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Project Trubo... 2.3 Turbo Swap


MOTO

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So I've been reading through the forums for the past couple of weeks and decided it's time to introduce myself. Call me Tom, I live in Twin Falls, Idaho and I just unloaded my first Datsun 620. I bought it in Boise, about 160 miles away, and hauled it back via tow dolly. I payed $300 cash for it, no engine or tranny, but the body is usable and I happen to have a donor car in the garage as well. Sooooo, the plan is to take the engine, tranny, ecm and harness out of a Merkur XR4Ti (turbo 2.3 and 5 speed) and stick it in this neat little pickup. I'll use this as a build thread. Of course, PICS! Thanks for any comments.

 

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I was a tech for 5 years before changing my line of work, so I know my way around cars. This will be a fun challenge I think. Here are a couple of pictures of the engine and how it's currently mounted in the car.

 

A 16 valve head is going to happen eventually too. 

 

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MOTO ,

 

Nice score for $300 !! :cool:

 

I think this would be a really cool project as the 2.3 is a good engine , and a torquey little buzzard in N/A form.

(Easiest engine to change the timing belt on to... lol)

You're going to have enough poop to begin with (as you well know) , and even more poop with that turbo attached  :D

Blue is my favorite color ... hence ... I approve ! lol

 

I had looked out for 2.3 turbo cars/swaps for years .. years ago , and could never find the right deal.

Am watching this , and thanks for sharing looking forward to seeing pics of progress :D

I'm working on an 280zx turbo (L28et) engine to put in my 240z right now as well

 

BLUE

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yeah! turbo time!

 

glad it worked out getting it today.. you made quick work of getting it in the garage... lol

Yeah, I had the ol' ladie's brothers come over and push it in for me. It's amazing what two teenagers will do for some Taco Bell. I still have to go through all the parts in the back of this thing...

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There were those fenders ( one was a little rusted out ), a couple doors, a box of goodies ( Webber carb, fuel pump, a bunch of wiper arms, weather stripping, other crap ), the driveline, muffler and exhaust pieces, haggard seats and some hammered trim pieces... I just got the body harness outa this thing, I don't think the dash is coming out any time soon so that's gonna make life a bitch mounting my pedals ( the XR has a cable clutch and it's easier to keep it cable than to convert to hydro ). Mounting the trans looks like it's going to be a punch in the dick too.

 

On another note, does anyone have wiring diagrams for a 78 620? I'm gonna need to figure out lighting, and how I'm going to splice the XR harness into this. Thanks in advance.

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I had thought about doing that engine/trans setup, but they aren't so easy to find anymore.  The same goes for the buick GN motor.  The way the cross member is setup on the car I thought a rear sump engine would have made things a bit easier.  The SR has a lot of potential and a  strong aftermarket, but it's kind of a tight fit since the SR is a big four banger.

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Update time: Harness is out of the XR. There are still a few wires I need to chase down and find out where they go, but I think they are simply power signals from the ignition switch. It looks like someone replaced the coolant temp sensor at some point and put the wrong sensor in. This ECM has to have a specific senor to Merkur applications, and now i know why I was running lean in closed loop. I also learned that there is not a MAP sensor in this car. I don't like that. I found an ECM that i will be upgrading to in the future that has a MAP sensor built into the unit itself (I don't like relying on the VAM for most of my engine control). http://www.stinger-performance.com/universalparts.html

 

As I've been in the progress of installing the new harness into the pickup, I found that among my $30,000 tool set, I have a compressor that's shit. I would have been better off using the Ford's boost to run my air tools. I guess when you work in a shop, you take the compressor for granted and looking back I should have thought about purchasing more electric tools... Oh well, stab me in the ass i guess. Here are a few pictures of the harness.

 

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Can't wait to see this done...

 

I was thinking of putting my 2.3 Turbo from my rusty old auto-cross car in my '78 620 4X4. 

 

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Betcha' no one can guess what car this engine has been transplanted into???

 

 

I kinda wanted to use the 620 for a DD / Weekend off-roader. So I talked myself out of it...

 

 

The wiring is pretty easy. I've done a few ford EFI conversions. The pin-outs did change throughout the years, so be sure you have the correct model/year diagram. I was never happy with any of the piggyback systems for the EEC, but, that was years ago… I'm sure they've improved now. I used a Electromotive TEC 2. Much simpler, Fully programable, and no piggyback crap. Every so often they come up on eBay and go for around $250-$350.. If you haven't bought the piggyback system yet, this might be something to look into...

 

 

Will be keeping my eye on this build  :thumbup:

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  • 1 month later...

Awesome. I just picked up a '77 620 KC that I'm planning on doing this same swap in. My donor motor is from an '88 turbo coupe, but still the same thing. If you want any resource info on the 2.3L there is a plethora over at www.turboford.org

 

I'll be running a little behind you. I'm currently getting my L20 to limp along in to summer and then hopefully be able to work on the swap. In the middle of a job change right now that will be a huge reduction in pay, so I'll have to see how that plays out too.

Can't wait to see you make more progress so that I know what to avoid :D

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You can do it!!!!  fyi when you get to plumbing the clutch master cylinder you can use the stock one and just drill and tap that funky ford fitting on the slave. have been using mine for 3 years this way.... your in for a wild ride both during the build and after... Have Fun!!!!!

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  • 1 month later...

Just an update,

     This project is still under way. Moving very, VERY slowly. Having been on nights and limited hours to work and after having a couple hectic months of shootings and people going absolutely APE SHIT, I will be going back to day shift at the end of the month. This means i can make all the noise I want to and it wont wake people up. I should have more progress pictures posted in a couple weeks. 

 

Also, I did notice that I misspelled turbo. I am now coining a new word. I will be painting the word "Trubo" across the hood.  :thumbup:

-That is all.

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