hi there everyone

i have a 1982 datsun stanza gx sedan ,this was my pops stanza that he bought new off the showroom floor, when he past away, he left it to me because he always new that i loved this car. sso in his honour i am doing it up as a kind of show/street car but im finding it very hard to find specs and all that jazz to start.
when i was driving from sydney it blow a head gasket!!! (damn thing)so, i have abit of money to spend on it and want to fit a new faster,stronger engine and trans to it.
a friend has a 253 small block crate engine sitting around and was thinking about putting it in but dont want to waste my time pulling out the old engine them that doesnt fit!!.
so if anyone has any ideas at all,specs,engine ideas,trans that fit, please let me know asap cause im keen as to start getting this beauitful car back on the road and honouring my grandfather in his pride and joy that he loved so much.

P.S.
i have photos of this wonderful car, so if you want to see it just post and i can email you.

thanks guys

talk to an engineer first. i doubt a 4.2l V8 will be allowed in a Stanza. If you're really keen on a V8, the best option would be a 3.5l alloy Rover V8. But check with an engineer before you start anything!

location would help too.

thanks mate, got a meeting with one next week let ya no what he said, i new that the small block wont fit,just a dream i guess!!! maybe rebiuld the motor?? not sore yet, maybe bore it out, any ideas to get a couple of extra horse out of it? got new shocks for it,replace all steer rubbers,got new big brake clapiers, got about ten g's to spend on it or do you no any good custom places in nsw that i can send it to? thanks

I'd put an L20B in it. It can make 120HP with the right cylinder head and stock carburetor. The stock L16 is under 100HP.

Don't bother to bore it out unless you go with a maximum bore. You'd have to ask the L-series experts what that would be. Maybe 2.1 liter?

Here is USA a common swap from L-series is the KA24DE engine which has the same bell pattern (but differing tilt). These are 16-valve engines like the CA18DE only much larger. But I think Australia only got the FWD versions which for various reasons make for tricky swaps.