Main Menu

Home News Forum Photo Album Tech Wiki Downloads Web Links Polls FAQ Members Map

Fast Search

Slow Search

Advanced Search

Google Ad

Revision as of 09:39, 12 January 2016

SR20DET-powered Datsun 1200 coupe. 'Nuf said.

1 Overview
2 Donor
3 1200 Prep
4 Engine Trial Fitting
5 Matsuoka
6 Cooling System
7 Exhaust
8 Intercooler
9 Fuel System
10 Transmission
11 Brake System
12 Differential
13 Upgrades

Overview

Club member AFRacer built one of the first SR20 Turbo 1200s back in 2004-2005. He used an automatic-tunneled 1200 to make the fit easy.

Build Thread: SR20DET into 1200 Coupe Project

Looking good with S30 fender mirrors
album

Hakosuka-style Air dam
album

Engine out
album

SR20DET DOHC Fuel-Injected donk in
album

Donor

S13 "180SX" is a Silvia Coupe (RS13) bought at auction 25 February 2004
album

* $1400, runs and drives
* 5-speed car

SR20DET
album

The red 180SX turned out to be TOO GOOD for a parts donor. Andy decided to keep it and part out his daily driver 1993 180SX
album

Engine still in RS13, 3 April 2004
album

1200 Prep

Start with one A-series powered Datsun 1200
album

1500-powered
album

Getting it ready - 8 May 2004
album

Remove the A15 engine, note the A15 motor mounts
album

Engine Trial Fitting

The SR20 actually dropped into the auto-tunnel 1200 pretty easy, I took the sway bar out to make things a little easier, although the engine just barely fits inside the aftermarket 7/8" thick sway bar. The GREAT news is that I can use the stock turbo location and outlet pipe!

14 May 2004
album

Also see article: SR Crossmember

Firewall clearance SR20DET
album

Room enough, Engine can go back another inch
album

Rear. Here's a pic from behind the engine in a automatic tunneled 1200. The coolant lines running behind the engine should be run elsewhere to allow more space behind the engine. Also the brake and fuel lines need to be redone from at least half way back so they're not inside the tranny tunnel

Left side. Plenty of room for headers, put a shield next to brake cylinder
album

Oil pan fits inside the sway bar like it was made for the 1200!

Clearance of steering gearbox on LDH 1200

Plenty of room - everything on the engine in the picture is stock except for the headers
album

Matsuoka

trucked down to Matsuoka to get exhaust and wiring

Cooling System

Remove radiator extension and battery tray
album

Stock 180SX radiator fits PERFECTLY in the 1200
album

The length of the SR20 is what can bite you in the butt if you're not careful and you will want to keep the radiator and intercooler as THIN as reasonably possible so you can also fit in a slim electric fan.

water outlet off the engine will be cut and reweld it so it points 90 degrees straight up instead of straight forward into the radiator (although maybe a FWD SR20 water outlet -- which goes straight out -- might work too)
album

will probably also have to re-route some of the coolant hoses on the SR20 engine too....they're routed all funky and behind the block for the heater and turbo inlets. I just took all that piping off and will route it differently anyway.

Exhaust

You can use the stock (or aftermarket) turbo outlet pipe AND front 2/3rd's or so of the 180SX exhaust pipe! This is awesome! After that front part you'll have to customize your own exhaust to mate it to that, but it helps to already have about 2 feet of the hardest part done!

Intercooler

High-boost Forced Induction systems need an intercooler, lest the heat of compression destroy the engine.

Intercooler, 26x9" air-to-air type fits between the grille and the radiator
album

About the biggest intercooler you could fit in front of the radiator without a load of cutting is about an 18" wide core (about 26" TOTAL length MAX) and I wouldn't go much more than 13" high as you will start to interfere with the hood latch mechanism. And for depth, try to keep it under 3" thick. Most intercoolers are 3" thick and if you can get one thinner than that (2" - 2.75") it will only make the job easier with less cutting and less protrusion into the engine bay.

album

Fuel System

The fuel system will consist of a high volume low pressure electric pump (Holley) sucking out of the gas tank into a surge tank, then the Walbro will suck out of the Surge Tank to the engine.

5/16" fuel line is plenty enough for the SR20. The SR20DET runs 5/16 stock, and is well capable of over 400 rwhp.

Walbro 255LPH inline fuel pump, high pressure for EFI and plenty of volume for high horsepower
album

Surge tank made from stock coupe tanklet
album

Holley Red electric pump mounted on the frame rail behind the right rear tire to put gas into the surge tank inside where the fuel evaporator tanklet used to be. Then just below that (gravity feed) I'll mount the EFI Walbro pump with a Z32 fuel filter in front of it, and then I've got to mount new 5/16" fuel line from back to front twice for the return line as well. Keep in mind you're going to need just about 12 feet for each line, so 24-25 feet total minimum, and don't forget to use EFI specific fuel line and clamps -- standard fuel line won't hold up to the pressure!

The Holley Red fuel pump will mount behind the right rear tire. There is a metal mud/stone deflector there to protect the rubber filler hose. I removed that piece and there is plenty of room for the Holley to mount to the frame sideways. will then reconstruct the stone guard out of aluminum and mount that in front of the fuel pump to protect it from rocks and LOTS of hot rubber.

album

The stock fuel and brake lines are routed through the transmission tunnel, which is already pretty crowded and the stock lines are too small anyway, so you'll have to install all new lines and route them differently.

Transmission

The automatic tranny tunnel is big enough for the 180SX 5 speed, but it looks like it might be pretty tight at the rear on the sides...if anything a very slight amount of cutting and rewelding on the tunnel might be necessary, but not a big deal.

The engine and transmission can be installed and removed together as one unit -- it can be raised up from underneath, after the crossmembers are removed. So keep that in mind when you do your conversion! HINT: Make sure you put a NEW or resurfaced flywheel, clutch, pilot bushing, and throwout bearing in the first time!

The starter and upper transmission bolts will have to be installed with transmission lowered, before the tranny mount is bolted to the car. Even with the auto tunnel, it's still a tight fit, but really not any worse than a 180SX is.

Gearbox mount details: post 51

Cut a hole yet for the SR20 shifter which sits further back where the tunnel gets a lot smaller. So, I cut out the metal inside the car, which ended up being a bit. Also had to bang/bend the tunnel just a little on the sides, no big deal. I need to trim a little more, but it looks pretty good so far.

Brake System

The SR swap only adds a few hundred lbs to the car, so it doesn't necessarily require bigger brakes. However you will likely be going faster, so it's a good idea to upgrade the brakes. Use a large diameter rotor to increase braking leverage while reducing pedal force needed -- the S13 Brakes swap is the easiest way.

280ZX front suspension/brakes is the way to go for lowering + brakes upgrade at the same time.

rear disk brake setup for 82-83 280ZX

Differential

Ute rearend assembly with LSD to handle the power with driveshaft customized to fit the 71C gearbox.

Upgrades

Greddy style intake, Nismo 555 cc injectors, Nismo fuel pressure regulator, and S15 T28 ball bearing turbo
album

album

Top-mount exhaust, not needed for a 1200
album

4.5" exhaust pipe, not needed
album

Z32 MAFS with Tomei wire adapter S15 ball bearing turbo Rocker Arm stoppers Greddy style intake manifold Stainless steel 80mm outlet pipe Blitz Dual SBC (boost controller) Enjuku tuned ECU Large FMIC NISMO 555cc injectors and regulator Open element air filter No accessories/fan, only water pump and alternator being driven.

I'm looking at buying a set of Tomei PonCams (256 or 264) and Greddy underdrive pulleys too.

This engine puts out 215 rwhp with stock everything, and with the above components this combination is good for about 300 rwhp and a whole lotta nasty low end with that S15 turbine.

stainless steel turbo outlet pipe/dump pipe
stainless steel braided lines for the turbo (oil and coolant)
Nismo engine and transmission mount rubber insulators
BEAUTIFUL (and expensive...$380) Unorthodox Ultra SS Underdrive Pulleys

Retrieved from "http://datsun1200.com/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=AFRacer"

AFRacer

Revision as of 09:39, 12 January 2016

Contents

Overview

Donor

1200 Prep

Engine Trial Fitting

Matsuoka

Cooling System

Exhaust

Intercooler

Fuel System

Transmission

Brake System

Differential

Upgrades