Now I have a real ratsun.

[sean1978]

 

When you buy things like this it usually does not make your girlfriend happy. Now I have a real project on my hands.

 

Hopefully the underside is not completely rotted to hell.

 

I want to bring it back.

[Rubberman]

You can do it! Looks like some work ahead of you, but it wouldn't be any fun any other way. Get some more pics up when you drag her out. How does the motor look?

[sean1978]

Motor has been sitting for 10 years. I'm pulling the 97 KA24DE out of my 93 240SX next week to put my SR20DET in.

 

I basically have an extra KA24DE with a 5 speed transmission / wiring harness / and ECU.

 

I'm not afraid of the mechanical aspect of the job, it's the rust stuff that I'm not experianced with.

 

I'm not going to tear it completley down and restore it at this point. I'd like to fix any problems with the structure rust wise, clean up the interior, make the suspension system work, and put my KA into it.

[Rubberman]

Cool, start ya a build thread under projects and take alot of pics. These guys on here I'm sure can help ya out with any problems you might run into. Good luck.

[WagDatto]

No! Way more trouble than it's worth! Swap the SR in the 510, and keep the KA in the S13. No emissions means no hassle with smog on the S13 when you swap. Do a supercharger on the KA and slam the SR in the dime.

 

I've always wished I'd gone SR in the 510 since I finished the swap. Make it happen!

 

Either way, though, do it right the first time. Take your time to paint things as they go in, it makes the end result SO much better!

 

If you DO have any questions about the KA/SR swap in general, hit me up. I've done 2 KA dimes now, and I've documented my build pretty well, so I can try to help if you need.

[Skib]

slap a rising sun hood on it and its good :fu:

[Bandit240]

I love cars like that. I have a thing for buying stuff that is beyond useful and just sticking it in the back yard next to the woods.

[fisch]

Niice! Now that's what we call a field datto!

[ppeters914]

FILL IN THE LOCATION IN YOUR PROFILE, PLEASE.

 

What's the story on this beastie? Looks like a ton 'o work.

 

slap a rising sun hood on it and its good :fu:

 

...and a Weber. Can't forget the Weber....

 

OMG! Post #1500 for me!

Edited February 7, 2009 by ppeters914
Just noticed 1500 posts

[bonvo]

that rust looks borderline between surface and rot if i might make a sugestion got to ace hardware and get a 3m paint and rust stripping wheel throw it on the end of a drill and buzz it down to bare metal that will tell you if it has gon threw or not if it has your going to have to make a patch pannel but if not throw some primer and rattle can on it and call it good for now

[Justin]

I want a field 510!!!

 

(Trade ya my 620, it's DRIVEABLE!)

[datzenmike]

Is that why the weeds... no tranny?????

 

Motor apart... valves in back seat waiting for a ride.

[HRH]

I dunno, it might not be that bad. I probably would have drug it home.

[sean1978]

No! Way more trouble than it's worth! Swap the SR in the 510, and keep the KA in the S13. No emissions means no hassle with smog on the S13 when you swap. Do a supercharger on the KA and slam the SR in the dime.

 

CARB? I could put a VH45 in my 240SX with open headers sticking out of the hood and I wouldn't get pulled over for a swap (maybe noise). I live in N.C., we don't have that crap to worry about.

 

 

FILL IN THE LOCATION IN YOUR PROFILE, PLEASE.

DONE

 

thanks for the input thus far guys. So does this thing not look like a complete waste? I thought it looked like it could be bought back, but I won't really know until I get it into my garage. I'm hoping the floor pans aren't gone.

 

I'm not into half-assing projects, but I would like to make this thing road worthy if possible and not something that gets torn completely apart and sits around for 5 years in perma-project status before it gets sold to the next guy. I'd like to find a nice balance of fixing things without going overboard on this.

 

If I got it up and running I'd probably end up tearing it down for a full restore in a few years after I was in a more permanent living situation. I'm not a broke college kid, but I could see myself making a career move in a year or two and don't want to be toting a truckload of dissassembeld car at that point.

[Icehouse]

Nice find!!

 

Here is my 2 cents, which I'm sure your sick of hearing but I like to type so here goes :D

 

If I was in your shoes...

 

I would buff it and do the KA swap, don't get over carried away. Once it's road worth drive if for a while, make a list of all the little things it needs then take it off the road for a month fix all the little things and drive it some more. Repeat this process until it's in great driving condition with all the upgrades you like. That way when you do the restore you will already know the wheels fit, the fab work will be done so sparks won't be flying on your classy paint, all the little things will be done. I say all of this form experience. Doing one giant restore/upgrade is a bitch!! IMO weekend projects are the best!

[Pacific coast Datsun]

I agree with Icehouse...buff it out after it's running & cruise it around:D Oh &......put the hub caps on & slam it :cool:

[HRH]

First things first, get it up on jackstands and take a good long look underneath. Field Datsuns tend to rust from the bottom up. Such as in this picture of the one I drug home to cut up:

 

[Bandit240]

Haha, that picture reminds me of the 210 we got from a junkyard for the A15 engine.

 

I used the tractor to flip it over to get to the bolts on the underside, none of us were brave enough to go under it.

 

[ian bommerscheim]

Its better off in your hands than with a tree growing thrue it!

[tyson]

great find, I love finding treasure where others may look and see junk. I want a 510 to play with. I need to find a 4 door so I can tell my lady it's a family project and she plays along.

[sean1978]

I hope it's not too bad underneath. The floor beneath the carpet in the front still felt solid. I'm going out next weekend to put wheels and tires on it in preparation for getting rollbacked to my friend's shop. I'm so eager to fool around with it.

 

The side that you can't see is the better side. I wonder why one side is more rust on the outside than the other.

Edited February 8, 2009 by sean1978

[datto510]

I wonder why one side is more rust on the outside than the other.

 

The non rusted side was the south facing side- more sun to keep it dry means less rust!

[DaTsUn72WaG]

I agree with the SR comment, put the SR in the dime and keep the KA where it's at. But if you want to get crazy with the 240 you have, once your done with the 510 sell the KA and save all your pennies for an RB25det and put that in the 240 :)

[sean1978]

sell the KA and save all your pennies for an RB25det and put that in the 240

 

Personally if I was going to do an RB series it would have to be in a S30 or and old RWD Maxima.

 

I'm putting the SR into my S13 because I already have all of the parts including chassis specific intercooler / downpipe / exhaust. I have been planning on this for years.

 

Here's an action shot of me in my S13 with a KA:

 

 

I'd also like to keep the 510 N/A at this point. I'm no KA hater, I only have the SR because I have been putting it together since 03 when the KA aftermarket was not as developed as it is today. I'd rather have a KA-T now, but I already have everything for the SR.

 

I'm sure that my already-fun KA24DE will be a blast in a car that's significantly lighter than my S13.

Edited February 8, 2009 by sean1978

[DaTsUn72WaG]

I definately would have kept my 510 goon if I had a is or at with a five speed but I just traded it for a 1990 camry with a five. I really hate automatics lol. But you must start a build thread on both. I bet they'll turn out to be sick. hope everythings clear sailing for ya.