Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

This should scare off the rest of the purists.


online store pics

Transmission is in, where it needs to be within an inch in a couple directions.


online store pics


online store pics

If you are doing that much frame cutting, make sure the trans will drop out from below and not have to pull engine to fix it.

I just caught this build! Loving it!

Matthew

eye wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:13 am If you are doing that much frame cutting, make sure the trans will drop out from below and not have to pull engine to fix it.

Good call. I may not have room to get the bellhousing bolts out though depending how close I set the engine to te firewall.

You will have a couple dowels on the block for alignment so maybe studs on the block will help.
Dan

damarble wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:26 pm This should scare off the rest of the purists.


online store pics

I’m not truly a purist, but would say 99% of roadster owners are not going to want to destroy the frame of their vintage roadster to install a Ford engine.

I’d say you have answered the original question of the thread.

JT68 wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:32 pm

damarble wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:26 pm This should scare off the rest of the purists.


online store pics

I’m not truly a purist, but would say 99% of roadster owners are not going to want to destroy the frame of their vintage roadster to install a Ford engine.

I’d say you have answered the original question of the thread.

Yep, this is not going to be a viable swap for most people. Stick to other options if you don't want to hack away. Before I'm done I expect to have the entire X cut out and convert to a tubular X.

I always tell the purists that by taking my car out of "original" status, I am making their car more valuable.

I'm selfless like that.

De-value of the hacked frame aside (basically scrap metal), it will take a sh++load of fabrication and welding just to restore a small fraction of the factory rigidity to the frame.

Those rectangular cross sections of the x-member add tremendous rigidity and strength to the frame.
Replacing them with a few plates and tubes is not even close to equivalent. It's one of the reasons roadsters feel so solid on the road.

It's your car, you can certainly do what you want, but I sure wouldn't hack the body like the frame. At least now, the body could be put back on an unmolested frame and saved.

"First do no harm" should really be the slogan for swaps and restorations.

That's going to be a great motor if you can get it all in there. And it's looking like that'll happen. <insert thumbs up, here>

JT68 wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 9:30 am
Those rectangular cross sections of the x-member add tremendous rigidity and strength to the frame.
Replacing them with a few plates and tubes is not even close to equivalent. It's one of the reasons roadsters feel so solid on the road.

I had some other high powered roadster owners tell me the frame is so overbuilt that the X is unnecessary. But I've reconsidered and decided to err on the side of caution here and keep the rear half of the X original. I will rebuild the front of the X with more room for the transmission.

damarble wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 2:16 pm

JT68 wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 9:30 am
Those rectangular cross sections of the x-member add tremendous rigidity and strength to the frame.
Replacing them with a few plates and tubes is not even close to equivalent. It's one of the reasons roadsters feel so solid on the road.

I had some other high powered roadster owners tell me the frame is so overbuilt that the X is unnecessary. But I've reconsidered and decided to err on the side of caution here and keep the rear half of the X original. I will rebuild the front of the X with more room for the transmission.

Yes, there is no shortage of misinformation available for roadsters.

It certainly is a solid frame no doubt, but removing the X will definitely introduce flex in all 3 axes. Since there is no steel roof structure on a roadster, which would firm things up,- the frame has to compensate for that weakness. That is why Nissan built it so well, not to make it "overbuilt" and more expensive to manufacture just for fun.

You just have to drive an underbuilt convertible once to know what chassis flex feels like-bad. Nissan did a good job with the frame- removing the entire X would be idiotic and detrimental. You will definitely want to build a new X, my original point is it will require hours/days of fabrication just to make a X that is 1/2 as rigid as what you hacked away.

damarble wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 11:06 am

TurboRagtop wrote: Thu Jan 14, 2021 9:49 am Wait, a Miata oil pan fits a Ford Ecoboost? What did I miss?

The ecoboost is based off the Mazda MZR block used in 06-14 Miatas, and many other Mazdas of that era.

And not to forget the Duratecs found in various Fords like the Ranger, Focus, and Fusion.

Carry on....

If it requires hacking the frame to this extent, it’s really a terrible fit and a bad outcome for a classic car, sorry.

I see no advantage over a KA or SR and a ton of advantages to them if you absolutely must have a swap.

No one really needs 260hp in a roadster, and if it’s all about hp, SRdet can make over 500 if you know what your doing.

You could have bolted in a hot u20 and been tearing up the road by now.