Inside, an Auto Meter speedo and tach gauges reside in the once-factory cluster holes, while a GReddy oil pressure, GReddy water temp, air/fuel meter, and HKS boost gauge monitor engine vitals.
Shiraiwa contacted the professionals at Pro Audio Motorsports to replace the ancient 1972 push button radio and clean up the 510 wire clutter, using a custom plug-and-play wire harness. Euro orange-and-red turn signal housings, BMW mirrors and a Nismo graphic scheme transform this 510 into a true work of art.
Mario Lozano Jr., a longtime friend of Shiraiwa and a fellow Datsun 510 fanatic, also took his 1972 Datsun 510 to new heights. Lozano, owner of TSR fabrications in Gardena, Calif., has been in the Datsun fabrication business for more than 11 years. Having owned 33 510s since early adulthood, Lozano is a true 510 fanatic.
Similar to Shiraiwa, Lozano scrapped the underpowered L16 engine in favor of a SR20DET from a Silvia S15. Using a set of NISMO hardened motor mounts, the engine was carefully shoehorned into the engine compartment. With the aid of a Jim Wolf ECU, the new S15 ball-bearing turbo and fuel management was fine tuned under the watchful eyes of Lozano.
Lozano replaced the inefficient, overly cost effective intake pipes and corner-mount intercooler by fabricating a custom intercooler setup with one-off aluminum intake pipes. Fabrication for the new powerplant includes a full lineup of custom stainless-steel products such as a stainless exhaust manifold, 3-inch stainless downpipe, and 3-inch exhaust pipe, enabling the SR20DET to expel spent gases freely under boost. HKS stainless pre-mufflers keep exhaust decibel output to an acceptable level and an HKS titanium Hyper muffler slightly juts out the rear bumper.
On the show side, a custom billet valve cover plate with HKS power scribed into it adds flair to the show-worthy powdercoated SR20DET valve cover. A GReddy oil catch can ensures excess blowby is properly discharged through one of many Earl's steel-braided lines within the engine compartment.
Lozano minimizes engine clutter using a Toda Racing billet crank angle cover anodized in red. GReddy oversized pulleys minimize parasitic drag. Earl's -6 steel-braided lines and a custom fuel tank with a 300ZX twin-turbo fuel pump extract the necessary fuel through an SX fuel filter. A custom TSR aluminum radiator and dual SPAL fans replace the often inefficient factory brass unit.
Next, Lozano completely stripped the vehicle to the shell and repainted the body Nissan 510 white. Influenced by new-school appeal, Lozano replaced the factory hood with a TSR carbon-fiber bonnet.
Pro Audio Motorsports installed a set of hood shocks that replaced the factory lock mechanism. Custom projection headlights made for the Honda Electric vehicle, a hard-to-find 1973 one-piece JDM grille and Euro turn signal housings add authenticity to the overall appearance of Lozano's ride.
Since so much attention was paid to the engine, unsurprisingly Lozano went above and beyond to set up a proper suspension. Koni five-way adjustable shocks up front and Carrera billet coil-overs in the rear combined with Eibach springs and HKS camber plates offer handling characteristics that are second to none.
A Suspension Techniques rear anti-roll bar and full Energy Suspension bushings replace the worn factory components. Brake upgrades include Brembo front and rear calipers with 13-inch rotors. Lozano himself then fabricated a custom stainless-steel steering box bracket.