jaymac Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 Guys I have a 67" 520 truck running the 1300cc engine, what other engines slot in there please? Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 J15 and J18 bolt right in Quote Link to comment
XXL Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 J-series other than the 1300 are probably going to be hard to find in the US. L-series and other common Datsun motors of the era just won't fit unless you're willing to cut up your firewall. Buy another car to go fast and enjoy putting around in your 67hp 1300. Quote Link to comment
Cahoon520 Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 I dint have to cut up my firewall to get the sd 22 into it. Quote Link to comment
XXL Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 I dint have to cut up my firewall to get the sd 22 into it. Point taken, but my gut feeling of the OP's post was that he was probably looking for more power. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 You can get an L20b in it, or even an LZ23, but it is tight, I'm talking about less than a quarter inch between the engine and the firewall, and the same quarter inch between the stock fan and the radiator. I did it without cutting anything except a lip/seam on the upper firewall, and after I finished, I could have done it without cutting that seam/lip, barely. You will also have to modify the heater core outlets or move the heater box, as there is not enough room between the engine and firewall for the hoses to come out in the stock places. There is a guy locally that dropped a VG30 into his 320, if that can be done, then it will fit into a 520, but it took him a few years to get it done. Quote Link to comment
jaymac Posted February 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Thanks for response guys.. TBH I was looking for just a little more power not an immense amount maybe a 1600cc on a pair of carbs. Problem is I'm in the UK so even harder to find J series. Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 I would think the UK would be easier to find J15s (they were used there throughout the 70s) but an MGB engine will fit and almost look right (or you could put the MG carbs on the J13, the manifold pattern to the head is identical) Quote Link to comment
XXL Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 I would really like to find a bigger J-motor for my truck... but they are almost nonexistent in the US since they were never here. However, I am told that they sometimes show up in forklifts... but that they're usually completely worn out because they have a zillion hours on them... otherwise they just stay in the forklift and run some more. I think the problem with a full MG conversion would be transmission/gearing. While the engine might be easy enough to fit, and fabbing whatever mounts are needed, you'd probably have to also use the MG transmission, so then you'd be re-engineering all the linkages, shifter, and then might have to worry about gearing (or maybe not, various MGs and the 520 are probably both of similar weight). Just rambling. Carry on. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Don't buy a J15 off eBay. And don't swap a Datsun 5-speed onto the MGB engine. Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Gearing isn't much of an issue. 4th is still 1-1. The 520s 4.88 rears make up for the car-type 1-3 the Datsun had anyway. If you do swap to an MG engine, it'd probably be floor shift. Quote Link to comment
Rushnracin Posted February 16, 2014 Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 J13 engine swap? Very tough finding rebuild parts for 1300 I've done it. I purchased dat. 210 and pulled a14 and 5 speed way easier to find parts. a 5 speed is a bonus. Not installed yet. Running j motor still. Also have xtra running j13. Many options. Good luck with your project Quote Link to comment
jaymac Posted March 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2014 Anyone know what engine code a Bluebird Turbo is? Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted March 2, 2014 Report Share Posted March 2, 2014 What year? Z18ET, I think in 1980 or so. Quote Link to comment
TotallyWrecked Posted October 1, 2022 Report Share Posted October 1, 2022 Can you put a 1600 motor into the 520? Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 2, 2022 Report Share Posted October 2, 2022 L16? yes. If the L16 is from a 521 or maybe the 620 because the truck oil pan is shaped to fit a truck. Car L16 oil pans won't work. You have to relocate the J13 engine mounts to the rear on the frame to fit the 1600. And it's a tight fit. Quote Link to comment
TotallyWrecked Posted October 2, 2022 Report Share Posted October 2, 2022 So I’m getting a lot of good info. Some are recommending the ka24e as an option, how much work would that take? I have a hot rod buddy out in California who’s begging me to let him drop an LS1 in it but I don’t know if that’s so absurd but it sounds fun. trying to be cost conscious here too. Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted October 3, 2022 Report Share Posted October 3, 2022 22 hours ago, TotallyWrecked said: So I’m getting a lot of good info. Some are recommending the ka24e as an option, how much work would that take? I have a hot rod buddy out in California who’s begging me to let him drop an LS1 in it but I don’t know if that’s so absurd but it sounds fun. trying to be cost conscious here too. "Dropping" an LS in it will result in a sub-par job. To make it nice will take weeks of fabrication, wiring, plumbing... I am in the business of building custom vehicles for paying clients and I feel that this kind of work is not only simple, but fun too. I do have empathy for guys who want more than they can afford and I always tell them that most of the work is just time, and if you have to pay for the time, then it's almost never worth it. Quote Link to comment
TotallyWrecked Posted October 3, 2022 Report Share Posted October 3, 2022 2 hours ago, Stoffregen Motorsports said: "Dropping" an LS in it will result in a sub-par job. To make it nice will take weeks of fabrication, wiring, plumbing... I am in the business of building custom vehicles for paying clients and I feel that this kind of work is not only simple, but fun too. I do have empathy for guys who want more than they can afford and I always tell them that most of the work is just time, and if you have to pay for the time, then it's almost never worth it. Oh apologies for verbiage. My buddy owns Wrong Era Customs which isn't too far from you. He does incredible work, and yes TIME, time is the pain and the benefit of these considerations. The pain, I am converting what was once an all original parts 520 into a Ratsun, but the j13 is trashed an L16 is going to have the same pain points as a bigger upgrade and if I'm going to basically spend the same money for a ka24e swap or an LS swap. I think it becomes what's going to be the most fun for the long term. and I'm blessed to have long chicago winters to build my patience, I figured if I wanted something done right it was going to take a year either way. but please this is exactly why I've taken to the forums here. I want to know, I want to make the best decision. 1 Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted October 3, 2022 Report Share Posted October 3, 2022 LS = 🤢 I would do a KA swap. Simple and way more power then a 521 needs. They are scary with the stock motor and king pin suspension. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 3, 2022 Report Share Posted October 3, 2022 If a KA swap and even more so for an LS the 520 brakes will not save you. They will need a massive up grade. In addition the differential is 4.875 so again that will need something in the 3.70 or lower. EFI will need a high pressure fuel pump and install a return line and all the electronics connected. The KA will also need the attached 5 speed, shortened drive shaft and modified transmission mount. L series four cylinders also include the L18 and the L20B. If going to L16 might as well build a 2 liter L20B. It's also carburetor so just some plumbing. D21 Hardbody truck KAs can easily enough be converted to carburetor and an L20B distributor put on. 2 minutes ago, Icehouse said: They are scary with the stock motor and king pin suspension. No shit. 1 Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted October 3, 2022 Report Share Posted October 3, 2022 30 minutes ago, datzenmike said: If a KA swap and even more so for an LS the 520 brakes will not save you. They will need a massive up grade. In addition the differential is 4.875 so again that will need something in the 3.70 or lower. EFI will need a high pressure fuel pump and install a return line and all the electronics connected. The KA will also need the attached 5 speed, shortened drive shaft and modified transmission mount. L series four cylinders also include the L18 and the L20B. If going to L16 might as well build a 2 liter L20B. It's also carburetor so just some plumbing. D21 Hardbody truck KAs can easily enough be converted to carburetor and an L20B distributor put on. No shit. Had to add that, for those who haven't driven theirs yet. I daily drove one while living in Seattle. Few lots of close calls. Quote Link to comment
TotallyWrecked Posted October 3, 2022 Report Share Posted October 3, 2022 Thanks everyone. So additional research yeilds the possibility of the 12a rotary as an option as well. and was reading about a 520 with a 302 in it that wasn't too painful apparently. The KA is still an interesting swap, especially with keeping it carbed. but I think I'm hearing the same points both ways? both need major modifications to the differentials, firewall cutting, driveshafts, mounts, and brakes. Id like to avoid EFI alltogether. but , and I just want to reiterate, if the amount of work and time is almost the same, why choose one over the other? Quote Link to comment
Icehouse Posted October 3, 2022 Report Share Posted October 3, 2022 Wait avoid EFI? That's the best part of a motor swaps. Starting and running perfect all year round is the best. Plus you can always add a turbo with EFI. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 3, 2022 Report Share Posted October 3, 2022 Agree but when there is a problem you can't diagnose and fix with a piece of fence wire and a screwdriver on the side of the road. Quote Link to comment
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