Car Feature>> F20c Powered 510

Being a part of the circus that is Formula Drift for a few years now, I had the opportunity get to know quite a few people that run the show in the background. One of these many cogs in the clockwork that is FD is starting line up guy, Luke Crowell.

During the breaks between runs, we'd talk about our lives outside of FD. Luke has always mentioned about his Cressida he's been building over the past few years, but this year, he mentioned about a Datsun 510. When he started talking about what he's exactly done with it, I knew it had to be shot for this month's Honda Month.

Now you're probably wondering where the Honda bit of this feature was? Guess no further. Sacrilege or not, this 510 features a 2.2L F22C from a 2005 Honda S2000 in its engine bay.  The engine bay is also home to a custom built Griffin Radiator, dual SPAL fans, and an AE86 manual steering rack. Currently, the F22C is completely stock. But then again, you really don't need much horsepower to get this little 510 moving do you?

All of the swap and fabrication for the engine was done by Performance Options in Oakland, CA. Everything else was done in Luke's garage. 

Luke removed one of the headlights for intake ducting. 

The engine uses an AEM Series 2 EMS for its engine management.

In the Vintage Auto Magazine #18, it featured a shop named "Common Snapper" from Japan. The shop built an F20 powered Datsun 510 built and since then, it was Luke's dream to build a car similar to the one he saw in the magazine.

To make a long story short, he bought this 1971 Datsun 510 coupe and not too long after, the Mikunis that were on the stock engine caught fire. Thankfully, it wasn't a bad fire and an extinguisher wasn't far. The car was savable. 

Not long after, Luke and his wife, Lily, bought a house in Northern California and received a tax credit from the government and, thusly, project began.

The car has seen a complete suspension overhaul starting with Techno Toy Tuning 280ZX front coil overs and camber plates.

Next, a set of AE86 adjustable tie rods, 510 adjustable TC rods…

…custom spline swaybar from Speedway Engineering, Ermish racing Front adjustable control arms, and a set of bump steer spacers were installed

The rear has its own set of coilovers, a slotted cross member and a R180 welded differential.

A set of 14 inch vintage Volk mesh wheels dons all four corners of the car…

… and are wrapped in a set of 195/60R14 Falken RT615K's.

The interior of the car has been stripped out.

The six speed transmission also came from an '05 S2000. To accommodate the new transmission, a hole had to be cut out lower down from the transmission tunnel and the original hole plugged.

Other AP2 bits? This working digital gauge cluster. Though not everything works….

Luke was unable to get the AP2's digital dash to display a fuel tank reading so a much more analog solution was conjured up. Yup, that's in the glove compartment!

Luke could've built a really nice and clean 510 but opted to just focus on the performance aspect as he knew he was going to beat it up while drifting when he takes it to the track. As you can probably tell by how this car looks, Luke leans towards the function > form side of the gearhead spectrum. 

After seeing this car for what it is; its F22C, its gutted interior, and coilover suspension, its hard to believe that Luke drove the car to Long Beach from Northern California to attend the first round of Formula Drift. That's a good 400 miles of driving without AC or protection from the heat that builds up from the transmission!

But if there's one thing we love at Speedhunters more than anything, it's the fact of knowing that a car actually gets to spread its wings out and do what it was designed to do: to be driven.

-Linhbergh

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2

heh heh it made me smile to see this.. its been given a new lease of life and saved from the scrapyard by some sensible mods. - its got character but i think thats from being what it is - this is the kind of car that a thief would run up to, take a look inside and move on to the next car. - those in the know appreciate it - thanks!

3

No mention of the Rack and Pinion? Inquiring minds would like to know the details on the steering setup.

4

That's grin-inducing beautiful. I love 510s, and I love frankencars that much more. The fuel gauge is especially delightful. Great work.

5

Amazing, great shots and an gorgeous car. Can't wait to have my 510 running.

6

Rad. I'm feelin this.

7

...I love to do such a thing, in a suzuki cappuccino, but i guess, one of those is frying out for a hayabusa engine :) .

8

What beautiful a car! Amazing work out there!

9

looking real good!

10

Love meshies on early Nissans / Dats.

11

they should of used the nissan setup instead of the ae86 crossmember, lca, tension rod, hub/knuckle. makes me wonder how the suspension geometry is

12

This 510 is not a sedan. Sedan have four doors. This one is a coupe.

The F22C is bone stock.....there are literally a shit load of cars like this here in Cali. Oh well.

13

Where's the ebrake?

14

That is so sweet, great photos too.

15

Brilliant! Love everything about this.

17

This things got soul! i love it. would really like to see more features on cars similar to this. also, desktops similar to this. seems like most of the desktops are way over the top, or a race car. i dig this stuff way harder. awesome backdrop here too! i would love to see/hear this thing sliding around! thanks for this post :)

18

great shots as always Linhbergh, really digging the second to last one, and also #5

19

That is F ing flawless. Thank you.



Function never looked so good :)

20

daaaamn, this is awesome. you guys are doing some good features now even for honda month :P. also if your able, a couple shots of the car would make really nice wallpapers.

21

This car has all the right bits, sounds like a fun car to drive.

22

Really like seeing old Datsuns on here, it makes me proud to own one

23

This is an awesome little thing, I would love to build one just like it! Great motor and trans in a superb car, great combo, props on the entire setup!

24

Hats off to the Boys at P.O. for performing such a swap! Here in the US, he first AE86 f20c and first ever f20c was swapped by Evolutuon Motorsports for Gabe @ Technotoytuning. The first f20c swap into a 510 was done by Bi @ HAP Recycling. The first Starlet belongs to Edwin, swapped by Modified Toys, I'm responsible for Andy Reyes' Mango and about 8 Celica's. Most of these cars were built in 2005 or earlier. I'm glad to see the swap is getting popular and acceptance over the years. If I had to do it all over again, it would still be an f20/22c swap.

25

Hats off to the Boys at P.O. for performing such a swap! Here in the US, the first AE86 f20c and first ever f20c was swapped by Evolutuon Motorsports for Gabe @ Technotoytuning. The first f20c swap into a 510 was done by Bi @ HAP Recycling. The first Starlet belongs to Edwin, swapped by Modified Toys, I'm responsible for Andy Reyes' Mango and about 8 Celica's. Most of these cars were built in 2005 or earlier. I'm glad to see the swap is getting popular and acceptance over the years. If I had to do it all over again, it would still be an f20/22c swap.

26

This is actually a two-door Datsun 510 Sedan, not a coupe. Coupe was Japan only and had a steeper raked C-pillar and rear window. Sweet car. Excellent feature, this car with this swap is very rare, and very awesome :).

27

this ride is cool!!!

we still have few of this car running around the country....

old school power with a twist of new tech!!!

alot cooler!!!

28

BLASPHEMY!

29

Yeah! Cool car! Awesome that you shot the car on the LB track itself! Very cool backdrop match. Lovin' this!

30

Yeah! Cool car! Awesome that you shot the car on the LB track itself! Very cool backdrop match. Lovin' this!

31

Any 510 is a thing of beauty and a joy forever! Awesome write up! 510's forever. :)

32

A Datsun 510 is a thing of beauty and a joy forever! Awesome write up!

33

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34

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