New World Datsuns...

Laecaon » Sun Jul 05, 2015 1:28 am wrote:Somehow the 510 has the largest fender/wheel gap...

It is also the only Datsun I have with stock wheels ... coincidence?



When I get home today my goon will be less than 100 miles from the odometer turning over. I'm trying to think of a location I want to take it for cool photos of this grand event. I haven't done anything to it since I bought it, except some maintenance (wash and wax, oil change, valve adjustment, etc.) but I won't keep it stock forever. I thought it would be cool to leave it "as is" for the first 100K. I expect to document the event very soon - before it reaches 45 years old.

They forecast rain for the next few days, and I won't take it out in the rain. Not because it's a "pristine classic" or anything like that. It's because the wipers take about 20 seconds to go through a cycle. Technically the wipers work, but I would only use them if I was caught by surprise. Who knows, maybe the first upgrade for this wagon will be a Mazda 626 wiper motor swap?

Alternator. An 80amp or higher will do wonders for your heater/wipers/blinkers/headlights.

When I first got mine I thought the motor was wasted. Turned out to be the wiper transmissions were rusted up. Once I freed them up and lubed them they worked great. Not saying that's your problem but it might be worth looking in to.

Laecaon » Thu Dec 17, 2015 1:59 pm wrote:Alternator. An 80amp or higher will do wonders for your heater/wipers/blinkers/headlights.

Good point! My headlights seem fine, but that doesn't mean they couldn't use more juice.

I installed an alternator for a '72 510 with A/C in my 620 ... the factory rating for those was 65amp (I think) but the replacement I got was 80amp. It was a straight bolt-in swap, external regulator remains. I found a hole in the old one on my truck when I did the motor swap. It seemed to work, but why put that busted one back in there? And as long as I was replacing it, why not upgrade?

DRIVEN wrote:When I first got mine I thought the motor was wasted. Turned out to be the wiper transmissions were rusted up. Once I freed them up and lubed them they worked great. Not saying that's your problem but it might be worth looking in to.

Another good point! That would be a good "first place to start". Even if I upgrade the alternator and/or wiper motor ... if things aren't working well there, the other upgrades won't help much.

On my 620 the tranny and pivots were wasted, I had to source those from the J/Y and still I needed to clean and lube things up. I went from no wipers to something close to stock (with a better alternator), but still they move too slowly for heavy rain.

Rain-X to the rescue!

My Bad - I have done a few things, but I haven't taken pictures or made any updates here. The only thing I have taken a picture of was getting a DATSUN emblem on the rear hatch ...

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=1304&start=5 ... and that sporty license plate frame.

I wanted to make a big deal about the odometer turning over, but I failed on that front. It happened on a normal day, driving home from work, and I didn't have my camera. Too bad - it was a great Photo Opp - south bound at the Summit of CA Hwy 17, overlooking the Monterey Bay. That was around the first of the year. I've just been driving it, and putting on the miles. Lot's of folks giving me the "thumbs up" (better than the middle finger) and lots of smiles.

So far in 2016 the wagon got the original carburetor rebuilt and a tune-up - new plugs, plug wires, cap, rotor, points and condenser. I also got a new set of keys made, and replaced the high beam lamps with halogen seamed beams. The engine bay still looks the same as it did when I got the car, except for the clean new parts, so taking a picture of it would be embarrassing. It's pretty grimy. Time has been limited, thanks to my employer, so the focus has been putting my time and money in the places that give me the best value.

So there's not much bling to show, except that rear hatch.

Hey, at least your driving it.

K_trip » Fri Feb 19, 2016 10:23 am wrote: The only thing I have taken a picture of was getting a DATSUN emblem on the rear hatch...

got to ask,where did you find your Datsun emblem at ? Was it the Ebay one ?

Ni10 » Fri Feb 19, 2016 2:17 pm wrote:got to ask,where did you find your Datsun emblem at ? Was it the Ebay one ?

No - I bid too low to snag that one, but thanks for pointing it out!
It was nicer than this one, so maybe it's for the best - since this one matches the others well.

I was in front of a local auto parts store, picking up some tow straps. A guy like the wagon and started talking to me. He's into wagons, and told me about the '64 Studebaker wagon he has been working on. I like how these old cars can strike up conversation so easily. Anyway, he said he has a friend that picked up a 2 door 510 project (with spare parts) which got him to notice them more ... and long story short ... I got the emblem local for $10. I only bid $19.50 for that one on eBay, and it sold for $20 plus shipping. So I would say this is one of those win-win-win situations!

cool story bro. Glad it worked out for the best of it. You got to know 2 more Datsun peeps.

Ansel Adams appreciated Datsun

https://youtu.be/lp6Ao7-NP_4

My daily drive over the Santa Cruz Mountains into Silicon Valley is 75 miles round trip. Some of it is winding mountain roads with a 1,800 ft. elevation pass, some of it is 70 mph freeway, some of it is Stop-and-Go bumper-to-bumper traffic ... and my old wagon is getting a little better than 28 MPG on my commute! I bet Ansel would be proud. Not only has this puppy been saving gas all these years, I bet a dozen cars were not built because it didn't have to be replaced. You can't say that about a Vega, or a Pinto, or a lot of the cars from that period.

This is what the PO did to repair the busted mirror ...





DRIVEN sent me old the mirror off his goon, BIG THANKS, it arrived today and got installed right away!



Not only does it look like it belongs there, I had to adjust the old one all the time - this one stays put.



I got the old screws (which looked better than mine), the gasket and a NWD sticker - BITCH'N



Of course I had to tag the wagon as well. I'm stoked

No extra charge for the mismatched screws.

I cracked up when I saw them, becaue I had the same mismatched screws holding the old mirror on. The ones you sent were not rusty like mine, so I went with them. Maybe I'll see if I can get a matching set, but function over form ... right?

Wow, that is great mod the PO did!

Look to upside down land ebay to grab a right mirror, they have repros there. I never did because they come black and I had a polished mirror.

Laecaon wrote:Look to upside down land ebay to grab a right mirror, they have repros there.

That's a great idea. Downunder, South Africa, the UK and of course Japan would be good places to look, but cars don't last as long on an island as they do on a continent. If you have a nice looking car then re-pops would be a good way to go. Mine shows it's age, so finding one that isn't too nice worked best for me. I'm stoked this came together as well as it did.

Thanks again, DRIVEN

This really makes me miss having a wagon