Before I get flamed to death, I'd like to start off by saying I'm foreign so my lack of information is understandable.

That being said.. I just bought a 1980 Datsun Sedan, I've been looking for information on it for the past 2 days and I'm getting awfully sick of coming up with porn. Well not /really/ but it's tiring to not be able to find much information on this cool little car.

I've done a few searches on Stanza, L16, A10 etc. and havn't come up with a whole lot of helpful information.

I was curious if anyone knew of any Stanza clubs, or any good websites I could check out to learn as much as possible about this car..

I'm looking for some information on power, suspension, body and interior mods that can help me with my addiction to modifying things..

So far I've seen articles on L16 blocks with 510 SSS heads on 'em, some turbo/supercharged L18/20's, bluebird front ends on the same model stanza as mine (I believe turbophile has a blue stanza..or it's here, I forget.)

I'm looking at just a decent all around upgrades I could do, but the only cars I've owned previously have all been fuel injected, so I'm pretty new at carbureted systems..

Now.. on with my goals with this car - just to get some feedback on what people think..

I was thinking about throwing on some nicer rims and tires, something from another Nissan/Datsun that looks a little nicer then the stock steel things on there now. The tires are new so I don't want to replace those as of yet - but I'd like to make it a little better to handle, so when tires are required I'll have to go with something better then whats on there now.

Theres a dent in the front bumper - so I was thinking, after seeing that bluebird bumper on the other stanza, it might be worth doing something like that, instead of finding a nice condition stanza bumper, as I don't think it can be repaired. I'll have to see later. I really liked the look of that bluebird bumper but I don't know how much of a bolt on that would be, and I'm not good at fiberglassing so I'm a little weary of hacking something up.

The fuel guage doesn't work in the car, and the speedometer is sort've hard to see - I'm used to much larger.. but I think the style of this speedo is rather cool - and would like to perhaps make it better, somehow. A tach would be nice as well, although not necessary I'd still rather prefer one.. so a custom dash with a few new guages might be an idea - although the dash is uncracked and in very, very good condition so I don't want to wreck it if i don't have to.

The seats are comfortable - but there are some tears in them here and there, wouldn't mind replacing them with something a little more modern.. not racing seats as it isn't exactly a race car (all 80 hp of it) so I don't want to have something not needed..

I'm not sure what sort've work I can do on this engine to make it perform better.. It has 68,000 km's on it, everything was replaced a few months ago so I don't want to do an engine swap yet - if theres a decent list of power mods I can do to give it some extra kick, such as less restrictive exhaust - bigger carb - better filters.. I don't know what sort've options I have with this engine as like I said - I'm inexperienced with it.

I'm not looking for a rally racer or a drag star.. Just looking for a reliable daily commuter that looks neat and goes well.

If anybody has any information regarding Stanza's - or wants to drop some suggestions here and there, please feel free to. Sorry for being such a newbie and posting a new thread when I could've searched for a few hours and found it all - but I thought someone around here might have a few links I ought to look at before wasting time.

I'll get some pic of the car on Friday, wouldn't mind hearing peoples suggestions on what can or should be done to this car.

Thanks.

Sorry about the novel - didn't want to do multiple posts when it could all be thrown into one post.

-Kevin

Your english is better than most of the mobile phone SMS-text generation of kids that visit here.

Fill in your User profile and give us your location. It makes it much easier for people to recommend things to help you.

The L16 is cool, getting an L20B would be a better start.

Above all: A performance car is only fun if the car will start!!

All of my suggestions will require to know where you are. We have people from Iran, Greece, Romania, India, Pakistan on this web forum, and they have NO access to any Datsun spare parts.

Regards,
Chris

ps. I just noticed that you have filled in your location. Good one.

You need go over to ozdat.com/forum where you will find other Stanza owners.

Wow I thought I was the only one who wrote rambling essays in this place . good to see you're enthusiastic.

not a lot of stanza info here, except about the bits that can be shoehorned into a 1200. there are a few active stanza people on the ozdat forums and a lot of the threads on hotting up 1600's will apply because it has the same basic engine.

If you are looking for new wheels, I can tell you that you have a 114.3 pcd stud pattern and a +28 mm offset. Offsets a couple of mm either way wont cause you any problems.

hey,

go here canberra datsun club

personally I'd be looking for a stanza SSS to strip the sss bits out of.

I've got a few L-series parts if you're interested: 5-speed, twin SUs etc.

Good to know of another datsun still in existance :). But from what I know a L18 is better off than a L20 if you want to make a racier engine as they have the shorter stroke and whatnot.

Thanks! The gearbox is in pretty good nick, I believe it was rebuilt along with the engine - but I'll have to take a look at that when I go and pick it up in .. Ohhhh 2 more sleeps

When adding bigger/better carbs, how is fuel efficency afterwards ? I found out the fuel gauge on the car doesn't work - but that could be something that was misproperly placed back together when the engine was redone.. Perhaps an easy fix - if not I'm sure I can find a gauge.. I'm just a little worried about if I end up doing a few things that end up burning alot more fuel.. Well pushing cars sucks.

I don't have the room at my house - or the ability to transfer parted out cars around - as I may end up moving sometime soon and .. well moving a few cars isn't the most enjoyable experience.. Had a run in with an Accord I owned. I don't want to think about that one anymore

Tyrie - says you're in Canberra, would you be okay with sharing some good sources of parts and such ? I'm unsure on how to set much up on this engine so I may need a point to a newbie's guide to engine modifications before buying anything... Perhaps - if you feel safe :P - showing me a few meets and such Datsun owners hang out. My car is hardly show-worthy, but over the next few months I wouldn't mind making it something .. Less "I used it for 23 years to go to church and back." No joke.

I'll have to wait a while to get some cash coming in - have just moved here from Canada 2 months ago and havn't had much of a chance to get properly set on my feet, plus I'm finishing school in the next 2 months as well. Then I'll have money to play with, or at least, more.

Thanks for all the possitive feedback, hopefully I'll have something other people around here find nifty in the next couple months..

you can do alot with the stanza!

handle realy well with minor suspension work, check ferol's website
think its datrats.com.au ??
he's had lots experience with them..

Also check out fast fours june 2004 for my old car
Yellow stanza sss with sr20det conversion, it was a good old thing

I was thinking .. without doing any research, at all... I had a CA20 powered Pintara once.. Ah memories .. It wasn't the fastest creature, but it ran well and no matter what broke it was always cheap as hell to fix. The gearbox was solid and the engine was strong as.. Plus it was EFI -

I highly, HIGHLY doubt the mounts line up, at all, and would then require custom mounts for it - but if there was anything I could use from a CA20 based car on this Stanza, I'm wondering if anyone knows. Such as gearbox (doubt it) or complete engine. Carbureters scare me to tell the truth I don't know much about them at all. I didn't mind the power that came from the CA20 I owned - but recently I've been getting used to a 3.8L Commodore so I guess I should just save for something better..

In the future I was planning on something along the lines of an FJ20DET, CA18DET, or, if /remotely/ possible - and only if needing to remain the same displacement - a GA16 out of an NX.. I'm not a fan of SR20's as they're just so common - and I like the more old school engines.. I'm only thinking of engines I know a little about..

I was looking at differences between the L16 and L16SSS, seems the difference lies in the camshafts and ports/valves.. could I not grind out the exhaust ports - throw on a bigger exhaust, and have a few hp out of that?

I know I said I didn't want to do an engine swap.. but maybe instead I can replace a few things - here and there - preferably something I can do in my driveway style .. Just to give me a little more power ...

Any idea's ?

40RST---
I don't /quite/ remember if it was the same car I'm thinking of..but..was it track raced ? sort've ghetto looking front spoiler (no offense..practical - just wasn't the most pretty of sorts.) .. I think I remember reading up on your car - I don't have the magazine anymore.. left it in Canada =(

It /was/ a track car though.. wasn't it? Not some little street car?

Hmm.

Kevin,

click on the link in my previous post, there may be some sort of canberra meet taking place soon.