hey guys i had a discussion with a group of mates over datsuns if modifed is better than standard ones?
basicly is it worth modifiying a datsun 1200 to a ca18det when you could just buy a silvia and if the power to weight is what your after then a big ass v8 with 1000 hp is pleanty i assume.

i would like to know what are project builder thoughts and why they came to engine swaps?

cheers rick

for me it was never about the power or power to weight...

i just loved the look of the little 1200 utes, then of course you want a nice engine to go with a car that you like looking at, so the next logical thing to do is throw a CA into the engine bay..

I've seen some nice 1200's with standard or 1500 engines in them, and they are nice.. but how much better is it when you hear the turbo spooling on an engine and then you turn around and see this little ute flying by... :)

But thats just my opinion...

I second that. It's more about the car and then having a bit more power (for me) - Although I am going to most of the expense and putting in an auto 'cause I'm getting lazy in my old age.

Rick, I wrestle with this constantly:

I think it depends on what you do with your 1200, for years I left the A12 in the car because the group (SCCA) I raced with didn't have allowances for engine swaps, after that it was a matter of keeping the car vintage race legal but now that I only have 1 local race a year and the other 4 weekends are track days the urge to slap a rotary or Hayabusa engine in it is great but then it comes down to this....................right now I could buy an 86 RX7 with all the goodies on it for $1000, buy a cage kit, strip it down and for about $2500 have a car with 150HP weighing in at 2000lbs..........while not super fast it would take at least double that cash in my 1200 to get anywhere near the lap times. I can also put together a MX-5 Miata sporting about 175HP and 2000lbs for about 5K.

The reality is that given the 1200's narrow track I'd want to upgrade the suspension beyond what's basically the C-sedan set-up on this site. This would drive the cost up around the 10-12K mark. Right now my car builder friend can put together a 1200lb 250 horsepower sports racer for about 12-15K, our 900lb 175hp D-sports Racer was over 30 seconds a lap faster than the 1200 on a 2.4 mile 18 turn road course.

BUT the thing that draws me to an engine swap in a 1200 is the hooligan factor, lets take a economy car and make it hound M3's and 911's at track days. Last year when I instructed at a NSX track day we were given free track time as payment, even though I was running with intermediate drivers and not a fair comparison, it was still good fun passing guys in NSX's with a sub 100 horsepower.......heaven forbid if it had 150HP rotary.

Finally you can only get so much power out of an A-Series before it starts getting reeeeeally expensive, so why not put some modern bits in it and still keep the reliability..................swaps make total sense if you don't have a rulebook or regulation stopping you.

Tom

looks and power to weight

i love datsun 1200's cause there datsun 1200's doesnt matter if it has 30hp or 500hp

i think its more a hobbie, something to do and show ppl that you made this to your liking, having a car thats over 40yrs old in top condition is something to look at and spooling up n blowing off would be sex..

but you will easily spend 15k on a car to get it road ready which is the down side, then you got enginnering...

i guess if your datsun is a 2-5 year project then money is not a big issues as you can save for years.

is n/a sr20de a better swap than a ca18det?

its not like the 1200's need heaps of power, thats why i went L series, more torque and power than a15.

also parts availability too as heaps of 1600's etc out there.

i think stock has its place, not may dasuns will be mint stockers. i think they are a car to play with- or used to be when they were more affordable. now they cost more than a 2nd hand huyundai excell!

i like playing with something other than myself as its more productive, and i learn stuff.
driving it is always a bonus, especially when it makes me smile with its fun power curves compared to an a series.

ca or more would be beyond my driving abilities too, another reason for a low costish older style motor.

each to thier own- mine will never be a show car, so i will enjoy it while i can.

in my opinion i would leave my datsun 120y stock the way it is and try keep it till i live like keeping a bit of history from the past!

if i wanted a 1000hp drifter i would buy a supra with a 2jz and modify it ( twin turbo) hahaha!

in my dreams! lol

It all comes down to personal taste.