zeke5551 Posted June 29, 2022 Report Share Posted June 29, 2022 Looking at a modern engine swap for my 65 NL. Last year I saw a 320 with a late 80s 2.4 Nissan PU engine. Has anyone done this swap? I talked to the owner and he said he only had to cut off the front pulley. Any suggestions? I have a good A14 and 5 speed from a B210, but I don't think a 1.4 is worth the effort. Any thoughts? I don't want to do a bunch of butcher work on the firewall. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted June 29, 2022 Report Share Posted June 29, 2022 Can't imaging a Z24 in one. Not without making room for it and the transmission. The A14 is a better choice I think. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted June 29, 2022 Report Share Posted June 29, 2022 The Z24 is a good engine for the 720, it will do the job and that is about it, my LZ23 in my work truck(3900lbs) will keep up or out accelerate it getting on the freeway depending on the carb it has, and it will walk away from it after 60mph, if you want something fun to drive that is dependable, the A14/15 is the engine you want. But there are a few things you will need to change, one is the 320 idler arm needs to be removed and replaced with a 521 idler arm, that way the A series oil filter will clear everything, it would also help if you have the 1965 Datsun floor shift model with the larger tunnel. I have seen a 320 with a Z24 in it, it was in the wrecking yard. 1 Quote Link to comment
mklotz70 Posted June 29, 2022 Report Share Posted June 29, 2022 Chris Mull put a KA in his NL..... https://www.instagram.com/billybob_who/ Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted June 29, 2022 Report Share Posted June 29, 2022 There must be more room than I imagined then. Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted June 29, 2022 Report Share Posted June 29, 2022 4 hours ago, datzenmike said: There must be more room than I imagined then. Ah, another quote from Mike's "Things I Never Said to My Wife Again" memoir 1 2 Quote Link to comment
mklotz70 Posted June 29, 2022 Report Share Posted June 29, 2022 I have not looked at the build closely. He may have modded the firewall.....moved the radiator.....?? This truck got the KA installed back when it was a green and rust patina with solid billet rims. Quote Link to comment
difrangia Posted June 29, 2022 Report Share Posted June 29, 2022 (edited) . Edited June 29, 2022 by difrangia Quote Link to comment
zeke5551 Posted June 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 I have pics of the 320 with the 2.4, it was tight. I'll have to find one to measure. Thanks for all the help 1 Quote Link to comment
NL320-1963 Posted July 12, 2022 Report Share Posted July 12, 2022 I just picked up my 64 from my friends house that I had swapped a KA24E and auto trans into. I have already pulled it out for my next swap, and this is the only pic I have with the engine in it. I had to remove that 4" wide vertical channel on the firewall to get the engine where I wanted it. Trans required the crossmember to be notched, and the tunnel expanded. If you need any pics I can take some. Apparently you cant upload pics, and I do not have hosting. If anyone wants to see the pic, message me with your e-mail and I will send it to you. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted July 12, 2022 Report Share Posted July 12, 2022 Well then it's definitely not a 'drop in' job but more of 'needing a wire feed wrench' swap. 1 Quote Link to comment
zeke5551 Posted July 26, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2022 NL320-1963, I'm not scared of a little welding, could you send me picks of your truck with the 2.4? I would even be interested in purchasing it. I'm looking for an auto trans. This car has to be good for my ife to drive and she has bad knees, zeke5551@comcast.net thanks Quote Link to comment
NL320-1963 Posted July 26, 2022 Report Share Posted July 26, 2022 2 hours ago, zeke5551 said: NL320-1963, I'm not scared of a little welding, could you send me picks of your truck with the 2.4? I would even be interested in purchasing it. I'm looking for an auto trans. This car has to be good for my ife to drive and she has bad knees, zeke5551@comcast.net thanks I sold the engine and auto trans this past weekend. I posted up pics of the engine mounts I made and the 620 frame pads. Quote Link to comment
NL320-1963 Posted July 26, 2022 Report Share Posted July 26, 2022 Here are the pics of the added motor mount pads from a 620 IIRC. You can see where the 320 frame mounts were ground off if you look hard. Here is how much I cut the firewall for the trans. Notice that I also removed that overlay for clearance to the motor. Here are the motor mounts and isolation pads I used. Pads are part # 11220-B2000 from a 521 truck, steel mounts are ones that I made to bolt to the KA24. Quote Link to comment
NL320-1963 Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 This is the only pic I have from the KA24 in the truck. 2 Quote Link to comment
zeke5551 Posted July 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 This is perfect, it looks like with just a little firewall work you were able to get the motor back for decent radiator clearance. It looks like the motor sits low enough to leave the upper part of the firewall alone. I will take a close look at the firewall tomorrow. I was planning on using a nissan pick up for a donor, just haven't found one with an auto trans. Thanks, zeke Quote Link to comment
NL320-1963 Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 13 hours ago, zeke5551 said: This is perfect, it looks like with just a little firewall work you were able to get the motor back for decent radiator clearance. It looks like the motor sits low enough to leave the upper part of the firewall alone. I will take a close look at the firewall tomorrow. I was planning on using a nissan pick up for a donor, just haven't found one with an auto trans. Thanks, zeke The one I had came out of a 1990 or 1991 Nissan truck I think. Not sure what the 4 sp auto was from as a friend sourced that for me, but it was direct bolt up, and had the correct lean. The auto trans will require some removal from the top and reinforcement of the bottom on the rear cross member. Quote Link to comment
bilzbobaggins Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 I cant stop looking at this. To my eye, its almost like the 320 body and the ka24e valve cover have the same shape. Good work. 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.