Description

Nissan 510 Service Manual – Factory OEM Specs for the Datsun 1600

You’ve got a 1973 Datsun 1600 on the lift, or maybe one that’s been sitting in a barn since the Carter administration. The aftermarket book you bought says the head bolts torque to “about 40 ft-lbs” and gives a wiring diagram that looks like someone’s kid drew it with crayons. That’s not going to cut it. I’ve seen more than one L16 engine come apart because some backyard guy trusted a generic manual. This Nissan 510 Service Manual is the actual factory document from Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Tokyo. 437 pages of the same specs the dealer techs used. No reprints, no condensed version, no “compiled from various sources” nonsense. This is the real deal.

Engine Removal and Installation: What the Manual Covers

Section ER (Engine Removal & Installation) starts on page one of the engine section, and it gives you the exact sequence for pulling that L16 without bending the fan shroud or cracking the radiator. Torque values for the engine mount bolts, the flywheel, the clutch cover – all in foot-pounds. You need charge pressure for the automatic transmission? That’s in Section AT, page 73. The manual uses Imperial units because that’s what North American shops work in. None of that metric-only confusion that gets you into trouble with old Datsuns.

437 Pages of Factory Data

That’s 437 pages scanned from the original publication. Not a reprint that lost the halftone detail on the wiring diagrams. The quick reference index lists every major system: Engine Mechanical (EM), Fuel System (EF), Engine Electrical (EE), Clutch (CL), Transmission (TM), Automatic Transmission (AT), Propeller Shaft and Differential (PD), Front and Rear Axle (FA, RA), Brakes (BR), Steering (ST), Body (BF), Body Electrical (BE), and Service Equipment (SE). If you’re dropping the transmission, Section TM walks you through the F4W63L manual or the 3N71B automatic. Gear ratios are listed right in the General Information section – 3.700 or 4.111 for the R160 differential.

Does This Manual Cover the Fuel System?

Section EF covers the fuel system, including the SU carburetor setup on the L16. Float heights, jet sizes, fast idle adjustments – it’s all there. The service manual also includes the Engine Control Fuel & Exhaust system (Section FE), which is handy if you’re dealing with the later emission controls. Aftermarket manuals often skip these details or give generic numbers. This one gives the OEM specs that match the factory tag on your valve cover.

Torque Specs and Fluid Capacities

Every torque specification in this manual is the original Nissan number. Head bolts, main bearing caps, connecting rod bolts, intake manifold – if it has a thread, the spec is here. Fluid capacities? Approximate refill capacities are listed in Section GI: engine oil, transmission fluid (manual and auto), differential gear oil. You won’t overfill or under-fill because the manual gives the exact quart amounts. For the automatic, it even tells you which type of ATF to use (Dexron-type). No guessing.

Why OEM Documentation Beats Aftermarket Reprints

I’ve worked in this shop for 28 years. I’ve seen Chilton manuals get away with rounding torque specs to the nearest 10 ft-lbs. That’s a disaster on an L16 head gasket. The OEM Nissan 510 Service Manual was written by the engineers who designed the car. The wiring diagrams are original, the adjustment procedures are the ones the factory used. If you’re serious about keeping that 510 on the road – or restoring it to showroom condition – you need the factory document. Anything else is a compromise. NISSAN 510 Series Parts Catalog gives you the exploded views and part numbers to go with this manual. Nissan Xterra 2005 Service Manual – OEM Factory Spec shows how Nissan manuals stay consistent across generations. Nissan 60 1967 Service Manual – Original Factory Bulletin is another example of their quality. For an overview of the automotive repair industry, check Automotive Industry Overview for context on why OEM documents matter. Automotive Industry Overview highlights the same principle.

Service Equipment and Special Tools

The last section of the manual, SE, lists the special tools required for procedures like pulling the crankshaft pulley or aligning the clutch disc. It gives you the Nissan tool numbers so you can either buy the genuine tool or find a compatible substitute. That’s something aftermarket manuals never do – they assume you’ll ‘make do’ with a pry bar and a sledgehammer. Not here.

Is this manual the same as a Chilton or Haynes book for the 510?

No. Those are aftermarket compilations. This is the official Nissan factory service manual. The torque values, wiring colors, and procedures are directly from the manufacturer. Chilton and Haynes generalize; this manual specifics.

Does it cover the automatic transmission (3N71B) in detail?

Section AT covers the 3N71B automatic transmission completely – removal, disassembly, clutch pack clearances, valve body checks, and the exact fluid capacity (4.8 quarts of Dexron-type ATF). The manual also includes the gear ratios and shift speeds. If you’re rebuilding that transmission, you need these specs.

Bottom line: if you’re working on a 1973 Datsun 1600 (Nissan 510) and you want the job done right, get the manual that the factory techs used. Access the Factory Manual now and stop relying on guesswork.