Quote:In California you can put a small black chevy in a 1981 starlet. As long you have all the emission controls and meet the emission levels of the newer unit.

But Australia states will not allow it at all. For "safety" reasons, rather than emission reasons. California is the land of its own car market for emission regulations.

The lucky country?
I have an A31 Cefiro roller parked up, that I'm very seriously considering dropping a SBM into. Car owes me almost nothing. Engine (rebuilt with XE274 cam, LD4B inlet, oversized valves and home porting) will probably come in at under $1500. I got a non hicas rear subframe, a locked up R200, and a brand new pair of slicks. I rteckon for a total outlay of around $3k (Give or take) it should cut 13's.

Also, I've seen a late 60's dodge dart running a 4g63T that was cutting low 10's or high 9's. Thats pretty impressive. I saw if it's fast, build it!
I'll just have to see how I'm feeling once I finish bolting the engine togther, as to whether or not I go through with it.

Quote:Except in Australia where the government tells you what is allowed ...

I was having a good think over lunch and i think more the thing that stands out on these sorts of builds is when you take an absolute classic like for example a 66 Nova or the holden HQ monaro.

And you see someone putting a forced induction setup onto a Japanese engine into one of these cars, when you can look for old japanese or european car instead. They have a certain finesse to match the engine.

Instead of leaving the car in that original pristine state in which these older car's need.

But in saying that we have everyone here completing Datsun build's from the 1970's with SR20's, CA18's and FJ engines but still in my mind it has that certain finesse to the car, as a Japanese Build.

At the end of the day tho as CGS1948 stated
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And that really is the main thing for the car enthusiast you build the car in the way you want it to be. Without the customization of the car industry their would be nothing but stock car's rolling around.

As we all know, The development of the Datsun is the journey and nothing brings more joy and satisfaction. The Datsun world as a whole is a better place because of those whose effort, time, and dedication save these cars along the way.

Whatever engine a person wants to put in their car is their own choice and they have to live with it. When it comes to the lttle 1200, it doesn't take much to get them down the road, and a healthy lightweight four is the best route to go.
If you want to do a V8, the Ford is the most narrow, and it's torque will lug you around pretty reliably. It is what you want to do---it's your money.

Japanese V8s are too big, Fords and Chevys are much narrower.

As much as I love the sound of a V8, who needs one? A 1200 with a KA or SR will beat most muscle cars. V8 not needed.

A Japanese car with a Japanese V8 seems natural but given the cost of a Chevy or Ford small block it's hard to justify. Couple that with you can get a small block Ford down to 350lbs with aluminum heads and then add in wiring up a modern engine..................it's just easier to use the good Ol Amar-Can V8. Also they've been developed to point that they make huge power for low bucks.


I have to be honest if there wasn't such an issue with getting the V8 back far in enough to to trash the balance of the car I'd do it in a heart beat.

Tom

Putting a large engine in a featherweight like the datto 1200 will change the character of the car. In a purpose built car like dat383 has done (a very well put together car in my opinion), they will do well. A nice lightweight four, or V6 where a lot of cutting doesn't have to be done will put out plenty of power, and be easier to live with.

Me personally i don't like to see a muscle car rocking a Jap engine like a 2JZ even tho it is putting out some great power with some work i just don't see the appeal. That much the same as taking a Japanese car like a old KE70 corolla and throwing in a 1UZ as cool as it is and may be an absolute drift/drag machine its not a practical swap and won't exactly be a street cruiser you will see down at the local bottle shop on a Friday evening on the way home.

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This is true as well but you don't see a whole lot of these Jap engines like the RB series going into a muscle car mainly a swap into an already Japanese car like a skyline or supra. Don't get me wrong there certainly are a few swaps for drag but still mainly a swap for an already Japanese car.