Any Datsun Guys Out There?

[McCoolidge]

I have a '71 Pontiac LeMans in my garage that I am helping a friend restore. He is putting in a new GTO powerplant and drivetrain and he told me that I could have the original Pontiac 400cc and drivetrain. I was wondering what Datsun would be good to swap this into, if it can be done. I know, I know this is a BMW forum but I need to start somewhere. Oh BTW I am keeping the e30, just want a Datsun with a swapped motor for fun. If anyone knows of a good Datsun forum, let me know please.

[JasonC]

I have a engine swapping book from 1975 and it has a datsun 510 with a sbc 350, but that is no help to you. My ? is how wide is the pontiac 400 and will it be able to fit between a datsuns fenderwells?

[shiftbmw]

Well, it's really easy to swap a chevy SBC into a 240z.

There is an entire kit that makes it a 99% bolt in affair(only fab is shortening the driveshaft by an inch or two).

THe website for the kit is www.jagsthatrun.com, which is more commonly referred to as the JTR kit. There are provisions to go with a wide range of different trannies...world class t5, muncie, all of the old school auto's etc.





There are a few picts of my last 260z...obviously with an SBC. 300 horsepower goes a damn long way in a 2500 lb car...you could push an E36 M3 around like it's standing still...

[shiftbmw]

Also, if you are going the 510 route, there is some serious cutting involved and it's a miserable swap with pretty poor overall results IMO. I knew a guy that did it, and the weight was all off and he could really never get it right.

When you swap it into a Z(I'd choose the 240z as I like the way they feel best as they weigh the least etc) it actually improves the weight distribution(although you gain ~100 overall pounds from the swap) as the weight is set farther back and lower. It comes really close to 50/50 at that point. There is also a factory limited slip from a 300zx that bolts in so you can make a V8 Z come out of turns HARD.


A good datsun forum for your application is:

https://www.hybridz.org

It's also worth checking out:

https://www.zcar.com

[JasonC]

the exhaust comes out at a diffrent angle on pontiac v8's so it might hit everything under the sun. compared to a SBC. But i've never looked under the hood of a datsun to see how the front end is setup.

[shiftbmw]

the exhaust comes out at a diffrent angle on pontiac v8's so it might hit everything under the sun. compared to a SBC. But i've never looked under the hood of a datsun to see how the front end is setup.

Oh yeah, good point. To be clear I was making no claims about the Pontiac motor...just stating that you could easily do a chevy sbc.

May even be worth it to spend a grand and buy a chevy donor car with a decent driveline.

[JasonC]

Oh yeah, good point. To be clear I was making no claims about the Pontiac motor...just stating that you could easily do a chevy sbc.

May even be worth it to spend a grand and buy a chevy donor car with a decent driveline.

And the chevy parts would cost less $$$ as i'm finding out with this 383 stroker i'm buiding.

[Black Box]

its sad to see a Z with an sbc

[SchnellerVert]

Maybe sad but we never really got hot straight 6 engine from Japan. As normal we got watered down emissions mobiles.

[McCoolidge]

Well, the thing is, is that I have the pontiac motor sitting at my house, and I dont think I can give it away. So I will take some measurements, its 19" wide and 23" long, if that helps at all?

[JasonC]

I'm guessing that it is a stock 2bbl motor?

[Black Box]

Maybe sad but we never really got hot straight 6 engine from Japan. As normal we got watered down emissions mobiles.

people make well with what they have.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7817226416403095537&q=260zt

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7723901151277431646&q=stroked

[shiftbmw]

its sad to see a Z with an sbc

Haha, I actually strongly prefer the straight 6 to the V8 without question...build me a good L28 and I'm a happy man. My favorite Z I ever had(and the one I put the most love into) had a mild L28. There are pictures of it in an old thread here somewhere. Even better would be a turbo swap from a 280zx turbo.

It is however hard to argue with the numbers of an sbc. None of my L28's, even the most warmed over made anywhere the numbers my 260z put down.

[mrsleeve]

510 man