Bob3 Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 i think the entire floorpan needs to move forward somehow otherwise the seats are not going to fit very comfortable in there. Bob, what is your opinion Well, what I did is mount the engine and trans the best I could to get it to fit. Then I knew where the shifter was going to live. I wanted to use the miata floor and tunnel. The tunnel was way too tall, so I decided to cut the firewall off and deal with the floor first. I shortened the tunnel and welded the "lowered" tunnel back to the floor. Then I started fitting the firewall so that it cleared the engine. I did this in halves. Then I installed the other half. Will it be a pain in the ass? YES You're doing great! Rock on!:thumbup: Quote Link to comment
BACARDI_DWB Posted September 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 I decided to make more room in the firewall, if i do that then i can move the entire pan up almost 2 inches. I will not beable to change spark plugs very easily but it will give me room in the cab. here is my thoughts. the humps in the cab can be recessed out in the engine bay and then cut out what i don't need. i measured and i will be very close to the gas pedal but i can hammer out what i need to fit. this will also give me room for the exhaust to run under the truck black sharpie line is where the cut will go down cut and plate the passenger side driver side outside lines are as close as i can be without disturbing the gas pedal and maximizing exhaust Quote Link to comment
freaky510 Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Wow:eek: this is sweet cant wait to see it . And i have to say your welding has greatly improved Quote Link to comment
BACARDI_DWB Posted September 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 it would be awesome if i can have it done by canby next year.... but i am still a very long way off. Quote Link to comment
b210in Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 man what a sick build. i love it. 302 in a 521. how about calling it a "datsun "502" Quote Link to comment
impala_631 Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 look like lots of good fast progress,keep it up!!:cool: Quote Link to comment
BACARDI_DWB Posted September 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 I decided to build an entire tunnel piece, this is going to be a pretty trick piece. I am going to have access panels in each side to help me remove the exhaust and the spark plugs. (thinking like a mechanic) since i removed the structure of the firewall i can now "lift" the firewall while pushing the floorpan forward. this gives me room to move my seat around where i want while also maximizing space in the engine bay. This is roughly where the seats will be sitting at against the window. I have a few options, I can cut off the head of the seats and make low back seats out of the miata seats, this will give me alot more room inside the cab. or i can get ponitac fiero seats which are thinner and wider in the upper body area and would fit nice in there too. or i can leave the miata seats as they are and deal with the fact that its a 1970's datsun truck and it was made for smaller people. not someone that is 6'2", who decided to shoehorn a v8 in there. Quote Link to comment
Hyphy Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 a lil tip/trick: Ive seen either trailer fenders and/or wheel barrow sections use to fill sections like that. Tho typically its for wheel clearance against the firewall on minitrucks, but the concept still applies. Wheel barrow upper corners, depending on size and shape, can work really well. Quote Link to comment
bonvo Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1042604-so-i-have-datsun-610-readers-decide-fate-6.html post number 117 shows what i think hyphy was talking about Quote Link to comment
BACARDI_DWB Posted September 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 hmm i am going to have to measure and see if that will help me. i don't think i will have enough room for a wheelborrow though. Quote Link to comment
nick_m Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 I must say initially, when a wheel barrow was mention I cringed, but that looks really quite good! Quote Link to comment
Hyphy Posted September 23, 2009 Report Share Posted September 23, 2009 it does sound a lil ratsun, but the steel ones that are already shaped can be the world of difference over multiple flat pieces. Quote Link to comment
BACARDI_DWB Posted November 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 Sorry no updates.... I have been traveling like crazy. Starting December I am not traveling any more besides the standard family christmas travel, so I should be back on the project. I have traveled more than 30,000 miles in the past 2 months. (food for thought: its only about 2500 miles from san diego to Norfolk, Virginia....) Quote Link to comment
BACARDI_DWB Posted December 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 Updates: Bought a built roller motor, has forged pistons, rods, and lots of spare parts for $400. I am finally off travel duty and can re-start work on the truck, I also got a new oil pan to try to see if it will fit so I can get rid of my fudged up one. Also my pals convinced me to get the truck on the road and to skip the idea of twin turbo's and fuel injection, just going to throw a carb on it and run it and see how it feels before I start going further. Hopefully I will have some updates after christmas with some progress. Quote Link to comment
sdsurf Posted December 10, 2009 Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 Updates: Bought a built roller motor, has forged pistons, rods, and lots of spare parts for $400. I am finally off travel duty and can re-start work on the truck, I also got a new oil pan to try to see if it will fit so I can get rid of my fudged up one. Also my pals convinced me to get the truck on the road and to skip the idea of twin turbo's and fuel injection, just going to throw a carb on it and run it and see how it feels before I start going further. Hopefully I will have some updates after christmas with some progress. Get on it! Glad to see you're back around... By the way My house is in escrow and we are looking back in SD Quote Link to comment
BACARDI_DWB Posted December 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 tore into the motor tonight, it didn't quite have forged pistons, they were hyper's and the rods were at least forged. it needs a complete rebuild but the good thing is I now have some decent parts to throw in there and I will have a solid running torque monster of a motor. time for some sleep... Quote Link to comment
BACARDI_DWB Posted January 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Well I have been working every day this week and i thought I would post some update pictures. I finally was able to move my truck into the garage so I can get some work done in the light. The motor is not the motor that is going in there, its just a empty motor. I still have lots of cutting to do before I start adding more metal. I decided to use the bench seat after talking to Bob3 and his concerns with his cabin space, I am 6'2" and all legs, I need every inch I can get. I decided to build my own firewall and modify it to accept the miata gas pedal, brake, steering, and clutch. I am going to have to cut into my cowl, I like working on cars/trucks that were built with the mechanic in mind, and I am willing to hack into the cowl to ensure I can pull the motor without any issues. If anyone is wondering about the rear spark plugs, I am going to be installing an access panel in the firewall to make sure I can do maintenance on the truck. So far I am impressed at how everything is coming together and that motor is starting to look like it belongs. I have PLENTY of hood clearance!! Now for the Pics ( I also threw one in of my bro's mustang) and my Bro's Mustang Quote Link to comment
Bob3 Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Dude - That is looking GOOD! Keep it up. Oh . . . and keep up on the PICS Too :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
BACARDI_DWB Posted January 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 This is starting to bug me, everytime I start making really good progress work starts to get in the way. They have me scheduled for traveling over 11,000 miles in the next 2 weeks. Grrr, that was supposed to be my garage time Quote Link to comment
BACARDI_DWB Posted January 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 Direction Change!! Yes I am changing the direction of this build. after about a month of thinking about this project and finalizing what I really want to do with this truck i finally came up with a proper direction. to me it would make no sense to put a huge heavy V8 in the truck that has awesome cornering ability. For those who don't know, I have had a CA18DET sitting in my shed in pieces, I have some $$$ dumped in this motor and its been killing me that I have not put it in a vehicle. So I have decided to put the CA18DET into the 521 with all the miata suspension. The CA18 I am building will support close to 600hp if not more and I don't think I will come close to needing that. Here are some pictures of how it will sit in there: Going to have to do a custom shifter that moves it forward: There are some things about putting this motor in here, I will need to do a custom oil pan since the CA is a front sump design. Here are some of the details about the CA18DET build: Pauter Rods JE Pistons ARP Mains Stock oil squirters Double O Ringing the block Compound Turbo System (GT2860RS to HX40) Synchronic WGA's and BOV The Turbo system that I have been researching is very unique and not quite standard for most builds. here is an example: This setup with the way I am planning the turbo's will run up to around 40psi and about 600hp with an insane powerband. the small turbo will give the low end boost almost instantly and then the larger turbo will carry the top end. Switching to the CA instead of the 302 means the build time will be a little bit longer but I really believe I am going to be happier this way. I will have the power that I want without taking a weight penalty. time for mockup of the engine mounts! Sorry for those that were hoping to see the 302 in there. it just makes sense having a corner carving truck with the proper weight up front. Quote Link to comment
sssr20det510 Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 That is way better idea love the turbo setup cant wait to see it Quote Link to comment
BACARDI_DWB Posted January 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 Here are some of the go fast goodies that I have: Not pictured is a lightweight flywheel and many other goodies ______ For an idea of what my turbo setup will be like check out this DSM'er that put a 16g and a 60-1 with hopes of being close to 600hp and is making boost at insane levels: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/custom-fabrication/336541-my-compound-turbo-set-up.html here are his spool times: 10 psi @ 3264 RPM 20 psi @ 3720 RPM 30 psi @ 4058 RPM 40 psi @ 4518 RPM when you rev out to 8k, that is amazing amount of powerband ___________________________ Edit: these are notes to myself, ignore unless your bored: tap and thread crankshaft instead of having a welsh fitting (known to come out and loose oil pressure in crank) oil restrictor to head (known "flooding of head" under high rpm runs with oil leaving the bottom end without oil) expanding oil return to sump galleys (aiding in returning the oil to the sump) Placing an external fitting on the back of the head that will help drain oil back to the oil pan (also aiding in returning the oil in the head to the sump) http://ozdat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=5655&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=oil+starvation Quote Link to comment
sssr20det510 Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 That is way bad ass, you must have to have a pretty built bottom end to handel 40psi Quote Link to comment
BACARDI_DWB Posted January 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 I forgot to show off these bad babies!! the rods are forged pauter x beam and they are also cryotreated. the crank is knife edged and balanced. these blocks have seen over 1000hp in japan and there are 700hp examples on youtube. I won't need that much power, or even close to it. I will prob end up around 450 hp at around 30psig but with both turbo's i will have an awesome powerband still. i should have over 300hp from 4000-8000rpm's (hopefully sooner depending on the tuning) hard to say since there are not too many people that have traveled down this path but at least it will be fun and unique Quote Link to comment
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