Old school
Problem
I purchased a ’73 Datsun 610 sedan with 65K
miles from my great uncle and was curious if an SR swap would be any different
on the 610 than the more popular 510.1 can find plenty of info on 510 swaps but
not 610s. If it’s too tough I’ll just enjoy it in stock form. It’s a fun little
car. Here’s a pic! Thanks.
73
Datsun 610
How to fix
The U.S. 610 models shared the same L16
inline-four as the Datsun 510 used. With that being said, I don't see why an SR
couldn’t fit with a little ingenuity. In Japan, the Bluebird (as it was called
there), had an optional 2.0L inline-six. The bore spacing on the old Nissan
straight-six was pretty tight compared to today’s inline-six engines, but maybe
you might even be able to squeeze in an RB25/26! An SR swap is fairly boring
these days, isn't it?
Car nut
Problem
Hello, just a quick question. I’m looking
into starting a career in the mechanic world but I was also thinking that
working Dynos would be a really good job to have. What would I have to do as
far as school or to get started on this path? By the way I’ve been reading the
magazine since I was about 11 (25 now) and you guys have turned me into the car
nut I am today.
How to fix
There aren’t really any schools that teach
you how to use a Dyno exactly, but keep in mind that a chassis dynamometer is
really just a large tool or measurement instrument. Think of it as a dial
caliper for the car’s power output. With that being said, you’ll want to have a
solid understanding of all automotive things mechanical. The more you
understand about cars, engines, engine controls, and drivetrain, the better
you'll be able to utilize a Dyno.
If your local city college auto mechanic
trade programs aren’t for you, then there are several mechanical trade schools
that come to mind such as UTI and Wyotech. Many of the city college programs
(in Los Angeles at least) are specific to certain brands and after completion
of their programs; there is help with job placement at car dealerships also. A
dealership mechanic’s job is all about getting the car in and out as fast as
humanly possible and that may not be what you are necessarily looking for. More
specialized programs are available at trade schools tike UTI and Wyotech. The
emphasis on automotive diagnostics also goes a long way to teach an aspiring
mechanic how today’s complicated cars work at an in depth level as well. This
learned knowledge goes hand in hand with a diagnostic or tuning toot tike a
chassis Dyno.
Engine upgrade
Problem
I own a ’96 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS with the
2.0L non-turbo. I love the car and I am getting ready to do my winter maintenance.
The head gasket is also going to be replaced. Since this is going to be done, I
thought why not upgrade the valve train with new parts? My goal is to build a
daily driver that will see some track time, but mostly autocross events.
Unfortunately, I always hear this motor isn’t worth upgrading unless you bolt
in a turbo. My horsepower goal is 235hp, and I wanted to start with massaging to
the cylinder head. What are your suggestions for a reliable build?
’96
Mitsubishi Eclipse RS
How to fix
Your 2.0L Chrysler 420A engine came stock
with 140bhp. To gain an additional 95hp without the addition of a turbocharger
is not impossible, but wilt be very expensive. The modifications would make the
engine difficult to drive on the street with its short life span, loud exhaust,
and poor idle quality. The headwork, valve train, bottom end components, ECU,
and labor required to attain your goals would also be very expensive. Trying to
make over 100hp per liter is generally reserved for the larger budgets of
touring car race teams. If your goat is truly 235 hp. then have a serious look
at Hahn Racecraft’s Stage 2 turbo kit for the Eclipse RS. At under $3,000, it’s
going to be the absolute best bang for the buck. HR has been making these turbo
kits for a very long time too so I’m sure it has been very refined over the
years. They are located in Morriston, FL, and you can email them at
[email protected]
