And Quinn, I'd probably have to hunt you down if you took a grinder to any part of the 2 door!

Even cutting out the battery tray would reduce it's value in my eyes...!

Would you like to swap it for my coupe shell?

Tim

Escorts have small tunnels in them and 5spd sierras fit in them. And they will handle the power. A stock SR20 is only about 140hp, maybe an S13 one is a bit more, but no more than 150-160hp I'd guess. Less than a really hot 2L OHC Ford anyway.
If it ever was a problem (which I doubt) Quaife make gearsets for the type 9 which are rated at 190 and 270hp.
So don't cut it up!!! There's always more than one way to skin a cat...
also with the battery tray, what I did with my zed was drill out the spot welds holding it in, to get it out to paint it with PA10 and get the top coats right in and under and behind the tray, and put it back in with small cad plated bolts. No one has ever noticed.
So you could bolt the tray back in your car later if you wanted. Cutting the radiator support is reversible by replacing the whole panel again later on, but I would try not to do that. The alloy radiators on new cars are so thin you might be able to fit one in.
Cutting the radiator support panal and cutting the guards to fit flares are the two things I regret doing to my car. And mine is just a rusty old coupe!

Removing the battery tray by unstitching the spot welds should be just fine as this is something that can be refitted without any real drama. It is not a structural part of the body either, but the tunnel is.

call me conservative but its good to hear im not the only one lothe to chop up the 2door. Ive been looking at radiators and I think the alloy one out of a EXA 90s (front driver) with a sr20 is skinniny enough and short enough that I wont have to chop the front pannel. I will hear from the guy with the s14 in the week end and keep you posted.
Cheers for all your imput
Quinn

Well, I guess 2 door Sedans are as hard to come by in Australia/New Zealand as they are in Japan. I really haven't seen barely any. That's all they sold in the USA in addition to the coupe so a 2 door isn't as much of a big deal to some of us....guess it's all about location! Same goes for the 510, but the US did get both 4 door, 2 door, and wagons in that model. What I wouldn't do for a 1200 Wagon!!!

I am keeping the very such good condition panel "in stock" for when the time comes when I feel guilty and have the urge to chase the stock 1200 idea again.. But I've got a stocker 1200.. and my conscience is clear.

If anyone in Australia ever needs a front radiator panel in the next 10 years, give me a call. I probably won't need it.

Quote:

The one 2 door I have seen here in Christchurch was being chopped up to fit a CA18DET when I last saw it. If I were you I would keep it original and maybe use another Datto 1200 if you want to use the SR. I do not think you would regret keeping it original but if you chop it, well there's no going back and then there is room for regret...

We have a few guys running SR's in 1200 coupe's here in IPRA.... Our rules state that you are not allowed to cut the transmission tunnel. I don't know what boxes they are using, but both are well above standard horsepower, in fact one of them in Adelaide just broke the lap record recently at Mallala for IPRA cars - It's in turbo form.



Heres a link to the car in Adelaide.

http://www.iprasa.mx.com.au/cars/allan.htm

There is no way you can fit an sr20 in ya datto with out major mods if ya can your a legend.

The manual box in my car (S13 180sx box) has lasted 2 engines 2.5 years and 1.5 diffs of abuse (alot! I drive it every day) its pretty strong.
Engine is stock (s13 180sx sr20de) goes hard and is a good conversion.
There is so many mods to make it practical though so if ya guna do it do it properly in something you can chop up and re fabricate to make it practical.
But if ya do put it in the 2door the amount of work to change it back would be nearly impossible.

PS. I recon the auto sr20 in a datto would go sick (good) and would be one less hole you have to cut. and the auto 1200 tunnels are bigger cause i got one.

Drive safely!

i just posted my pics up in a different thread... its possible... and the SR gearbox into my 1200 ute was a mission... but in saying that it wasnt that hard either...

http://www.datsun.co.nz/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=91 <<< story so far + links to pics