jimmy billy Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Ok im new to the datsuns. I just got my first 72 4dr and love it. But it has no motor. The 4speed tranny is their and prity much everything else. Now it used to have a 1.6 in it and was swaped to a L18 then pulled before i got it. So i heard that i can get a motor from 60's datsun trucks up to 90's. My question is what modle of L18 will bolt up to my tranny and run carb from the 90's??? Theirs lots in the recker of those years. Quote Link to comment
ptown green Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 l16, l18 or l20b will all bolt in. Car from the 90's? I run a weber downdraft carb on my l18 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 The L18 was only made for about a year an a half ending in '74. If you find one they will all bolt up. Quote Link to comment
red76datsun Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 not 90s the last L motor for a pickup was in 1980 i believe. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 L18 was made from 1972 until the early 1980s. But only used in North America in the 1973-1974 Datsun 610 and 1974 Datsun pickup and Datsun 710. It was used in Europe and Japan for many years and many were shipped over here as good used Japanese motors. Quote Link to comment
jimmy billy Posted January 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Ok so it mite not be a L but my budy who is big into the 510's sead something about a certien motor that would work but it has to be the right one. Im guessing it would be in a nissan. Quote Link to comment
Tristin Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Ok so it mite not be a L but my budy who is big into the 510's sead something about a certien motor that would work but it has to be the right one. Im guessing it would be in a nissan. L motors will be the only ones that bolt right up. Plenty of other Nissan engines have been swapped into Datsuns though. Youve given us nothing to work with on giving you an answer to your vague question. If your buddy is "big time into Datsuns" then just ask him what engine hes talking about and go get it. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Yes you need to do a lot more reading and research, but you came to the right place for that. Ok im new to the datsuns. I just got my first 72 4dr and love it. But it has no motor. The 4speed tranny is their and prity much everything else. Now it used to have a 1.6 in it and was swaped to a L18 then pulled before i got it. So i heard that i can get a motor from 60's datsun trucks up to 90's. My question is what modle of L18 will bolt up to my tranny and run carb from the 90's??? Theirs lots in the recker of those years. The L series motors... L16. L18 or L20B will pretty much just bolt in and will work with your transmission. If you are new to this an L20B is a good motor to start with and will cost the same to rebuild as an L16/18. This is a great way to learn about them. The last ones were used in the '80 720 truck. This will likely be the best way to get started and has the best chance of getting done successfully. $1,500 to have one machined and new pistons and bearings. Maybe under a thousand if you do the work. This is in addition to finding a rebuildable motor. Any other motor will need the transmission with it and will likely be fuel injection. Lots of electronics and sensors. Drive shaft and transmission mount will need mods and welding. Motor mounts, fuel pump, exhaust, rad... lots of stuff but very impressive when done. Much more expensive, lots more work. Newer motors are likely running so you won't have to rebuild them. At least $2,500-$3,500 to do this. Lots of time and extra money and a place to work on it. A welder is an asset. 1 Quote Link to comment
jimmy billy Posted January 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Cool thanks man. Ive got a welder as cheap as it is i can get a decent bead with it. The header in my car is from a L18 so ill probobly get one of those. Plus i have the diz for it. And can you put a L16 head on a L18 block and get a better motor that way? I know it works for hondas. Im debating weather to rat my car out or clean it up. I have fiber glass fenders on the front and one has a good crack on it that needs fixin. Wish i had metal fenders tho. I probobly would have the trim to match whats on the hood. Does anyone knoe if i cut a couple links out of my s13 springs can i use them with the stock struts??? Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 "And can you put a L16 head on a L18 block and get a better motor that way?" Short answer, yes you can bolt a L=16 head on a L-18. probably will not be the better head for the L-18 Link to web page with head info. http://www.davidcmurphy.com/olddat/html/tech/head_ID_2.htm 1 Quote Link to comment
jimmy billy Posted January 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Ahhhh good info. :-D thank you Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 The 210 L16 head has smaller ports and valves. The combustion chamber is also smaller and the compression will go through the roof. Yes you can cut your springs but it's ill advised to just 'cut a couple of links' out without knowing more of what you are getting into. Likely the S13 springs are too large a diameter to fit up into the 510 strut tower. 1 Quote Link to comment
jimmy billy Posted January 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 Ok Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 Not saying you can't do this. Maybe someone else can say if the S13 spindle angle is the same as the 10 degree angle on the 510. If it is you can cut the lower spring perches off and swap them and the smaller 510 coil spring onto the S13 strut tubes. BUT ONLY IF the S13 spindle angle is 10 degrees. I did this on my 710. I installed '84 Maxima goon struts by swapping my coil springs onto them. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 What does this have to do with L18 motors? But no, S13 struts have more negative camber than 510 struts. Quote Link to comment
jimmy billy Posted January 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 Ok. What would be the best things to do to a L18 to get a little more pep, be a daily driver, and have fun on the track once and a while??? I would like to be able to keep up and beat most hondas lol Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 What does this have to do with L18 motors? For this question... Does anyone knoe if i cut a couple links out of my s13 springs can i use them with the stock struts??? But no, S13 struts have more negative camber than 510 struts. And now we know. Quote Link to comment
Pacific coast Datsun Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 Drop in an L series...weber carb..electronic ignition..L 16 exhaust manifold...call it good. Quote Link to comment
jimmy billy Posted January 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 What about port and polish? And is the L16 exaust manny better then the L18 one thats in my car??? Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 It won't beat most Hondas. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 What about port and polish? And is the L16 exaust manny better then the L18 one thats in my car??? Porting and polishing is for racing where it will make the difference between winning and loosing. For a street engine you won't be driving it where you would notice a difference. If you have a spare head you plan to put on and have the time to fiddle around with this you could port match the intake and exhaust. Perhaps unshroud around the valves but I sure wouldn't pull a head of just to do this. The L16/18 exhausts are so close to the same not worth worrying about. Quote Link to comment
nismo510 Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 man your not listening to me at all. im his "buddy" lol (cody) ill see you this weekend and we can go over most of this stuff. Quote Link to comment
nismo510 Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 we'll get you that L18 and the L20b head thats had some work done to it. Quote Link to comment
jimmy billy Posted January 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 Ya id have toput out some money to get a L18 to do that. Or swap to a KA or something injected. Lmao your on this too cody lol i thaght i reconized the pic lol. Quote Link to comment
Boxcar Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 It won't beat most Hondas. Bullshit. Quote Link to comment
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