Here we go- round 2. I was not looking for another 510, but this one came up on the local Craigslist recently, decided to call, got the usual "Oh, it ran the last time I drove it" story, but amazingly, the car did in fact run, and pass an emissions test- I just couldn't resist a GOOD running '69 for less than I paid for my project '73 three years ago. The above picture shows the car as it came home. Best of all, the car has not sat for an extended period of time, so most electrical accessories work, and the doors are not even sagging on the hinges. Amazing!!
After a wash and swapping on the Ronal Silverstreaks from my '73. That is not a crack on the driver's side of the windshield, but a scuff from something lodged in the wiper blade.
On to the details- it's a late '69, with an L20B and a pickup 5-speed conversion. The engine has a downdraft Weber on a Cannon manifold, and the seller claims it has flat top pistons and a closed chamber head. Based on the general driving experience, I have to believe him. The engine does have the factory exhaust manifold on it, and I must say, it makes quite a difference in noise over the header on my '73.
Check out that exotic Valvoline overflow bottle.
The car does need some body work. The most visible problem spot is the roof, which has several large dents such as the one above. Apparently this is the result of a late-night drunken dare to run across a row of cars in a parking lot. Sigh...
Yes, the front valance panel needs work.
The worst of the floorpan rust is in the passenger's footwell. There was a dime-sized hole that has already been patched with steel.
It works reliably, but the "installation" work on the ignition switch is questionable at best.
These are the alloys that were on the car when I got it. They are Nissan wheels with a 1978 date code, since they are 13 inch, I'm thinking they are not Z car wheels. Can anyone identify them?
The future-
I'm not planning anything too crazy with this one (famous last words). It needs the rear shocks replaced in a bad way, and the ignition switch is somewhat questionable at the moment. I'm leaning toward repainting it the original non-metallic cherry red after bodywork is done, and a minor lowering may be in the plans, along with 200SX rear disk brakes. The interior is not in bad shape over all, it needs a dashcap, and the front seats are probably going to be swapped- I'm looking for some period-correct looking sport seats, going to avoid the turquoise MR2 seats in this one I think. Also, for some reason fuel injection using Nissan parts is very tempting, but that's a big maybe at this point. The point is, this car runs, my goal is to limit all of the "projects" to the type that will not take it off the road for months.
