SR 20 de

[old 311]

Breaks are good. Tires hold air. Ok for city streets streets. Ordered new tires for me 1980 style Enkei's. As long as they get me thru body work I will be happy. Took it to rev limiter in first to day. Scared to go much faster. This thing is addictive . What are the turbo's like?

[caraddict]

Can't speak for others but I find mine quite "exhilarating"

Jon

[RCMike]

Can't speak for others but I find mine quite "exhilarating"

Jon

I can't speak for others either, but I can say I found it pretty exhilarating too..lol

But seriously, as the boost starts to climb and the back tires start to struggle.. It's just amazing..

[old 311]

I have seen RC Mike's videos, and thought yea ok. Now I am believer. Still have idle problems to work through. I don't remember this car performing like this. Doe's anyone know how these cars compare to Miata or Fiat spider?

Larry

[pebbles]

I don't remember this car performing like this.

Larry

Care to elaborate Larry? Was this car your driver 26 years ago?

[RCMike]

Stock Miata? You kill it.

Built Miata? could go either way.

Race prepped Miata? 99% goes to the Miata..

Put some new tires on it before you wind out 3rd gear please.. Car should be controllable before you start hitting triple digits..

[old 311]

Yes 26 years ago this was my driver. It had a warmed over 1600 that would struggle to get to 6,000 RPM. The guy that helped with the engine was Brad Watson, he did head work for the local Datsun/Nissan dealer who raced 510's & roadsters. I remember him saying they ran the engines to 7,000. Some NASCAR team bought his business and moved him to Charlotte. Any way I don"t remember the car driving like this. Should get tires next week, in the mean time I can putter around getting all the systems ironed out.

Larry

[old 311]

Up-date It's been a year no real problems with the engine swap. Did replace the radiator with a aluminium one. Re did the tail pipe to run under the axle much better, not hitting axle or body. Sadly I have decided to sell the car, and let someone else finish it. I have more projects that need my attention. I have own this car since 1980 it's almost like loosing a family member. Time to move on though.

Larry

[toplessdottie]

Have you sold?

[redroadster]

I am doing my first sr 20 swap. Thanks to this great site and all the members I feel it will be a success . I have run into a big stumbling block , finding a Sd20 de. Everyone seems to have a turbo version no one has the non turbo version.
So I turning to the experts any sugestions?

What year ? That looks like a 69 -70 front end
See other posts on emission regulated car swaps

[notoptoy]

MODERATOR NOTE: Multiple off-topic regulatory issue posts have been moved to the appropriate posts, and locked again. DO NOT POST ANY MORE OFF-TOPIC ISSUES HERE They will be deleted.

[pebbles]

Yes 26 years ago this was my driver. It had a warmed over 1600 that would struggle to get to 6,000 RPM. The guy that helped with the engine was Brad Watson, he did head work for the local Datsun/Nissan dealer who raced 510's & roadsters. I remember him saying they ran the engines to 7,000. Some NASCAR team bought his business and moved him to Charlotte. Any way I don"t remember the car driving like this. Should get tires next week, in the mean time I can putter around getting all the systems ironed out.

Larry

Very interesting Larry. Thanks for sharing the backstory!

[fj20spl311]

I dove Larry's car today. Its a deal at $6500. Someone please buy her or she is going to honor my driveway soon and I don't need an other car.
The body is much better than the pictures. The frame and underside do not look to be rusty and there is no sign of damage to the front of the inter fenders in the front or along the seam along the trunk floor. The brakes are hard as a rock....to be expected with Volvo calipers and a 280z master.
The stainless steel hard lines look very cool. As does the glove box door without the padding. The seat are a nice fit, but need recovering.....wish he knew the donor. It has typical Hot Rod urethane motor mount, so there is a hum from the motor.....OK for me as I can't hear anyway.

[Mackn367]

Is it still for sale? I just purchased my first Datsun and want to do a swap too but I have not figured out budget price yet. I would want the SR20DET if possible. How do you like the swap? Was it worth it?

[onsight512]

I'm going to bump this thread as I bought Larry's car back in April. Thanks for the info, Phil.

I've a question about the radiator & expansion tank caps. Do any of you SR20 folks know what those two caps should be rated for? On two occasions, after a drive, I've gotten home, parked the car, and it immediately burps some coolant. I believe it's coming out of the expansion tank. The cap on that one is 13 pounds/90KPA. The main radiator cap is 16-18 pounds. I'm thinking to try replacing the cap on the expansion tank, but wanted to double check that a 13 pound cap is the correct one.

thanks,
Chris