Intro

[jham1157]

Hey guys,

 

I've looked around the site for some time now but figured it's time I finally made an account. 

 

I used to have a JDM 1200 Sunny ute and loved it. I wish it wasn't a story of "Used to have" but sometimes dumb decisions are made and cool cars go to other people

 

Now I have a new cool car and I'm pretty excited about it. It's a Mexican market 510 1300 4-door. It's completely stock and in nice shape. I understand it has the generally less desirable J13 motor and solid rear axle. 

 

First off - I DO NOT care about making this car go fast, doing a cool swap, having the most tricked out whip at cars & coffee, etc. If I do anything to the car it will only be to bring out the charm/character of a super lightweight, minimalist, late-60's econobox. 

 

Notably right now, a lot of things are tired out. The motor leaks out of every mating surface, as does the transmission, as does the diff... Funny enough it still runs like a top and drives lovely. Suspension components are physically operating and doing their job, but need to retire and enjoy watching their grandkids grow up. 

 

I've found a few websites with loads of parts, but it's hard to figure out what I can use on my car exactly. An engine seal kit for an L16 I reckon is going to be lost on the J13. Rear shocks I imagine are different between the IRS models and the Solid Rear Axle model I have. Do I have the same 4-speed trans as the L16 guys? 

 

Thanks in advance for any help anyone on here can provide! 

[yenpit]

Welcome!  iirc the J series is actually based/licensed from the British MGB 1800cc B series (not the 850-1275cc A series).  Example, the 32/36 Weber downdraft intake manifold & carb KIT for the MGB, bolts right up, along with whatever exhaust manifold you might be inclined to try to fit!  The 1800cc head gasket will not work, will have larger cylinder bores.  But the rest of the block might be the same as the MGB......??  If you have a friendly old school British MG shop near you (I know Wis had MANY back in the day, cuz I sold British parts wholesale for years!).  I might be able to help you find a good British shop, if you tell me WHERE you are in Wis.  They won't likely know ANYTHING about Datsun's, but again, this is ONLY in relation to your J13!

 

PS we race 240Z's at Road America almost every year! 

 

Better yet, Go to rockauto.com, go to NISSAN (remember, Nissan was always the parent company/corporate), go to 1969 521 pickup (iirc by 1971 the 521 had the 1600cc L series), then go to engine parts.  I bet that is all the same.

 

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/nissan,1969,521+pickup,1.3l+l4,1211195

 

The FRONT suspension will be 68-73 510.  If yours has the front drum brakes, I do not know anything about those.  Some of the solid axle rear suspension, might be the same as the Wagon, but I do not know.  Yes, you can upgrade to 510 front disc brakes or to 280ZX struts & disc brakes!  Yes, all of the 68-73 USA spec 510 modified front suspension parts will bolt right up ie struts, camber plates, coilovers etc etc.  Lowering the REAR of a solid axle is easy............using lowering blocks, same as USA spec 68-72 Wagon.

 

What tail lamps does your 1968 Mexican car have?  I know the later Mex cars had the "larger" Deluxe tail lamps.  Regardless, take GREAT care of whatever you have!  The USA spec 1968 had "small" tail lamps, which were 1968 only.  FYI the USA spec 1969-1973 are all the same (minus the wagon of course). 

 

Another option is to grab up a complete 68-73 510 1600cc L16 L series engine, all of the mounts (bolt in) & either a cheap 4spd (bolt in) or a 1977-1983 280Z/280ZX 5 speed (minor mods to mount to chassis).  Cuz you have a solid rear axle, I bet you would need to modify a driveshaft for ANY L series swap.........??  Even the USA spec WAGON driveshaft will likely be different, cuz the USA never got the 510 J13 or solid axle, in the Sedans.  Although most of the electrics on the body/chassis will work with the L16 (minor mods?), I do not know much about the Mex electrics!

 

Your front & rear glass rubber SEALS & stainless trim are likely Mexican, but you can swap to the USA spec rubber seals plus trim or the Cali style without the stainless trim.  Every Mex 510 I have seen, the rubber seals & stainless trim is 100% different!

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Wasn't the A series an option in the Sunny? Maybe find some brackets and a drivetrain and swap it in.

 

J motors are getting a lot of attention these days.

[yenpit]

The British A series was in Midgets & Sprites................I've had 23 in my lifetime!  Completely different than the Datsun A series..............that was in the USA spec 1971-1979/80  1200 (sunny), B210 & 210.  A high school buddy had a 1972 1200, with a built 1200cc, mostly Clifford Research parts.

 

Stoffregen, really?  Cali has always been ahead in the Datsun scene.............I don't know of any 1200, B210 or 210 "on the road", here in Denver area, but I am biased to the L series!!  Not to say there aren't, but none i know of!!

[jham1157]

I appreciate all the intel already! Thank you. I'm just outside Madison WI on the west side. We used to have a good shop locally called Foreign Car Specialists and I know for a fact Aaron there would have known a lot about MGB stuff. He specialized in Euro stuff but appreciated some Japanese cars as well. 

 

I do actually have an A12 engine from my sunny with the 4-speed hanging off of it in my garage right now. Fun fact. 

 

Strictly going by looks here but the rear suspension looks closer to that of a 67 Datto 411 rather than the 510 wagon. They're close, but the way the shocks mount to the body on the wagon looks different than these sedans. 

 

My car has some more standard looking taillights. They're not original, though. The previous owner said the original ones are long gone. Oh well. 

 

 

 

 

[KELMO]

11 hours ago, yenpit said:

.I don't know of any 1200, B210 or 210 "on the road", here in Denver area

Well, there are 2 1200's in the state south of you where both are on the road a couple times a month. And both have A12  motors.😎

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

15 hours ago, yenpit said:

The British A series was in Midgets & Sprites................I've had 23 in my lifetime!  Completely different than the Datsun A series..............that was in the USA spec 1971-1979/80  1200 (sunny), B210 & 210.  A high school buddy had a 1972 1200, with a built 1200cc, mostly Clifford Research parts.

 

Stoffregen, really?  Cali has always been ahead in the Datsun scene.............I don't know of any 1200, B210 or 210 "on the road", here in Denver area, but I am biased to the L series!!  Not to say there aren't, but none i know of!!

During my time building race motors, my favorite builds were the Nissan A series. I built a few 1000cc A motors for D Sports racers, a handful of A12A motors for GT5 with dry sump. Those were so very cool.

 

Stacked against the L series, the A is a tough sell, but the size difference between the two is staggering. A motors are tiny. Stuffing an L motor into a space that was designed for an A motor isn't my idea of a clean install.

 

BTW - I believe you know I wasn't talking about the BMC A series. Though I am well versed on those engines as well. I've built two of them in the past three weeks. Don't know if you know, but we race an MG Midget and just now finishing up a '62 Sprite race car. Our next race is at SPIR in a week and a half. These A motors are a bitch to build and keep leak free. The Nissan A motor is such a better motor than the BMC A series. I wish we could run those instead.

 

[angliagt]

    Welcome! - We need pictures.

[datzenmike]

I would power wash the engine and get it clean. You may have to do it several times. to get what you missed. When dry you can see where oil leaks start. Most likely sources are the valve cover, it on top and oil will run down hill and look like it coming from everywhere It's not nearly as bad as you think.

 

The 520 truck J13 used the same transmission as the L series in the 510 but with different bolt up pattern, so internal parts and gaskets should fit.

 

Enjoy

[yenpit]

On 9/1/2024 at 9:50 AM, Stoffregen Motorsports said:

During my time building race motors, my favorite builds were the Nissan A series. I built a few 1000cc A motors for D Sports racers, a handful of A12A motors for GT5 with dry sump. Those were so very cool.

 

Stacked against the L series, the A is a tough sell, but the size difference between the two is staggering. A motors are tiny. Stuffing an L motor into a space that was designed for an A motor isn't my idea of a clean install.

 

BTW - I believe you know I wasn't talking about the BMC A series. Though I am well versed on those engines as well. I've built two of them in the past three weeks. Don't know if you know, but we race an MG Midget and just now finishing up a '62 Sprite race car. Our next race is at SPIR in a week and a half. These A motors are a bitch to build and keep leak free. The Nissan A motor is such a better motor than the BMC A series. I wish we could run those instead.

 

 

I think you mentioned that before! 😎 I crewed for Trent Terry (RIP) (all of the Terry's Jaguar group) in his black square arch, ext door handle Midget, back in the 1990's.................Trent was FAST!  David Jahamiac (sp??) was our biggest nemisis, in his yellow Bugeye!  David might be out in CA now, but last I heard, he was running something else.......?? Dave Tabor (RIP) of Comptune in OH, was a customer & a friend............he built many of the A & B series race engines back then!  These guys bought crap tons of Vandervell (RIP!) & Payen gaskets from me, over the years.  I have yet to get to any west coast tracks...........

 

What are those 2 holes per side, in the body, near the lower trunk corners?  Right side, next to the fuel filler hole.  Bugeye style overrider mounting?

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

18 hours ago, yenpit said:

 

I think you mentioned that before! 😎 I crewed for Trent Terry (RIP) (all of the Terry's Jaguar group) in his black square arch, ext door handle Midget, back in the 1990's.................Trent was FAST!  David Jahamiac (sp??) was our biggest nemisis, in his yellow Bugeye!  David might be out in CA now, but last I heard, he was running something else.......?? Dave Tabor (RIP) of Comptune in OH, was a customer & a friend............he built many of the A & B series race engines back then!  These guys bought crap tons of Vandervell (RIP!) & Payen gaskets from me, over the years.  I have yet to get to any west coast tracks...........

 

What are those 2 holes per side, in the body, near the lower trunk corners?  Right side, next to the fuel filler hole.  Bugeye style overrider mounting?

RIP is going around these days. Sucks to lose so many of the old guys with all of that knowledge. A couple guys and I are talking about forming a new business with the focus on race car prep the old way. So in the meantime I am being a sponge. Every time I speak with one of the older experts, my ears are wide open.

 

I have no idea what those holes are for. Leather trunk straps maybe? There are so many unexplained holes in the car, as is the case with many long in the tooth race cars. I sent that pic to the guy I bought it from, who raced it in the '90s and he sent it to the daughter of the guy who built the car back in the '60s. She and he will both be at the next race to see the car. Hopefully I can get some questions answered. Hopefully they will appreciate the liberties I took during the build process.

 

We need a racing section here on Ratsun. It seems like every time one of us brings it up, it's in the course of a thread jack. Sorry for that.

Edited September 3 by Stoffregen Motorsports

[yenpit]

1 hour ago, Stoffregen Motorsports said:

RIP is going around these days. Sucks to loose so many of the old guys with all of that knowledge. A couple guys and I are talking about forming a new business with the focus on race car prep the old way. So in the meantime I am being a sponge. Every time I speak with one of the older experts, my ears are wide open.

 

I have no idea what those holes are for. Leather trunk straps maybe? There are so many unexplained holes in the car, as is the case with many long in the tooth race cars. I sent that pic to the guy I bought it from, who raced it in the '90s and he sent it to the daughter of the guy who built the car back in the '60s. She and he will both be at the next race to see the car. Hopefully I can get some questions answered. Hopefully they will appreciate the liberties I took during the build process.

 

We need a racing section here on Ratsun. It seems like every time one of us brings it up, it's in the course of a thread jack. Sorry for that.

 

Sounds like a great history!  I'll agree regarding straps, if holes were welded up on the trunk lid OR the trunk lid was replaced!  I worked at a British shop in Hyattsville MD 86-88.  We got calls often, from tow truck/scrap guys.  Boss Tim would buy most of the cars.  I answered a call one day "I got me a leeter tiny MG on mah rig, has a number thing on the doors & a rollbar.  Yew want to buy it fer $100?".  I told the boss what he told me, boss declined cuz it was a Midget (he raced SCCA MGB), so I told the guy "I'll buy it, drop it off out front!".  The boss returned from an errand, saw the Midget, asked.  I told him it was the car on the wrecker.  I bought it fair & square, he was pissed! 😂.  The driver name was on the door, I looked in white pages, called.  Yup, he bought it NEW in early 1964 (side curtain car), from Manhattan Auto in Rockville MD, special ordered RHD, drove home, stripped to race SCCA, raced 15++ years, parked on trailer.  Had a Huffaker stamped/built 1098cc engine!!  Somebody bought the trailer, scrapped the car!!  He GAVE me all the parts he pulled off the car!!  I sat on it for 6+ mo's, had a buddy that wanted it, sold for $750.  John was military, so God only knows where that car ended up!!

 

Similar situation, 510 GT4 car out of Annapolis, raced 1974-1986'ish, mainly Summit Point, drivers name on roof, found him, talked 2-3 times, retired & POOF!, disappeared.  That car went to Sweden, as a project, UN-restored.

 

Similar situation, 510 BS car, raced 1972-1976, sold it, POOF! gone.  I found it here in Denver, SCCA# on rollbar hoop led me to Cleveland, SCCA had his name, contacted him, he helped for 6-8 mo's with my questions etc, then asked if I would sell it back to him.  I said absolutely, sold it a l'il less than true value!  He was elated & I was happy to see it go back to him!

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

I try not to get my hopes up when I find an old racer, because either I can't afford it, or it's a total pile.

 

I'll reel this back to Nissan here. One of my aspirations is to own and race one of the IMSA era 240 SX cars. I know a guy who owns and drives one of the Leitzenger cars and he's been coaching me on what it takes to own one. One of the things he warned against is keeping it in the shop. They are so big (even though they don't look big) that they are a real bitch to move around by yourself. Funny, I would never have thought of that. Another car we were looking at, a 1993 Ken Schrader #25 Kodiak Nascar, the guy said the same thing.

 

Frank Honsowetz is at most of the races and I get to talk to him a lot too. Another one of those older gents who has tons of knowledge between his ears. You'd think he's all about the 510 resurgence, but ironically, he doesn't seem to have anything to do with those guys.

[angliagt]

       Did Frank own a lodge/campground in Big Bar,CA at one time?

Mike Rickman (SCCA National Champion in an '80 200SX) told me

that it was owned by some ex- Datsun Competition guy,but don't

remember the name.