Apollo Posted September 19, 2007 Report Share Posted September 19, 2007 Hey everyone- Just found this site through zdriver.com and thought i would start here for getting help with my new B210 So i got the car for free from Nissan ( i work for'm ) and its in need of some mechanical work. The head needs to be rebuilt and it has an AT. My dilema is this- Im stuck between yanking the old motor out in favor of a L20B, SR20 or KA series motor. I could go any one of those routes but im not sure what i want. The easiest would be to just take the head off the existing motor and rebuild it, maybe even put a mild cam in there while im at it. Otherwise i'll just go with a fairly stock SR or KA. I dont know. . . what do you guys think? Quote Link to comment
vgwagon Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 nice car, lucky! I'd KA it! Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Nice car. A mild cam will give you about 50 rwhp. The SR20DET swap will give you about 175 rwhp... Your choice. I would put in the L20B, it is a boltin if you can find the right parts (A10 crossmember, etc). Quote Link to comment
Apollo Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Thanks guys. I was reading in to the l20B swap. Ive always been a Datsun fan and i currently have a built S130 turbo but im new to the 4 bangers. After looking in to the l20b swap i saw that the xmember is required but other than that everything was pretty vauge. I would preffer something bolt in to keep the cost and time spent relatively low, but i have nothing against tossing an SR or KA in it if one comes up 1st. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 All B210 swap info is vague ... except for other A-series engines in which case we have full details including all photos. In Japan and South Africa, Nissan had factory L-series B210s, but chances are those parts would be difficult to find. Anyways, I haven't done it but I gather you use A10 crossmember, transmission, driveshaft (may or may not need shortening) and graft a dual-inlet exhaust pipe onto your B210 exhaust system. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Hey everyone- Just found this site through zdriver.com and thought i would start here for getting help with my new B210 So i got the car for free from Nissan ( i work for'm ) and its in need of some mechanical work. The head needs to be rebuilt and it has an AT. My dilema is this- Im stuck between yanking the old motor out in favor of a L20B, SR20 or KA series motor. I could go any one of those routes but im not sure what i want. The easiest would be to just take the head off the existing motor and rebuild it, maybe even put a mild cam in there while im at it. Otherwise i'll just go with a fairly stock SR or KA. I dont know. . . what do you guys think? Dude (looks like a '77) I bought a '76 coupe and later got a fast back of the same year. Same color and with the same honeycomb wheel covers as yours too! Consistent 35 mpg and way over 40 on trips, reliable, fun to drive. Man that takes me back. And yes, I always wondered what the L20B 5spd would be like in it. That's about 30 more horses I think. I would say that if you go L20B switch to 5 spd. If you go higher you might consider AT. I know, I know, autos suck, but that's because they have to lug off the line from idle and it takes time to get up into the power/torque range. With a light little car and 150 and over HP it'll jump pretty good anyway. Just a thought, but if you are into rowing through the gears, go 5 std. Quote Link to comment
tnip Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 i can't imagine a KA would be too much more money than an L20B and far more options in the future. and since you work for nissan you should be able to come up with some contacts pretty easily for buying parts or the whole engine itself. Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Fix the head and slam it :D If you still like it in a couple months then do the swap. That way you can find out if you like the car and keep an eye out for a cheapish EFI engine. I know of a place up north that was selling non turbo sr's for 400-800 depending on the year and milage. Talk about a good deal! Quote Link to comment
ppeters914 Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Ahhhh, the infamous Datsun Racing Brown. :D Fix the head and slam it :D If you still like it in a couple months then do the swap. That way you can find out if you like the car and keep an eye out for a cheapish EFI engine. Excellent advice. Too many projects out there not running. If you decide you still want to do the swap, you'll have a running A (14 or 15?) that should sell easily. Quote Link to comment
Apollo Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 The car is currently running. Just smokes like a pipe. I drove the thing home and it was alright on the freeway. Had enough guts to excellerate uphill. Im leaning towards just fixing the head. Not even rebuilding it. See how it goes and then, like you guys & Nissan sugested, swap later if i still like it. For now though i have to do something with the asthetics. This thing is hurt. Fell off the datsun tree and hit every ugly branch on the way down. But its kind of like a Pug. . .so ugly its attractive. 1st things i had in mind were a 1st gen set of 240Z bumpers, a set of 5 star 280ZX wheels and dropping it for sure. At least in the front. I'll post pics as i go along. Thanks again for the advice. Everyone here so far has been awesome and willing to help out without flaming the newbie. Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted September 21, 2007 Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 Hey I was just being honest, I wish I had my current advice 8 years ago :D I wonder what I will think in another 8 haha Keep us updated aka pics when its slammed :D Quote Link to comment
Bleach Posted September 21, 2007 Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 1st gen Z bumpers? I need some of those for my 1st gen Z! :D 510 wagon bumpers might fit too. Quote Link to comment
Apollo Posted September 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 Last night was productive. Lost about 150lbs of excess bumper weight. Its already looking way better. The whole plastic piece that acts as the grill and headlight shrouds needs to be replaced though. Mine is trashed. Do any other Datsun models have front trim that will work for the 210? Only reason i ask is because i have yet to ever see a b210 at the local yard. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted September 22, 2007 Report Share Posted September 22, 2007 For bumpers try to get ahold of someone in Australia. Their cars got much nicer bumpers. I got a set shipped from a junkyard down there for around $300 total. Shaves about 80-100 pounds off the car too. Looks like this: Quote Link to comment
Apollo Posted September 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2007 Sick!! Thats exactly the look im going for. Thanks! Any Aussies on the forum that can point me in the right direction? Heres the grill . . . .a little worse for wear im afraid. Anyone trying to get rid of their old one? Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 22, 2007 Report Share Posted September 22, 2007 The '76 will fit but it's not as nice. The '77 went to the rectangular signal lights from round. The Aussie bumpers are great but they have a valance panel below them. Would they look alright on your '78? Well, i'm sure they would look fine, but do you have a valance under yours? Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 Sick!! Thats exactly the look im going for. Thanks! Any Aussies on the forum that can point me in the right direction? Head on over to http://www.datsun1200.com. It's chock full of Ozzies and Kiwis willing to help a bloke sort out some Datto goodness. ;) The Aussie bumpers are great but they have a valance panel below them. Would they look alright on your '78? Well, i'm sure they would look fine, but do you have a valance under yours? They don't look "perfect", but do look WAAAAY better than the hideous US bumpers. Quote Link to comment
SHADY280 Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 dude good to see you made it over, these guys will help sort ya out as ya go! those aussie bumpers are sweet! apollo, try franks280zx on zdriver, hes got links to weird parts from holand, and europe. and he'll pull them and ship them too! Quote Link to comment
tnip Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 what do they look like with no bumper? Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 Like ass... ;) Quote Link to comment
tnip Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 haha, fair enough. i just know i enjoy some of the z cars ALOT more with no bumpers and the holes filled. up until recently i've always been a fan of losing bumpers of all kinds, any kind of exterior bumper needed to be taken off and the holes filled, but then i was thinking... if i had a big ass bumper on my truck i wouldn't mind moving people out of the way if i had to. hahaha :: evil laughter :: Quote Link to comment
Apollo Posted September 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 Just a few pics from this afternoon. Stilling wrenching, but i thought i would ask if anyone knew of the quickest way to get the manifolds off. I seem to have found 4 of the intake manifold nuts. Similar setup to the L28 motor. Couple on top with a few that are shared by the exhaust manifold i assume? Dunno. Somewhere underneith i guess. Aside from tryin to get the head off, i just had to do something about the ugliness . . .Not half bad right? What a difference wheels and those nasty bumpers make. :D Quote Link to comment
tnip Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 wow those wheels make a big difference, looks great. i'm thinking some non-US bumpers and a new grill, maybe lose the bump strip... you'll be set. how's the interior? Quote Link to comment
Apollo Posted September 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 The interior needs a little help, mainly the seats and carpet. But other than that the headliner, dash and doors are in awesome shape. The car only has 58K on it so its in decent shape for its age Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 The interior needs a little help, mainly the seats and carpet. But other than that the headliner, dash and doors are in awesome shape. The car only has 58K on it so its in decent shape for its age 58K miles is nothing for one of these motors. Shouldn't need head work for 3 times that amount. Does it smoke, low comp? Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.