Good day all,

I am from South Africa and I am new to this forum. Unfortunately I have no experience of any Datsun/Nissan vehicle and trust that I would be able to learn a lot from you guys.

I am planning on building either a small oldish Datsun sedan or Nissan Champ (the small pick-up as we know them in South Africa).

However, I am not sure what engine to select. I do know that I want a 2.0 liter angine and turbocharge it. I have searched the net for apparently good engines, but would like to know what other members think and if anyone has experience with any of these engines.

Nissan - SR20DET, SR20VET, FJ20ET.
Honda - F20C.
Toyota - 2ZZ-GE, 4A-GE (I know this is a 1.6 liter), 3S-GTE.

Thank you in advance.
Arno

nissan champ? i thought it was called the bakkie? or are we thinking of different utes?

Arno mate there is nothing to think about reliabilty performance and fun sr20det is the best option !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! goodluck!

Matbighat, you are 100% correct. We South Africans do call pick-ups a bakkie, but this one is marketed as a "Nissan Champ" sold with a 1400cc OHC Nissan engine. It is rated at approximately 500kg load carrying ability.

Datleb - how much reliable horsepower can I expect from an SR20DET? Also, are you able to assist with regards to such a transplant and modifications?

do a bit of searching with the search function , this has been covered numerous times before.
do a search on MADDAT, or maybe datsport????
may come up with some helpful info.

Arno:
If I may ask, what are your plans for the "champ" or the undesignated other small Datsun?

For a rwd turbocharged 2.0 liter engine, I can't help but say go SR20DET.

The plan with the vehicle is to build a sleeper, something to play around with and occasionally compete in drag races. Basically building a relatively quick car that can be used everyday (thus still be road legal).

Quote:Nissan in South Africa market the Ute in two versions. Basically there is a low cost 'workhorse' model & the other is a more flash & more expensive 'Show Pony' version.
One is the Bakkie & the other is the Champ. I think that the Bakkie is the plain Jane workhorse.

Hi Arno,
also from ZA here, don't use SA as the guys on the southern side of down under already uses that...

While I know that you are more inclined to go for the 2.0 option, I can only tell you what I've experienced. I'll try to make it as unbiased as possible.

My bro in law built a 1200 sedan(which is basically the same thing as the ute from the front doors forward), with a CA18DET. There is no space left in the engine compartment for much else than the engine and some pipes, and it seems to be far more work to do than say the 4A-GZE.

It involves changes to the transmission tunnel, cross member and engine mounts. The parts for these combinations(say the CA18DET) are also less plentiful, and most definitely far more expensive when you can get them.

To build a sleeper with the CA18DET/SR20DET, I'd say would be slightly more difficult, than say the 4A-GZE. This is mostly due to bulkyness. However as some excellent examples on this site has proven, the bigger engines can be hidden quite cunningly.

On the circuit I see a lot of 4A-GZE/GE's packing up, and not many CA18 and SR20's. But that may simply be because there is an overwhelmingly larger number of the Toyota engines installed.

We don't have the same problems with getting the large engines registered and road worthied, as our counterparts on the other side of the world. The brakes has to work, the steering must turn, there must be no oil leaks, and suspension components shouldn't have play. That's it, other than that you can probably fit two 5.7l V8's to a 1200 and they wouldn't mind.

I've seen a Mini fitted with a V8 running and roadwortied before...

It basically boils down to how purist you want to be, and what you want to achieve in the end.

My personal preference for the 1200/1400 sedan/ute is the Toyota 4A engine range. But if I ever build another car, I might decide to use a larger body with a SR/CA.

Cheers
Francois