The 1972 Datsun 510 is a nimble, lightweight coupe designed to catch on the peak sports sedans from Europe, adoration the Lotus Cortina, BMW 2002 and Alfa Romeo GTV, a duty at which it bounteous than succeeded. The 510 was extraordinary at racetracks all over the microcosm very as a hit in the showrooms. Nowadays, the 510 is a sought-after classic that can be driven on the street or competitively raced in vintage racing against its contemporaries.
Suspension
Interior
The 510 has a simple, Spartan interior. Good upgrades here would be a set of vintage bucket seats from Corbeau, a smaller steering wheel from Momo like the Prototipo model and maybe an alloy shiftknob and alloys pedals.Exterior
As originally equipped, the 510 came with CD brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear. An nonpareil upgrade is a rear CD conversion that expenditure environing $500, which Testament seriously upgrade your stopping ability. Match that with cross-drilled rotors, performance pads and braided steel brake lines up front.
Wheels and Tires
As originally equipped, the 510 came with inconsequential steel wheels. One of the most earnest upgrades you can build is to install a establish of wider high-performance alloys. Provided your 510 is not flared, you may keep a gargantuan period installing wheels that are larger than 5 or 6 inches in Breadth. Nevertheless, whether you admit installed flares affection the ones used on the contemporary 510 pursuit cars, you can install 15x7-inch Panasport alloys, which besides gaze pleasant on this mould. Other period correct wheels are Libras and Revolutions. Mount some sticky tires on the wheels, and your 510 will have far better handling.
Engine
The 510 came with a relatively small 1.6-liter motor. Unless you are restoring the car back to original, an ideal upgrade is to install a later larger motor like an L20B 2.0-liter from the later 200SX, which will bolt right in and has much more power potential than the original motor. Mate this to a close-ratio five-speed from a later Datsun or Nissan for maximum performance. Many owners have swapped in an SR20DET from a later Nissan. This can be installed in normally aspirated or turbocharged form and give the 510 truly modern performance.
By far the biggest upgrade you can practise to a 510's suspension is the Appendix of a coilover implements, which replaces the authentic springs and shocks with a race-derived coil and shock combination, which will permit multiple adjustments, from drive heighth to stiffness. Provided you don't appetite to install coilovers, lowering springs, stiffer shocks and larger anti-roll bars end wonders for the 510 besides. Round outside suspension upgrades with a plentiful complement of urethane bushings, which flex less than the fresh rubber items.
Brakes
510 styling is simple and clean, with a boxy shape that looks similar to that of the BMW 2002, another great car from the era. As such, it doesn't need much work in this area. Racing 510s often featured a small "duck-bill" front spoiler and bubble fender flares to accommodate larger wheels and tires.
