I'm curious about the airbags, why?

Recently I was saying that the way to make a nice smooth riding datsun that still handled decently was airbags, so i know where you're coming from.

are you going to be 'mis-using' airbags or is it because it might work better?

Well, sign me up when you're done with the book....

I'm going to have to do some more research on swapping out the struts. I'm not interested in the coilover as I plan on doing the airbags. (Hopefully that's right. I am good at sounding retarded) Anyone done airbags on an old Datsun?

I'm going to add capacity for 20 gallons, that'll give me an ok range.

The back wheels are my original wheels that needed spacers to fit. After putting the 280zx struts and hub on those wheels didn't fit at all on the front. I think they needed like 3 inches backspacing to not hit the brakes. As is the 280zx wheels need 3/8" to clear the brakes, but if you use the OEM brakes that may not be an issue. the oem brakes are 3x more than you need and the wilwood calipers probably put you up to 4x more brakes than you need.

It took me about 2 years to get the struts on my car from when i bought them. But there weren't as many easily available parts, there are at least 4 sources for the coilover kit now, before maybe 1 or 2 mostly in AU.

I'm working on a sort of "hotrod your datsun 210" book like the ones for z cars, so I'm collecting info heavily at the moment.

And still run propane? You'd def. need to get that bigger tank you've been talking about.. :)

So the struts and all seems to be easy enough. I would do it just for the brakes alone. One other question pooped into my head too. The back wheels on your car... Do they have spacers or no? I think there's a few 280zx's sitting at a U-pull-it here in town. I'll have to go check it out. Probably a good idea to just go out there and start sourcing hard to find parts for a rainy day. Plus my garage will look cool with a bunch of parts and stuff laying around! Still need to get a solid list together of what I need so things can go as smoothly as possible.

re: 280zx struts, I didn't have to modify the chassis at all. The camber plates i got fit the strut tower.

those gv30's still sound good to me.

;) since i already have 240sx struts in 280zx tubes, i have the front end to handle a vg30 already. but might need slightly heavier springs, 200# might not be enough for that engine. what # were the front springs on a car that had the vg30?

I'd be using some sort of stand alone ECU on the thing or running it carburetted but on LPG still.

that would be cool, but i need a stronger rear axle first.

VG30E's are one of Nissan best engines in my opinion...they are pretty bullet proof and very torquey. We got them here in 300ZX (Z31) and 300C (Y30) otherwise know as a Cedric. The Cedric version is only 150bhp but it's in a car that wieght near on a ton and a half. I know a stock 300C wagon will run a low 16 second quarter which considering the weight is pretty respectable. The 300ZX version here is 178bhp. I have a friend with one fitted in a Datsun 810 (200B) and it goes well. The V6 is probably a bit more torquey than a KA24DE and a tiny bit heavier but one thing for sure..they sound awesome with open pipes

I've never know VG's to have any problem other than occasional noisy lifters, and running faults due to lack of maintanace (usually plugs as they are awkward to change so they get neglected). I have seen AFM's pack in working on them but generally they are very reliable units.

In the picture above the engine is still fitted with the Z31 plenum and exhaust manifolds, one of which crosses behind the heads. Over there you'd be able to get the S12 version of the V6 which has seperate down pipes each side and a different plenum. With that setup you could probably get the engine back much further.

As for the mounts...I figured there would be enough room to reinforce the frame rails and make mount brackets to accept normal engine mounts so you would have to solid mount it. I swapped the Z31 oil pan for a Y30 one and it cleared the stock B310 crossmember fine. I could probably get you one of those if you wanted.

The trans is basically the same as S13 and S14's use and is pretty trouble free. Avoid the Z31 turbo trans though as that's supposedly not that great. I think they have a reasonably tall 5th gear on normal 5 speeds, a bit like KA's. The auto's have ludicrously tall gearing.

Hotrod88, you've done this swap before? What other advice can you offer up for this swap as far as odd challenges or hurdles to getting this done? How about handling? Did the handling characteristics change a whole lot?

210Sleeper: When you installed your 280zx struts and stuff, were there a lot of modifications needed under the hood where it bolt up? I thought I saw a picture of it, but I couldn't really tell. Seems like maybe drilling holes for the plate?

that looks like a great fit.

engine mounts to the frame tails aren't a big deal if you want solid mounts.

I think if i were going to swap an engine it looks like that would be it. Every bit of weight possible would need to be moved to the back, i'd add weight to the back to get back to 51/49 with an engine like that.

so it's a 3 liter 6 cylinder, how many ft/lb? Is this the engine that every car i saw it in had caught fire? it was either this one or a toyota 3l 6cyl.

Tell me why these Vg30's are bad, Weight is one, what else is not good. What about vg30 5speed trannies?

I can't give you numbers but they are pretty hefty to say the least. They do sit well back in the enginebay in a B310 though and being a short engine I doubt the extra weight would be much of an issue. They aren't much longer than an A series. The firewall on a B310 is shaped perfectly to accomodate the VG and needs no cutting but the mounts are too far forward to be attached to the crossmember so they would need to be fabricated onto the chassis rails. Look at all that space in front of the engine! ...




-Ed

VG30 is relatively heavy. The "What Engine" tech section article has weights listed.

Yes, Eddy, good idea. In all countries it is a B310.