Description

Nissan 410 Service Manual – Factory Specs for the Datsun 410 Series

I’ve seen too many guys bring a car into the bay with a stripped bolt or a mis-timed ignition because some aftermarket book told them to “tighten until snug.” That’s not a spec – that’s a guess. The Nissan 410 Service Manual is the only document I trust for a 1960s Datsun 410. It’s 214 pages of factory-issued torque values, clearance measurements, and assembly sequences. No fluff, no reprints, no “close enough.” If you’re working on a 410 series – engine, cooling, fuel, brakes, electrical – this is the book you throw on the fender, not some photocopied pile of noise.

Engine Overhaul: General Specifications and Cooling System

Page 152 starts the ENGINE section. Right there you get general specs on page 153 – bore, stroke, compression ratio – stuff the aftermarket always gets wrong by half a millimeter. The COOLING SYSTEM section on page 158 spells out the water pump removal sequence and thermostat location. You need to know the exact belt tension? It’s in there. I’ve pulled engines out of 410s that had been “rebuilt” with Chinese gaskets and no sealant – they leak from day one. Factory procedure says use a specific torque on the head bolts, and this manual gives it. Don’t skip the LUBRICATION SERVICE OPERATIONS WITH ENGINE IN POSITION starting page 159 – that includes checking oil pressure with the engine running before you button everything up.

Fuel System: Carburetor, Tank, and Pump Adjustment

The FUEL SYSTEM chapter begins on page 172. It covers the carburetor (page 174) with float level and mixture screw settings – the kind of data you need to idle a 410 properly. Then there’s the gasoline tank removal, fuel strainer cleaning, and the fuel pump adjustment on page 190. These old mechanical pumps need a specific push-rod length; the manual gives you the inspection procedure. Don’t trust an online forum that says “just bend the arm.” That’s how you burn a valve. The manual tells you how to measure stroke and set the diaphragm tension. I’ve seen three 410s come into my shop with flooding issues – every time the owner used a generic carb kit. Use the factory part numbers and settings from this manual.

Breaker Point and Ignition Timing: Get It Right

Page 169 is the BREAKER POINT AND IGNITION TIMING ADJUSTMENT section. Points are old-school, but if you gap them wrong, the car won’t start or runs like a sick lawnmower. The procedure on page 170 shows how to adjust the distributor and time the ignition with a timing light. You need the dwell angle? It’s specified. This is not the time to “eyeball it.” The manual includes a warning about setting the point gap before checking timing – order of operations matters. I’ve had techs argue with me that they can set timing by ear. I hand them this manual and tell them to read page 170.

Transmission Disassembly: 4-Stage Floor Shift

If you’re pulling the transmission on a 410, you need the TRANSMISSION section starting page 194. It covers disassembly of the transmission case for both column and 4-stage floor shift models. Page 1 (in the separate pagination of that chapter) shows the gear cluster removal sequence. You need to know the shifter fork clearance? The manual specifies it. Cross-reference with the Nissan 410 Parts Catalog for exploded views of the synchro rings. Without the factory procedure, you’ll end up with gears that grind or shift hard. That’s a transmission rebuild you don’t want to do twice.

Electrical System: Alternator, Generator, and Troubleshooting

The ELECTRICAL SYSTEM section on page 65 is dense. It covers alternator (page 172), generator (page 174), and regulator (page 176). There’s a “14 Items on Handling” list on page 186 – those are safety warnings about battery polarity and short circuits. The trouble shooting list on page 190 is worth the price alone: it’s a diagnostic chart for charging system failures, starting issues, and lighting problems. The starter motor section – page 192 – gives you the pinion clearance and brush length specs. If you’re rewiring a 410, use this manual, not a generic color-coded diagram from the internet. The factory wiring schematics are located in the same chapter. For more modern Nissan models, check out the Nissan Xterra 2005 Service Manual – OEM Factory Spec and the Nissan 60 1967 Service Manual – Original Factory Bulletin from our collection.

Source Authenticity: Why OEM Beats Reprints

This manual is the original Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. publication – printed for Datsun distributors and dealers in the 1960s. It’s not a scanned copy from a third party that cropped the margins. The OCR text from page 1 shows the address: Otemachi Bldg., Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The introduction states that only genuine Datsun spare parts should be used. I’ve compared aftermarket manuals against this one – they often skip the lubrication service operations or give the wrong torque for the front axle (page 10). If you want to work on a vehicle that was built when engineers still drew blueprints by hand, you need the original factory spec. For a broader overview of the automotive industry’s shift toward sealed modules and digital diagnostics, see Automotive Industry Overview and Automotive Industry Overview. But for a 410, this is the only manual you need.

Does this manual cover the entire 410 series (P(L)410)?

Yes. The cover says “DATSUN MODEL 410 SERIES” and inside it references both the P410 and L410 versions. It includes all systems: engine, cooling, fuel, clutch, transmission, front/rear axle, steering, brakes, and electrical.

What torque values are listed in the manual?

Torque specs appear throughout: head bolts, connecting rods, flywheel, wheel bearings, and suspension. The manual states torque in ft-lb. For example, the front axle hub nut torque is given in the disassembly section. You need the exact values from the factory – this manual provides them.

Is the wiring diagram included?

Yes. The ELECTRICAL SYSTEM section (page 65) includes the alternator, generator, regulator wiring, and starter circuit. The troubleshooting list on page 190 helps you trace faults. If you need the full schematic, it’s in that chapter – not a separate foldout.

How do I identify a genuine OEM manual versus a reprint?

Genuine manuals have the Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. copyright and the dealer-specific introduction. This copy is an original print from the 1960s, not a scanned reprint. The page numbers match the factory indexing. If a manual says “reprinted by” or has blurred text, it’s aftermarket. I’ve confiscated enough reprints from my techs – they’re useless for torque specs.

If you’re tired of guessing, stop. Access the Factory Manual – the Nissan 410 Service Manual – and get the exact specifications that keep a Datsun 410 running right. Your workbench deserves the same info the factory gave its own dealers.