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PostPosted: Fri Dec 16, 2022 10:19 am 
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Hi all. Hope there is still some interest here for Dato builds. Better than the traffic anyway.

So, I headed out for a 7hr round trip to pick this little gem up from Country Victoria, where it had lived it's entire life. Extremely minimal rust on original, 50yr old paintwork.

After musing over things & not happy with current engine. Have found an interesting project engine to finish & heavily modify car so, will be putting off road for the next few years & change this Dato considerably! The edit function failed after writing up all the info so, will do again when I have time...


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2022 8:58 am 
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Ok, big changes & a much sooner timeline. I'm clearing an area in my workshop garage to sit her so I can begin tearing into it.

Basically, I picked up this little Dato few weeks back now. Not impressed with slack info behind a so-called engine freshen up it has supposedly had recently. I questioned previous owner on particulars & all I got is it had had gaskets & perhaps timing chain. I asked about front brakes as they wouldn't stop you if you had a km to pull up. Told me it had new Ford AU brakes installed. BS! It has stock early 180B shitters still on so, he's a toss! Really annoyed @ this stage. Has a 5 speed fitted but it's hard to shift into 3rd so I'm thinking linkages. Clutch seems ok.

Moving along, not happy with engine. It does go ok once warmed up but he'd run tap water in it due to a leak it developed in this alloy radiator fitted. Brilliant idea huh? SO, how long has it had no coolant?

Picked up a near mint pair of TRX front seats this Sunday gone. The original ones are cactus.

Picked up an MSD 6AL-@ block & Blaster HVC coil last evening. That saved me a small fortune. Also picked up a rebuilt L18 that had an old-school turbo & custom exhaust mani fitted. The engine was built back in late 90's by a mechanic & tech engineer teacher & never came off the stand. Supposedly has crank balanced but I thought they were from factory? Has L20 head fitted. I'm guessing to lower comp which I wouldn't have done but who knopws what works been done to it so for now I'll leave it on. Turbo looks in mint condition. Clean & no shaft play. The exhaust mani looks like it'd work ok but haven't gelled with it as yet. It has a Weber 32/26 downdraught sitting on original intake mani but it looks offset so, dunno as yet what to make of it. with custom blow-through plenum but it's hideous so I'm purchasing an alloy one new. Intake piping is also hideous so will make one up from alum. This is not intended to be a power build. It is to be a retro build with character! A buzz! Something outta the box...

The engine is missing sump so I'll remove original engine & pinch sump. I'm best to fit new engine in bay so I can get accurate measurements for fabricating turbo inlet pipe & routing everything up to suit. Custom down/dump pipe measured up etc. I can have the gearbox looked over & shifting sorted while it's out.

I have decided to use faux suede for door cards etc. Maybe roof lining. I've purchased new a suede steering wheel & shifter boot. Have a new gear knob coming too along with new alum radiator.

I've cut out the only noticeable rust in car which was in both lower front & rear guards. Looks to be an older restored paintjob but may be original after all. Just think it had thick bog in left front guard that I doubt would be factory done. Rest of car has that patina pink with yellow undercoat coming through on front left guard & few other areas.

That's it for now. Enjoy your Chrissie all


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2022 9:01 am 
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I sourced a set of 240K struts customised to fit 180B with rotors & callipers etc. Miserable prick couldn't be bothered posting for me from NSW so, I keep hunting...


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2022 5:32 am 
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Location: San Francisco, CA
Lets see some pictures!!

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1971 Datsun 1600
2019 Mazda 6 Touring Wagon
2009 Holden SV6 Sedan


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2022 10:23 am 
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Hatchman wrote: *
Lets see some pictures!!
Sure will Hatchman! I'm just busy with work & trying to start it all. I've moved it to it's final resting place for work. I have removed manifolds & will be fitting up gear off the T engine so I can begin fabricating parts & measuring stuff.

Will post pics up tonight. Here's a few of the engine when I picked it up.


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2022 5:01 pm 
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I've been down with the flu this past week so, not much progress & now behind with my own work.

I'd purchased a modified set of R31 front struts just before Christmas. Set up for V8 Commodore rotors & callipers. Came with the callipers. I'll post up some pics tomorrow when I'm feeling better but have begun to remove old struts & have fitted turbo manifolds to original engine so I can begin to plumb up piping & MSD block & coil & prep for EFI fuel pump, EFI to carb regulator & fuel lines etc. I've purchased a Malpassi regulator & EFI pump. Also, a 0-15psi gauge to set regulator to 6-7psi. My biggest concern @ present with feuling is if the Weber has big enough jets from when engine was built...


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:18 am 
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Pics taking too long to load but here's one where turbo gear is sitting on old engine so I can begin plumbing things up


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 06, 2023 1:44 pm 
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My order for EFI fuel pump was cancelled due to lack of stock so, have ordered from another source. This is holding things up now as I need to remove tank & plumb a return line for the pressure regulator that's also on on order. Need to organise some metal fuel line too to run from tank along inner sill to engine bay where I can then hook up regulator.

Not much room in the engine bay to fit the MSD ignition box either so, will have to consider inside pass well somewhere....


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:15 pm 
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Screw it! I'm just going to use the 32/36 Weber on this rebuilt engine, as long as it hasn't has compression lowered. I can't find anyone willing to help me tune it etc so, change of plans. Will put the time & effort into the interior & body ;)


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PostPosted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 4:20 am 
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Location: San Francisco, CA
Where are you based mate?

I know longer live in Australia but when I was living in Melbourne a few years ago "Bits of Italy" did awesome work on my L20B with dual Weber 40s.

They charged a premium but it was worth it, my little 510 was singing like a bird after they fixed it up with shedloads of bottom end torque

_________________
Current Garage:

1971 Datsun 1600
2019 Mazda 6 Touring Wagon
2009 Holden SV6 Sedan


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PostPosted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 7:57 am 
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Hatchman wrote: *
Where are you based mate?

I know longer live in Australia but when I was living in Melbourne a few years ago "Bits of Italy" did awesome work on my L20B with dual Weber 40s.

They charged a premium but it was worth it, my little 510 was singing like a bird after they fixed it up with shedloads of bottom end torque
Cheers for that. I'm way down on the Mornington Peninsula. I meant there was no one to tune the custom turbo system which would need a specialist willing to do so, not just the Weber as such. I'd have thought twin 40s would be severe overkill for an n/a engine? Even if boosting, I was going to run just the single 32/36...


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2023 10:08 am 
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Location: San Francisco, CA
Cracker180B wrote: *

Cheers for that. I'm way down on the Mornington Peninsula. I meant there was no one to tune the custom turbo system which would need a specialist willing to do so, not just the Weber as such. I'd have thought twin 40s would be severe overkill for an n/a engine? Even if boosting, I was going to run just the single 32/36...
When I got my 510 it had a blow-through turbo into an SU into a custom manifold bolted to an L20. It definitely had a lot of power but the heat was a real problem, and all that fuel sloshing around in the manifold was a little unnerving.

You could probably argue that dual Weber DCOEs is overkill for the gains it can give, but one throat per cylinder will be better on the bottom end - not to mention it sounds epic :D

I guess it depends on what you want. The 510 I used to have had the dual Weber DCOEs feeding a tuned L20B (ported with high compression pistons, bigger valves etc) Electric Dizzy, custom exhaust and other modifications (thermo fans, electric water pump) had more than enough power for such a little car. It was so much fun to drive and it sounded amazing. I miss it every day!

_________________
Current Garage:

1971 Datsun 1600
2019 Mazda 6 Touring Wagon
2009 Holden SV6 Sedan


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PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 2:28 am 
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Posts: 17
Hatchman wrote: *
Cracker180B wrote: *

Cheers for that. I'm way down on the Mornington Peninsula. I meant there was no one to tune the custom turbo system which would need a specialist willing to do so, not just the Weber as such. I'd have thought twin 40s would be severe overkill for an n/a engine? Even if boosting, I was going to run just the single 32/36...
When I got my 510 it had a blow-through turbo into an SU into a custom manifold bolted to an L20. It definitely had a lot of power but the heat was a real problem, and all that fuel sloshing around in the manifold was a little unnerving.

You could probably argue that dual Weber DCOEs is overkill for the gains it can give, but one throat per cylinder will be better on the bottom end - not to mention it sounds epic :D

I guess it depends on what you want. The 510 I used to have had the dual Weber DCOEs feeding a tuned L20B (ported with high compression pistons, bigger valves etc) Electric Dizzy, custom exhaust and other modifications (thermo fans, electric water pump) had more than enough power for such a little car. It was so much fun to drive and it sounded amazing. I miss it every day!
Sounds a lot of fun. I wasn't impressed with performance of this in stock form. I'm shelving this project for now as it's a lot of work from here to get right. The worst thing is, this rebuilt engine that's going in I have no information about as it was purchased from the son of the builder. This means I have no idea the compression, why he decided to swap head off an L20B. It has no sump so I have to remove this old engine & use one off that so, again, long-winded stuff for now...


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 4:12 pm 
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Posts: 17
I was looking @ grabbing a SSS engine for sale here, Mucked around for almost a week. Thought I'd take a close look @ this rebuilt engine that came with turbo gear. Flat tops! I'll be fkd! So, no need for anything. Has the L20B U67 head with large intake ports, larger valves & SSS equivalent cam. So, compression should be fine with twins :)


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PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2023 4:52 pm 
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Posts: 17
Bit the bullet & scored an orig SSS dash. Really wanted the tacho set up :)


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