Datsun 510 Thread

Originally posted by Gil
If I had to stay JDM, I think the 2.4L out of a toasted 240Z with a pair of side-draft Webers, cam, and exhaust. Along with that a 5 speed of some sort. Top the whole thing off with a Quaife LSD.

Now I think, due to weight A Ford 289, built to Shelby specs with a Holley 650 Carb, and tri-y headers, in front of a Tremec 5-speed. Out back a 9-inch rear end with posi-traction and a set of 3.20 final drive.

I'm glad that I asked this question. It has received many interesting answers.:D
 
Originally posted by knightinwhite86
Correct me if im wrong but wouldn't the power to weight ratio of a nicely tuned 350 be much higher than that of a highly tuned 289
Originally posted by Gil
Now I think, due to weight A Ford 289, built to Shelby specs with a Holley 650 Carb, and tri-y headers, in front of a Tremec 5-speed. Out back a 9-inch rear end with posi-traction and a set of 3.20 final drive.
That sounds like a cool setup, Gil, but I was wondering why you said a 289 and not a 302, seeing that it ahs a bigger aftermarket and thus more performance possiblites for your dollar.

And although the Chevy 350 can usually kick the **** out of the 302/289 Ford, I think there is a significant weight difference there. And anyway, if you were gonna do it blue oval, I would think you would want the 351 clevland (alhtough there will undoubtedly be width issues there).
 
To answer both of those questions at once:
A 289 is no slouch. It has a plenty large aftermarket.
For the most part a 302 is the same block with bigger heads and longer rods.
I'm also thinking about weight. I want a little bit of handling as well. I actually lean more toward the 2.4 thru 2.8 straight-six Nissan Motor from the early Z's.

But for V-8 power, with a fairly "stock" appearance, if not stock exhaust note, I'll stick with a 289 Ford.
Also, keep in mind the distributor on a small-block Chevy is on the back of the motor, and will be a biatch to get to fit, and the timing set.
 
Originally posted by skip0110

And although the Chevy 350 can usually kick the **** out of the 302/289 Ford, I think there is a significant weight difference there. And anyway, if you were gonna do it blue oval, I would think you would want the 351 clevland (alhtough there will undoubtedly be width issues there).

i dont think there will be much weight difference between 350chev and 302 ford. but the 351 clevland is going to be somewhat heavier than the 302 windsor
 
AAAAHHHH!!!! Domestic engines that I know almost nothing about!!!! :lol: just kidding.

I still like skip's idea of putting a Grand National engine in a Datsun. Just imagine the torque steer, though :mischievous:
 
Originally posted by NISMOskyline
AAAAHHHH!!!! Domestic engines that I know almost nothing about!!!! :lol: just kidding.

I still like skip's idea of putting a Grand National engine in a Datsun. Just imagine the torque steer, though :mischievous:
Why would it torque steer?

It might push a little in the corners.
But doesn't torque steer refer to a condition where you're putting too much power on the ground thru the front wheels and trying to steer?

VIPERGTSR01--Remember this is also an issue of length. Not just width. Also, remember that the distributor is on the back of a GM engine and on the front of the Ford engine. It will make doing some of the maintenance things a bit easier.
Plus, we're talking about a 510. It isn't exactly some HUGE LAND YACHT.
You can easily get 350-400 HP out of a 289/302 without major reliability issues. You also still get V-8 torque, and every day drive-ability.
So, do you wanna drive it? Or do you wanna see how much motor you can put in it?
 
i like the distributor at the back, because it looks neater, but it isnt practical in some cars
 
It's a pain in the butt to tune with the distributor in the back.
It takes two people to tune a Chev. One to turn the distributor, and one to hold the timing light and watch the Harmonic balancer.
With a Ford, it's a one person operation.
 
Another option I just thought of is the old 2.3 SOHC Ford motor from the Pinto, or Mustang II.
Yes, both of those cars sucked. However, it was very easy to get 200 hp out of the 2.3 with out doing anything to the bottom end of the engine. It was also strong, reliable, and easy to work on. I also believe that they aren't that hard to come by.
It would make for a pretty nice "old skool" ride.:D
 
Originally posted by Gil
Another option I just thought of is the old 2.3 SOHC Ford motor from the Pinto, or Mustang II.
Yes, both of those cars sucked. However, it was very easy to get 200 hp out of the 2.3 with out doing anything to the bottom end of the engine. It was also strong, reliable, and easy to work on. I also believe that they aren't that hard to come by.
It would make for a pretty nice "old skool" ride.:D
Nice idea, Gil. Can you say "Thunderbird Turbo Coupe"? :) Zillions of these engines in the junkyards.
 
I forgot about the old T-Bird! *Slaps Head*
I also forgot about the old Mustang SVO.
Another motor that might fit, and keep everything "all in the family" is the motor out of the early 300ZX.
It would make considerable grunt, and not weigh too much and it's a V-6 that's intended to turn the rear wheels. Not a lot of modding to do to make it work properly.
 
alright this may sound like a stupid question, but whats the weight difference between an sr20 and a ford 4.6??
thanx in advance
 
Gil
If I had to stay JDM, I think the 2.4L out of a toasted 240Z with a pair of side-draft Webers, cam, and exhaust. Along with that a 5 speed of some sort. Top the whole thing off with a Quaife LSD.

Now I think, due to weight A Ford 289, built to Shelby specs with a Holley 650 Carb, and tri-y headers, in front of a Tremec 5-speed. Out back a 9-inch rear end with posi-traction and a set of 3.20 final drive.

Putting the inline six out of the 240Z in the 510 poses one huge problem. It's too long. It has been done though. Bob Brown of Winnepeg, Manitoba did a 510 Ice Racer with the 2.4 inline six back in the seventies. He had to remove the firewall and fab a new one about a foot further back plus some other shift linkage modification.
Yes a person can actually fit a small block v8 in a 510 with some creative fabrication, BUT WHY? Why stuff a big iron yacht anchor in the nose of a nice handling car? I like the idea of a NA sr20 in the ol' 510. Keeps the balance, plenty of power to get into trouble. That little car would be a scary ride with anything more than 200 hp. VG30 turbos have been installed in them but you'd never find me driving one as much as a JATO rocket powered Schwinn. If you had a sweet small block wouldn't you want to put it into something that would at least handle? The Small block v8 is a natural conversion into the early Zs. Minimal weight gain over the six and almost no change in weight distribution.

I had a couple of 510 ice racing cars back in the early eighties and currently have a mostly stock 1970 240Z.
 
Gil
Another option I just thought of is the old 2.3 SOHC Ford motor from the Pinto, or Mustang II.
Yes, both of those cars sucked. However, it was very easy to get 200 hp out of the 2.3 with out doing anything to the bottom end of the engine. It was also strong, reliable, and easy to work on. I also believe that they aren't that hard to come by.
It would make for a pretty nice "old skool" ride.:D

It's still very easy to get 200 hp out of the L20B nissan engine with out doing anything to the bottom end of the engine. It's also strong, reliable, and easy to work on. The L20B was the most common conversion for a 510 of all time. I think it only required lowering the motor mounts.
 
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