4 door 510... Worth it?

[SlideKing92]

Hey guys I have had my s13 hb for about two years now, absolutely love it. I have put some time and money into her but I now have the option to pick up a 510 as a project car (trust me its a real project car lol) from a family friend for pretty cheap. I would have to sell my s13 and then i would have 2-3 grand to put into the datsun if I get it. I was wondering what you guys thought about it. The bad news is that it's a 4 door 510 I do prefer the coupe 2 door but hey 4 doors can look pretty sick too

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww79/SlideKing92/170img_0905.jpg


^^^ obviously not the one i would get lol...My plans for it would be a KA swap, coilovers, new interior (seats, carpet trim ect ect) new paint and i have a nice set of rims already in my garage.

Just wondering what your guy's thought on this was.


Thanks!

[ManoNegra]

Hard to say, would depend on the price
I'd pay no more than 3k for a 510.

[Nezahualcoyotl]

you got pics of the 510 in question?

[ericcastro]

how bad is the rust on the rockers and the bottom of the rear quarters?
also the rust under the rear bumper?

what year 510?
tach in the dash?
what engine currently?
tranny?
the body straight?
we need more info.

the 4door is rumored to actually be stiffer and about 80lbs lighter.
also about $2500 cheaper, lol

My internet is going off for a week while it transfers into my name, someone else will have to answer the questions.

BTW, you live in CA. have you looked at other prices on 510s? on craigslist.
just over a grand you can buy one from places like palmdale.
non running, but then you could keep your 240 and work on the 510.
they are fairly cheap and easy.
lotta stuff off other cars works for em.

[nothix]

240 your only car? then no
have a daily? still no

[Chernobyl]

Hard to say, would depend on the price
I'd pay no more than 3k for a 510.

Agreed. I love 510s but the price they fetch these days is outrageous. It's pretty hard to find a decent one under $4k anymore.

It's all down to what YOU want, really. Have you owned a car that old before? My first car in high school was a '73 240z and it had a million "old car" problems that I was always fixing just to daily drive the stupid thing. When I sold it, I vowed to never buy a car that old again. Now I want one again :duh:

Think it through. Having another car as a daily is almost a necessity.

[Jakeeybaby]

im lovin that 4dr 510, :2f2f:

[stinky_180]

so your going to have a 'real project car' without a daily driver? sounds like a bad idea.... does the 510 even run? you gave little to no details besides it belongs to a family friend.

[CrazyTrance]

Really? 4 door is lighter than a 2 door? How does that work..

[SlideKing92]

OK i believe that i wrote that wrong lol what i ment was i would sell my s13 and buy the 510. I would buy the 510 for about $700-800 (I think the way i wrote it before you thought that the 510 cost 2 grand) so i would have a little over 2 grand to put into the datsun right away after I sell my s13. I do have a daily driver its a 06 Xterra so if i get the datsun I will have transportation. Im going to check out the car hopefully tomorrow i will take some pics if i can and post them up and give you more info on the car. All i know now is that it is a 1971 4 door 510 and it is supposedly running but who knows how well from the one picture I saw the body looks to be in ok shape just paint is pretty gone on it. The only supposed rust on it is on the driver side fender I believe, but i will do a complete check when I go see it.

[Royal_T]

Well since you have a Daily and want to try something new I say go for it. Also take pics of the rust if any. If there is allot then you will need to patch up all those rust spots.

Anyways, why did you decide to drop a KA in the 510 instead of something else? Just wanted to know..

[Spencer dougherty]

Really? 4 door is lighter than a 2 door? How does that work..

Just what I remember hearing on the 5 plus years i was on the dimequarterly email list.
Could totally be mis information though.
This was at the time forums and knowledge was just starting to get going.

Check for rust on the rockers and the rear quarters. thats really common and a bitch.
also check drivers and passenger floorboards. one of my many 510s had a huge hole in the drivers floor and would splash water onto me in the rain, lol.

find out the engine type too.

If you have a daily, then if its in good shape, its a good price and are such fun little cars to zip around in.
plus, they look great with rims and a drop. real easy to make look nice.
Great after market support too.

KA's are really easy and cheap to do with em.
but besides some cutting, SR's aren't to hard either.
KA is enough HP in those little cars though, they scoot:)

-ERIC CASTRO on spencers profile...

[WTFaNG]

to be honest keep the s13 and build the 510 on the side. its not as expensive as you think to build one up.

or rebuild the car till its street worthy then sell the s13 and start modifying the 510 from there. theres plenty of 510 parts out there its just how much time and dedication you have. oh yea and you definatly need a back up car. dont depend on a 40 year old car.

oops just saw your daily driver. eh i say still keep the s13 just to switch it up haha.

4doors is where its at!
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/WTFaNG/DSC_0283aa.jpg

[Xbroke_kidX]

4 door > 2door
sell the 240 and jump on the old car bandwagon go!

[SlideKing92]

^^^ thats what i am feeling lol... I am going to take a look at it tomorrow morning and im bringing my camera so i will take some pics and show any of the rust I find. Thanks for the help guys! ALso i was wondering what my options for suspension are for the 510 i know ground control makes a set for it but they are like 1500 bucks

Royal T the reason i am gonna with a KA is its cheap lol i can pick one up for pretty cheap and have some power in it right away. But eventually i would turbo the KA or go with an SR

[ericcastro]

^^^ thats what i am feeling lol... I am going to take a look at it tomorrow morning and im bringing my camera so i will take some pics and show any of the rust I find. Thanks for the help guys! ALso i was wondering what my options for suspension are for the 510 i know ground control makes a set for it but they are like 1500 bucks


iirc, there is some different mix and match type things you can do.
You really need to go over to dimequarterly or something and look em up though.
Also, you can shorten 280z struts and use those with the larger brakes or something.
all i can remember now :)
GL

[ayuaddict]

just get it and figure it out.

a car is a car, shit will work.

510s are awesome.

[SlideKing92]

Quick Update, wasnt able to take a look at the car today sucks but what ever I am going down for sure to check it out on Monday bringing my camera and a few tools if i need to check anything. So pictures soon :)


Thanks for the help!

[HyperTek]

me thinks you wont like it too long.. doesnt seem like a car you always wanted = thus you will sell it after a few months ago go back to 240. lol

Trust, picking up a project car is a big investment, only go with a car you always wanted. If you dont have the commitment, your gonna get bored real fast if all your buddys are rocking newer cars and you cant really play with em because your old car just cant compete.

[Bubbles]

I love shitboxes like this.

I still regret not getting the beetle from my old man.





http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/WTFaNG/DSC_0283aa.jpg

[ayuaddict]

one of the sickest.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OWxHGtNsXuI/Swfa3p316NI/AAAAAAAAAg0/uQ1VE4OEMkY/s1600/HF11.jpg (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OWxHGtNsXuI/Swfa3p316NI/AAAAAAAAAg0/uQ1VE4OEMkY/s1600/HF11.jpg)

[urmyhero4now]

def the dopest 4 door 510 around..and yuta...go on aim once in awhile ass lol.

[drift_limo]

im lovin that 4dr 510, :2f2f:

ditto.. .


But dont they have bad rust problems???

[HyperTek]

ditto.. .


But dont they have bad rust problems???

all the old datsuns of that era have rust problems because of the thin steel they used.

[SlideKing92]

Update...I went and looked at the car today sucked cause it was raining pretty hard and i couldnt look underneath . I snapped a couple pics, the interior is pretty much trashed ripped seats and cracked dash but it is a almost 40 year old car so its expected. The only rust i could find that completely rusted through is on the driver and passanger side fenders on the bottom by the door small though, other then that i didnt see any that concerns me here are some pics i snapped of the fender and the car. Also the car is an Automatic.....

Rust

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww79/SlideKing92/DSC00625.jpg

Car

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww79/SlideKing92/DSC00627.jpg


He is asking $800-$900

[NINJASPY]

check floor panels inside car too(for rust), just give it a good stomp and see if your foot goes through... lol ask the owner first though....

its quite a lot of work and money that is needed on that thing.
for 800-900 its worth it if it is running.

but otherwise id rather keep the s13 if you were forced to sell it. this thing is gonna sit for a long time unless you have money to throw at it.

good project car
bad daily.

[zylvia213]

Update...I went and looked at the car today sucked cause it was raining pretty hard and i couldnt look underneath . I snapped a couple pics, the interior is pretty much trashed ripped seats and cracked dash but it is a almost 40 year old car so its expected. The only rust i could find that completely rusted through is on the driver and passanger side fenders on the bottom by the door small though, other then that i didnt see any that concerns me here are some pics i snapped of the fender and the car. Also the car is an Automatic.....

Rust

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww79/SlideKing92/DSC00625.jpg

Car

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww79/SlideKing92/DSC00627.jpg


He is asking $800-$900

I wouldnt pay no more than $600 for that. 2 doors look better but its all preference. Pics of them 4 doors above like the yellow one and the brown one look tight. Like someone said ealier keep the S13 and get the 510 and work on it slowly.

[sdterrible1]

I would check the car out a little more, deff check the floors, trunk, and front core support. Also around the drip rail, and buy the rear vents on the c pillar.

I bought my first 510 about 6 years ago for I think 450. It looked okay when I picked it up. It was a shell as well. When I got home though, lots of rust was found. I sold that 510 and picked up the 4door I have now. Sty away from the car if there is lots of rust, paying someone to do the work will be $$$$, un less u are able to do it yourself. Just remember that its lots for work. And don’t sell the 240 you will be over driving a 40 year old car in a heartbeat everyday.

4doorftw!!!
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p272/eazycrawler/DATSUN/dangboi.jpg

[WagDatto]

I'll jump in and say, as others have, to check for rust. Typical spots are the floor boards (usually just front, but def check rear too) spare tire well, corners of the trunk, right above windshield and back window, rocker panels, quarter panels.

Looks like it's in pretty good shape, I'd snag it for the price, especially if it's running! The L series motor can take some decent abuse and age, too... Getting one running again shouldn't be a huge issue.

[ericcastro]

I personally would go for it.
At the junk yard you need.
Older sentra seat for rear in grey.
Honda Prelude seats for front in grey.
Get the years needed off a 510 site.
They fit nicely and cost next to nothing.

Carpet kit in black.
new dash off someone or dash cover.
Cheap 4 lug rims.

When cutting stock springs, its 2 coils in the front, 4 in the rear.
You will need a spring compressor or some balls, lol.

If you get it, let me know.
Your in the 626.
i would love to check it out!!

And the auto will go with the engine swap.
Or collect the pieces but put a Z tranny in or a 200sx dogleg tranny in for really cheap.
find a R160 rear end at the JY on one of those subaroo cheese wedge cars, the turbo model though.

lol, see, its easy if you know how ;)


and bother the guy that posted above me, him and his brother build em.

[SlideKing92]

^^^^ Ericcastro can you PM me your number? i would love some help and have you take a look.....Also you guy si am an idiot and was excited and in a rush i didnt type this first im sorry. I checked the floor boards there is no rust there the carpet has been pulled out so i saw the metal it looks fine except for a small bump and crack in the passanger side floor nothing big. The trunk was clean no rust there, no rust around the bumpers, and i checked the engine compartment there was no rust there. The guy said it was running but the battery needed a jump cause the car has been sitting a while, but it was raining and i didnt want to try to jump it in the pouring rain lol. Also I dont have the money or the room for 3 cars so if i got this the S13 would have to go

[jdms13sr]

you guys have it good. 800? that would go for 1500 minimum on the east coast :( i want one

[ericcastro]

you guys have it good. 800? that would go for 1500 minimum on the east coast :( i want one
My old ones in WA were rusty 10 years ago.
i cant imagine the condition of a 510 on the east cost.
ouch!

how goes the project man?

[osrs13]

510s are the shit!!! i wanted 1 since i was little my dad always had 1 or 2 around ..now days he has a somewhere around a 8-9sec drag 510..lmao(i feel very sorry for anybody trying to race him on the street or track) o yeaa its still has cali plates..lmao its still street llegal

[silcoupeguy987]

I traded my s13 for my curent 510 and mines pretty nice... but let me tell you theirs not a day that goes by I dont miss driving my s13..

i say get it on the side and make a project out of it... while skimming threw the thred i saw you posted GC coilovers for 1500... diy kit and some junk yard 280zx struts get it done for way cheaper then that


my dime
http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt114/silviadrift987/chriscampics119-1.jpg

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt114/silviadrift987/chriscampics120.jpg


http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt114/silviadrift987/chriscampics122.jpg

[osrs13]

I traded my s13 for my curent 510 and mines pretty nice... but let me tell you theirs not a day that goes by I dont miss driving my s13..

i say get it on the side and make a project out of it... while skimming threw the thred i saw you posted GC coilovers for 1500... diy kit and some junk yard 280zx struts get it done for way cheaper then that


my dime
http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt114/silviadrift987/chriscampics119-1.jpg

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt114/silviadrift987/chriscampics120.jpg


http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt114/silviadrift987/chriscampics122.jpg

whats under the hood????:wiggle:

[Martino]

I <3 4 Door 510's

There's something about it that I just feel suites it better as a 4 door.
Overall between the 2 door and 4 door it doesn't seem to affect the length much (So it seems. Have never seen them exactly beside each other to compare) and I feel that with the addition door it fills that void I think is needed.

[silcoupeguy987]

4dr and 2dr have the same wheel base and and same lengh.. however where it is diff is the front doors are shorter.. making room for a rear doors... also a side not for taller people when you end up sliding the seat back when your driving you look out the side and youll be looking out the rear side door window in a 4dr 510 or a wagon!!!

lets not forget wagons or "goons" those are bad ass 2!!!!!


i like 4drs 2 but i perfer 2dr..although my next dime im wokign on getting right now is a 4dr


and to the persons question the car is bone stock L16 with auto tranny and it runs great i love it... but i miss my s13 on tien flex that was fun!!!!!!


also eric castro seems to know his shit.. aleast the basics. it would be worth it to buy him lunch and get him to look at whatever your buying to make sure you dont get in to deep of a project...


also the main thing i look at when i look for in a 510 is the inside: the dash the headliner the wiring (make sure its not a hacked mess) and then rust i prefer NONE but a lil bit is ok if its a east fix on a flat panel