Hey guys Its been a while, thought id throw up an update on the dato.

Been busy with work and over sea's to bali over the new year.

Over the past 2 weeks i have stripped the datsun down and ordered alot of parts.

At the moment im just in limber awaiting alot of parts, such as Stanza struts, front disk upgrades, manifolds, rebuilt front end ect.

So i can get the L18 in their to test before stripping it all down again for body and paint.

(sorry for the quality of the pictures they are just off my iphone, ill upload some decent pictures soon)

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Any one know where i can get JDM Bluebird fender mirrors??

I'll be doing this soon, and as mik said get everything in and fitted then remove it for paint as there is more work that just x member mods! Good luck I'll be watching

i thought of that as well but if everything is already out for the engine to go in, it makes sense to get it painted at the same time. But i will do all the modification to the cross member and do a quick engine drop in to see if the box and engine fit correctly then take it back out for the Paint.

Do the conversion first then the respray. My tip any way

Ok well here is a couple pictures of the Car as is ATM, i have decided to just go all out and get everything done. I have tore out all the interior over the weekend and found a small amount of rust on the passenger side floor pan. The rest of the body is clean with only a small amount of surface rust under the tray and floor plan. And a tiny 10cent peice size bit of rust on the lower of the tail gate. I have removed the front panels and the panels in the tray to inspect it further to find no rust at all.

Im looking at getting a full body sprey done (CANDY APPLE RED) here in canberra.

I have looked around at a couple panel beaters to get a few quotes, but i was just wondering if anyone new a great place for a full resprey in canberra or a great panel beater

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No need to cut and shut, engineers need to x ray it technically.

Stanza mounts are neatest, other one I had was just 4mm plate welded and gusseted onto x member and 180b mounts welded to them. Same result gets l series in your bay. Just sits higher.

That article was great. Shane with wiki anyone can add and delete as thy see fit

Bw68 not as easy to find now days

8 years ago we had an article called "How to fit L16, L18 and L20b engines" but that seems to have dissapeared...
L20b into a Datsun 1200
but there's still some useful info in that thread and the others linked from there.

here's a x-member pic from the conversion I did back in the mid 90s using Stanza saddles on the 1200 x-member, which seems to be the popular way to go these days... I also cut and shut the centre of the x-member and moved it back about 1/2-3/4" to get the motor as low and far back as possible. that's not really neccesary though.






I'd use the BW68 from Aus 120Y sedans instead of the H165. Cheaper, easier to find and stronger.

The Stanza 63a 5spd is the same length as the R30 Stumpy box but smaller in width/diameter and a better fit in the manual tunnel. They're cheap too. Shouldn't be any problem getting 20mm clearance with that box.

You could sell your 5 speed and probably have change left over for buying an l18 and stumpy gear box ready to bolt in!

The 60 series 5 speed won't bolt up and it wouldn't be worth doing so as the 60 series won't last long. Lowest rated suitable would be 63 series- I've picked up SSS dog leg boxes for between $50 and $150 each. Good for l16. Dr 30 skyline stumpy more like $300 and good all the way to ca18 power levels.

Just checking would it be possible to run my existing A12 5 speed box (Sunny 120y box) onto the L18 with the use of a new bell housing and adapter plate?