33Datsun Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 i am new to this... i have been looking to starting a new project 73-74 Datsun 620 my idea is to shorten the bed 1-2 feet (on a shortbed) yes on a short bed. changing suspension to an independent suspension ( also looking to add air ride system) and an engine swap with high mpg.. ( Honda crx engine ) any advise willing to take in consideration if you know a shop that can assist with the fabrication near S. Cali in area of Los Angeles would be great.. any input chopping bed.... swapping suspension.... engine swap.. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 Sounds like you don't even have a truck yet. Go to the DMV and see what the laws are concerning engine swaps on pre emission check vehicles. I suspect it will have to be smogged if a newer than '75? engine is used. Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 I'm not sure which is more ridiculous, the crx engine choice or mike saying to ask the DMV about engine swapping into a pre smog truck... Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 The truck may be pre smog but an engine transplant may not. Worth asking about.... it's California so... if there's a way of screwing you the smog laws are it. Quote Link to comment
33Datsun Posted October 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 like i said in my question.. i need an high mpg engine.. if you think crx is ridiculous then what would you advice... not looking for racing looking for daily driver for work 100-150 miles per day 6 days a week. Not worried about swap, since its a pre swap. i have had 60's cars and have done swap and no issues before.. i just have not done one on Datsun and don't know where to begin.. Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 What MPG are you looking to get? Quote Link to comment
33Datsun Posted October 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 high 30's the closer to 40 the better.. i need to carry equipment that wont fit on old car, and will be driving furter Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 Everyone needs to keep in mind that there is a lot of old American sheet metal down there with modern engines in them(big V8s), how are they getting away with it in California? I would not ask the DMV anything, I would ask the ones that have done it and follow suit. So he owns a Datsun and came to a Datsun site and asked, let us let the ones that know answer to the question answer the question. Quote Link to comment
33Datsun Posted October 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 @wayno Thank you.. that is the main reason i am here to ask for advice and to give me ideas and info so i can start on planing the project Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 The answer is you don't talk to the DMV. After registering the vehicle in your name you never deal with them again aside from paying registration every year. Period. If Datsun owners in CA took Mike's advice there would be about 90% less Datsuns registered in CA. CRX engine is mounted transverse, and, assuming you want the B16, there is no rwd longitudinal transmission option, not to mention it and most other Honda motors spin the wrong way for a typical rear end. Could it be done? Sure, but your post doesn't strike me as an unlimited budget build with a lot of high dollar one-off parts. You'd be better off just starting with an f20c if Honda is your end game. IRS in these trucks has been done at least a handful of times so you can search those builds out. 1 Quote Link to comment
33Datsun Posted October 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 @thisismatt Thanks for the information, will be looking at options you have mentioned.. anything on chopping bed.. yeah i would never ask dmv anything.. reason for me going pre smog Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 If its 75 and below no smog needed in Calif. What's ur budget? U have a place to work on this truck? How's ur fab and mechanical skills? Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 You want high mpg, run an L16, fuel injected, with a really good economy map. And a 5 speed. Match that with a properly selected rear end gear and a good tire size. But running a crx motor won't work without fwd swapping the truck. By the time you spend the money to do that job, you could have driven a vehicle that only got 17 mpg for 15 years and spent the same amount of money. Don't step over a dollar to pick up a dime. 1 Quote Link to comment
33Datsun Posted October 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 i do have a place to work on it.. No fab skills reason for asking for a shop.. i have a friend that is an expert welder and can do anything on cars but is too busy been waiting on him for weeks to give me a starting point and nothing yet... budget was 5 to 7 but that does not look possible, unless i start youtubing the fab work myself.. i have a master mechanic that will be assisting when it comes to swap... he is more of traditionalist, does not like swap, but is willing to assist with technical stuff (electrical and getting it running) he just does not fab any work Quote Link to comment
33Datsun Posted October 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 thanks for info... for honda would go fwd and eliminate rwd... @Lockleaf will look into the info you gave me, really go to do my homework.. at least i have a start, thanks everyone all info helps out Quote Link to comment
Ranman72 Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 ka24de been done many times 25 to 30 or so mpg good horsepower and torque if you must go with a non nissan motor s2000 has a great power plant great horse power and i dont know about the fuel mileage if you have done many swaps then you know where to begin get a truck then find a suitable power plant that fits in the engine bay just my 2 cents Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 thanks for info... for honda would go fwd and eliminate rwd... @Lockleaf will look into the info you gave me, really go to do my homework.. at least i have a start, thanks everyone all info helps out Will require an extreme amount of fabrication to convert the truck to fwd. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 The L16 should give fairly good mileage. An engine that gives better in a car may not give the same in a truck. For one the 620 has a 4.375 differential and it's RWD. Probably cheaper to buy a Subaru or something with fold down seats cargo area in it. RWD engine swap. Need transmission also, is clutch hydraulic? Should swap the differential for something more MPG friendly Must convert to EFI, wiring, fuel pump Convert to internally regulated alternator Custom rad? electric fan? One off engine and transmission mounts Does oil pan fit? Drive shaft length mods What side is exhaust on? Probably never been done before so everything will be first time and unknown. This is not a good idea and with dubious outcome for mileage goals. Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 dude just forget this thought!!!!!!!!! to many varibles in your situation already 5K wont get you anywhere on this 1 Quote Link to comment
distributorguy Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 The 620 is a brick. It will NEVER get 35-40 mpg, unless you drive it like a Prius and stay under 40 mph. It has 20 square feet of frontal area, most of which ranges from 45 degrees to flat vertical. Its not aerodynamic. And with the quantity of fabrication you want done, you realize you could buy a used Prius for 1/8 the money this project will cost, right? Even then it will leave you disappointed. How about just buying a rotary Mazda pickup? Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 Sounds like you don't even have a truck yet. Go to the DMV and see what the laws are concerning engine swaps on pre emission check vehicles. I suspect it will have to be smogged if a newer than '75? engine is used. Or don't. Less information is better at CA DMV. They aren't worried so much about engine swaps here in CA as they are about chassis swaps. If it's old enough, any engine can be swapped in. Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 I'm curious. What are your actual goals? Small truck, with great mpg? Lots of cargo capacity and great mpg? What goals led you to decide a 620 with a fwd 1.5L swap was the best solution? When i read your plans for independent suspension, shortened bed, fwd, It draws a very different picture to me. One that is much more easily accomplished. Subaru brat with FWD transmission swap. Now you have a SHORT bed vintage Japanese truck, already has 4 wheel independent suspension, will get ok mileage with fwd trans and won't cost $5k to get on the road. If you want better mileage then other Subie motors can offer that. Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 buy a import 1200 truck Quote Link to comment
Rjawm Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 I know that what follows is not what you wanted to hear... I get that you really want to make this out of a classic Datsun so it fits your needs and your desire for looks, and although I do agree with Lockleaf about the Brat being a good fit, they are somewhat hard to find from what I've been told by Subaru friends, so the long and short of it, if you are dead set on a modified vehicle it would make way more sense to truck a Civic to fulfill your needs than to heavily modify a 620 to fit. The plans you have for modifying a 620 require extensive fabrication skills and a lot, I mean a lot, of money. Plus it sounds like you have a timeline where you want this sooner rather than later. That said, I really think starting with a Civic and "trucking" it would in the end be a better choice to fits your needs. It would already have the FWD platform, already get good MPG's, already be a short wheelbase, once "trucked" it would have the shortened bed you're after, and all that is required is the much shorter and easier to complete fabrication of the new rear wall. There were even a few pics out there of clean looking conversions, but of course those pics are hosted on Photobucket so I can't link them here. Google civic truck and you'll find them. Feel free to completely ignore my post and do whatever you want, just thought I should throw in my 2 cents lol Oh, and the obvious easy button, but higher buy in, is a VW Caddy with the diesel. 2 Quote Link to comment
DaBlist Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 let us let the ones that know answer to the question answer the question. But internet? Quote Link to comment
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