datsunrides Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Thinking about swapping in a more powerful engine into my 1200, and am looking for suggestions. I like to be a little different, so I am not too interested in a SR or KA swap. Don't want to go cutting the car to pieces, so a V6 or V8 is probably out (although a VH in there would be cool). I was kinda thinking CA18det, but would probably prefer something easier to find parts for. Rotary is probably out as I am not a huge rotor head. I'd like to keep it in the family, but wouldn't necessarily be against a transplant either. Oh, currently I'm running a somewhat hotted up A14. Mark Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 L16/L18? That's what I'm putting in mine anyway... :P More power than an A-series, still looks "stock/original", easy to get parts for... Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 CA18DET is easy to find parts for. The CA18DE is a USDM engine, the turbo version was not. Plus it looks like it belongs there. Several guys have put GM 3800 in (bulick V6), which fits right in without cutting the tunnel if you use the 1200 automatic car tunnel. Quote Link to comment
DISLEXICDIME Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 i like the ca18de hell a ca20 would pull hard in a 1200 Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 CA18DET is easy to find parts for. The CA18DE is a USDM engine, the turbo version was not. Plus it looks like it belongs there. I concur. This would be my dream swap. Quote Link to comment
DISLEXICDIME Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 the other question is what do you want to do for a rear end? what brakes are you running? Quote Link to comment
808DA6 Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 the other question is what do you want to do for a rear end? what brakes are you running? +1. Inquiring minds want to know. Quote Link to comment
Z chopper Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 since a gm 3.8 will fit obviously a vg30 will fit and is in the nissan/datsun family Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 since a gm 3.8 will fit obviously a vg30 will fit and is in the nissan/datsun family Well, with the VG30E, the problem is fitting the transmission. :P And push-rod V6s are typically a litlle smaller than OHC V6s. That GM V6 is pretty tiny. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 what do you want to do for a rear end? Depends on which engine you put in. Easy swaps are available for all power levels. For example, the 320 pickup has an H190 that is a little narrower than the 1200 axle. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 This is the coolest looking swap in my opionion. Plus the FJ transmission fits exactly right, shifter comes up in the stock hole, and stock driveshaft fits. Quote Link to comment
datsunrides Posted June 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 I would not have thought the FJ would have fit in there so nice. Kinda leaning more toward the CA, but also thinking 4AGE or maybe Mazda B6/BP. Ideally, I would like a smaller displacement, all aluminum turbo/efi swap. I can think of a couple FWD engines, but there are no adapters available( as far as I know)for RWD transmissions. Mark Quote Link to comment
Laecaon Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 I think the CA is the perfect (Nissan) motor for a 1200. Quote Link to comment
DISLEXICDIME Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 I love rwd 4g63's. But that car would be uncontrollable Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 4G63 can make impressive power but it's so old! and heavy! And ugly! At least the FJ is newer and holds its own in the power department. I think a great swap would be Nissan GA16DE -- 116 HP stock with neo too. There are RWD transmissions for GA too and only $160 at Pick-n-Pull. Just say no to Toyoda 4A swaps, everybody does that. Mazda B6 is very popular swap into 1200 in south africa. They do love their zoom. Quote Link to comment
DISLEXICDIME Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 I did not know there was a rwd ga16de trans . I like those engines Quote Link to comment
rusty12ver Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 I believe it comes in a van, japan only? gg can u enlighten us on it? Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted July 2, 2011 Report Share Posted July 2, 2011 It came in JDM Vanette/Serena and in Europe Serena. Also GA16 was RWD in Nissan R'Sheen, but is mounted east-west FR. That's weird. But guys fit the E16 to the stock A15 gearboxes (most of the holes line up) so probably you could use the same for GA16. Same bell pattern as far as I can tell. The racers that do this don't share much info, so I do not know if they weld up from new flange holes, or just run it with a few bolts missing... Serena (Nissan Van C23 1992-) Europe * 32010-G2N69 RS5W71C [remote shift 5-speed 71-series transmission] 9106-9701 Japan through 2009 Malaysia * 32010-0C061 RS5W71C Quote Link to comment
Burabuda Posted July 2, 2011 Report Share Posted July 2, 2011 ga16de is cool idea (we discussed this on datsun1200.com a few years ago) but the dizzy is in the back of the head and i doubt that's gonna appeal to mark? Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted July 2, 2011 Report Share Posted July 2, 2011 ga16de is cool idea (we discussed this on datsun1200.com a few years ago) but the dizzy is in the back of the head and i doubt that's gonna appeal to mark? No problem MegaSquirt II can run crank trigger ignition. Or if you want to run twin weber sidedrafts, you can use MegaJolt Lite Jr. crank trigger. It will even activate the neo solenoid! The racers just cut a hole in the firewll and let the dizzy hang in there. Quote Link to comment
datsunrides Posted July 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2011 You never know. I could always run a SDS with crank fire like on my roadster, but at the same time, adds cost to the swap. I would really like to turbo/efi the A14, but the cost/hp is not very good. I should just go CA and be done with it, but for some reason I *think* I want something else, just have not come across anything that lights the interest. The Mazda K8 V6 is kinda interesting, but I can't find any info on a rwd trans yet. Still waffling but appreciate all the feedback. Keep it coming! Mark Quote Link to comment
datsunrides Posted July 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Well, there is no turning back now. Sold off the A14 setup this weekend. After lots of thinking, I believe I am going to swap in a Miata drivetrain. I can pick up a complete good runner around here for less than 1k, are already set for RWD, and there is tons of aftermarket support for them. Best of all, I can probably pull what I need for the swap and sell off the shell, making my investment around $500 or less! Mark Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 good on ya. That's a good engine and better yet, it looks the part. I hear other Mazda engines are used too...B-series? Quote Link to comment
DISLEXICDIME Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 I was just thinking a mazda swap would be sweet in a 1200 Quote Link to comment
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