look at the alignment.

 

I thought I had done this previously but apparently not - because it turns out the front had 1/2" toe out!

 

large.1432263160_03092019greenfj(4).JPG.

 

And the rear had 1/8" of toe out.  (notice that the rear track is ~ 1 1/2" wider than the front)

 

large.986895281_03092019greenfj(1).JPG.8

 

Corrected to 1/8" toe in at front.

 

large.1316786869_03092019greenfj(20).JPG

 

The back should probably be adjusted as well at some point.

 

While I was in there, I also noticed that the coil over spring perches are not locked in place at all

 

http://datsun510.com/uploads/monthly_2019_03/03092019_green_fj_(1).MOV.6ea150154cadf9494d95ed3d5eb18754.MOV

 

Test fitted the Esprit wheels before mounting rubber.

 

large.1536739590_03092019greenfj(13).JPG

 

Looks like the rear pretty much sits on the rubber bump stops.  : (

 

large.1576413139_03092019greenfj(17).JPG

 

large.1708022629_03092019greenfj(18).JPG

 

Coilover clearance.

 

large.92235805_03092019greenfj(19).JPG.8

 

I had planned on addressing the squeaks and installing an idler kit but ran out of time.

 

large.1172889341_03092019idlerkit.JPG.42

 

Link to comment

A couple week ago I thought I'd have a go at fixing the cracked mirror.

 

large.1707973041_05042019greenfj(1).JPG.

 

My idea was that I would take the good mirror from the broken housing and replace the broken mirror in the good housing.

 

It seems that Nissan didn't really intend for this to happen.

 

Here is the good mirror after successful removal from the broken housing.

 

large.1354890631_05042019greenfj(2).JPG.

 

Here is the back of the mirror.  It is glued to a metal base that is screwed into the plastic housing.  There is no way to service this assembly.

 

large.1432861177_05042019greenfj(3).JPG.

 

I used a heat gun to soften the glue and worked my way around the mirror with a razor blade to separate the two but while I was at it, the heat dissipated and the glue re-set and *CRACK* I broke the mirror.  Well crap.

 

large.1635218820_05042019greenfj(5).JPG.

 

At least now I have a template to get a new mirror cut.  And judging by the caulk around the cracked mirror on the car, I don't think I'll have any issue getting THAT mirror out. 

 

Job for another day I guess.

 

I had purchased a set of aftermarket mirrors for Corey's 4dr but have since got a set of NOS mirrors I'll be using so figured the aftermarket units would be perfect for this car.  Unfortunately the base design is slightly different and so many mirrors have been mounted to this door, it didn't cover up all the screw holes like the stock mirror does.  Oh well.  I at least mounted the passenger side mirror.  So much nicer in traffic now!

 

large.370366524_05042019greenfj(4).JPG.4

 

 

Link to comment

I was also determined to make some improvements to the steering/suspension.  After the alignment job, even though the wheel alignment was good, I screwed up the steering wheel alignment.  I fixed that and then set out to install that idler kit.

 

Got the idler arm separated from the drag link.

 

large.1901197430_05042019greenfj(8).JPG.

 

Maybe I'm the last to know this but it turns out the idler arm bushing is really a "return to center" spring.  Look at how much effort it takes to rotate the arm.

 

http://datsun510.com/uploads/monthly_2019_05/05042019_green_fj_(1).MOV.a9eaf64917d8b06049481aadc74d3452.MOV

 

Not any easier on the bench:

 

http://datsun510.com/uploads/monthly_2019_05/05042019_green_fj_(2).MOV.b556fdaa5d2703c21414c03c5ba6fec0.MOV

 

large.2137387202_05042019greenfj(9).JPG.

 

it take some real work to separate the idler arm from the pivot shaft

 

large.352449151_05042019greenfj(10).JPG.

 

Here is the steel sleeve stripped from the rubber bushing.

 

That steel sleeve slips over the pivot and then the serrations lock it in place when everything is tightened down.  It is not intended to rotate.  News to me.

 

Dave's Idler kit is intended to work with a NISSAN idler arm only as the 555 and other aftermarket units may have different dimensions.

 

I found a NISSAN unit attached to some steering linkage in the garage so I stripped it down to install the kit.  Here you can see the post without the sleeve.

 

large.1434966846_05042019greenfj(11).JPG

 

This is the tool I use for "pressing" out the bushings by the way.

 

large.1308003739_05042019greenfj(12).JPG

 

Check out the idler arm action after the kit is installed!

 

http://datsun510.com/uploads/monthly_2019_05/1594974355_05042019greenfj(3).MOV.762ca6d1fe90ded9be172b4e2fc33b2c.MOV

 

No more "return to center" action but that's fine with me.  Steering effort is SO MUCH EASIER now.  The car steers so much smoother and effortlessly.  And I don't notice any reluctance to return to center either.  Apparently still enough caster to do the work.  Can't wait to go autocrossing again!

 

 

Link to comment

One step forward two steps back...

 

I seem to be leaking quite a bit of oil from the cam cover.

 

large.1630158140_05042019greenfj(13).JPG

 

It flows down onto the header and makes quite a stink when the car comes to rest at stoplights and such.  Need to take care of that.

 

Also, one of the fans has started making some terrible bearing noise.  The car has two 14" Hayden fans.  One pusher and one puller.

 

large.1361514977_05042019greenfj(6).JPG.

 

They are super old.  1995?  Anyway, I talked to Hayden and they were surprised they lasted this long.  Wow, great to hear you have faith in your products!  Anyway, they directed me to a replacement unit which should be here any day. 

 

 

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.