Hi I'm new to this and have 2 Datsun 160Y coupes. One is a standard with L16 and twin Nikkeis and the other I've fitted a CA18DET engine and 5 speed Nissan SX box. However the brakes need some serious attention and I would like to replace the front strut assemblies with either Skyline or Stanza parts. Anyone got any ideas as to which will fit with least pain and any other tips?

Howard Durban South Africa

Yours probably has the HD suspension from the 610 SSS (180B/160U SSS) but with small diameter coils.

280ZX strut swap is what is done here, gaining large vented disks and very short struts suitable for lowered cars.

We've never seen photos of twin Nikkis -- can you post a photo? Most 1600s here came with single Nikki. Our twin carb engines came with twin Hitachis.

The 280ZX swap is a simple, well-documented swap. See photos and overview at 280ZX Strut Swap. It is written for 1200 (and 120Y) so differs a bit compared to the L16-powered B210.

Quote:The Stanza swap doesn't gain you much. The Stanza brakes are a bit better, but the struts are nearly same as what you have now (tall 2.0" struts).

Skyline gives you many choices. R30/R31 has been done, but it's not a great swap, requires a ring spacer and reportedly has positive camber change (instead of the desired negative camber).

S13/S14 has been done, too. See Strut swaps.

I'm not sure how the GB210/610 upgrades to newer struts are done. Might be worth asking the 1600 fans. The only upgrade I'm familiar with for the 1600 is the 280ZX struts/brakes.

Datsun 240 K model C210 will fit they are big stub axle 3.5" spacing for the caliper mounts and a thicker (10mm) disk compared to your 8mm thick disk that is about an inch smaller.

They will accept Sumitomo four piston brakes from the front of an early Toyota hilux that ran solid disks, there are a few disks that can be adapted to these struts such as later Golf, Mistubishi Magna, Verada , Nissan 280zx and from memory some honda prelude models witha bit of mucking about.

If you run 20mm thick vented disks at 260mm diameter they will fit inside 13 inch mag wheels also.
the later Skyline models with the 2.4 L series engines ran a 270mm disk and the caliper mounts were located further out for the bigger diameter and will not be useable with anything less than 14 inch wheels.

These struts stopped many a big power datsun 1600 rally car in Australia with a couple of hundred horsepower 2.4 litre L series engines with the right brakes adapted to them the stub section of the early 240 K was exactly the same dimensionally as the works Stanza, 160J Violet HA10 models except the works cars used nice spun cast 260mmx20mm disks and Sumitomo 4 Spots borrowed from the Nissan President Limo's.

Thank you so much for the info. I have tried to attache the photos of the twin Nikkeis as they were fitted by the factory on these models here in South Africa. I bought the car with 40 Webbers on but had the Nikkeis in a box and they went on and it runs like a dream.

Howard

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  L16 Engine with Twin Nikkeis.jpg (76.11 KB)


  L16 Engine with Twin Nikkeis 02.jpg (76.77 KB)

Ha! I think these are Nikkeis!! I will have to check!!

Look for this symbol on the carbies