Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

You'll have to look for it...but Fred Katz did a full write-up on the conversion.

alving wrote: Things I'm not sure about:
-Are the engine mounts identical? Can I use the R16 mounts with the U20?
-Will the U20 radiator bolt in the same location as the R16 rad?
-Will a R16 fuel pump work on the U20?
-Can I use the R16 choke/hand throttle cables?
-Can I use the R16 throttle cable?
-The tranny mounting plate should bolt in, right?

Engine mounts are the same. Rubber motor mounts are the same for both.

U20 radiotor bolts right up to the existing frame work.

R16 fuel pump? I'm not sure. Go electric if you find a solution - $30.

The throttle cables are identical, just hard to fit if it has been trimmed at the ends or have mangled ends. The choke cables might be a problem if the they have been over timmed.

Not sure what your are asking about the tranny. Are you using the 4 or 5 speed? 5 speed would be a piece of cake.

The exhaust manifold end connect to the pre-existing plumbing? I don't know.

Alvin,

Most of the questions have been answered, so let me give a shot at the rest.

The fuel pump is interchangeable. If you are using the 4 speed box, then there is no need for the 2000 drive shaft. If you are using the 5 speed box, you need the drive shaft, cross member, and speedo cable. The 4 speed tranny mount can be made to work on the 5 speed and vice-versa, but the cross members are different heights. You need the short one for the 5 speed and the tall one for the 4 speed. If this is going to be a swap into a 67 or earlier, then you use the original crossmember, just bolting it down lower in the frame.

Radiators of the same year will interchange. The 69 and 70 radiators (off cars with the recirculating ball steering) are narrower. If you get the cross bars that are appropriate to the radiator in question, they assembly bolts in. You can drill the cross bar if needed. The fan shrouds are different - the 1600 is longer than the 2000 unit, so you will want the correct shroud.

The throttle cable connects to the pedal assembly under the hood, so it is not disturbed during the swap. The choke cables are interchangeable.

There has been much discussion about the engine plate. I have 1500 4speeds and engine plates, 1600 4 speeds and engine plates and 2000 5 speeds and engine plates. The bolt pattern for ALL of the transmissions is the same. The engine plates that I have are all the same thickness - the only difference is in details on how it is trimmed. Some folks will tell you that the 5 speed uses a unique plate - I have not seen anything that would prevent it's interchanging.

Hoses should be easy to figure out. You will need a few different hoses - both the radiator and the heater, but not a huge deal. You will need to extend and reroute the temp sender wire.

I think that about covers it.

Oh, I almost forgot, if you are swapping into a flat dash car, you need to get the oil pressure sender - the later engines used a capillary tube. It is a bolt in.

Ha! I knew you couldn't resist . All the parts will swap over, you will run into issues with the 5spd tranny in a 66 body because the shifter sits forward of the 4spd. The only cars that could be swapped straight across were the 67.5 bodies. They were set up for both the 5 spd and the 4 spd. The later bodies had a section that could be cut out (I can see the plate on my car) to take either (Thats the easy way to tell if you have a real 2000 body on a car.) You will have to cut a small section out of the tranny tunnel for the 5 spd.

Will

Alvin,
Your swap will be as simple as removing one and dropping the other in. You do want a 2ltr radiator, transmission support and driveshaft but beyond that you will have a fake 67.5 2000.

Will

Alvin,
Who's car is getting the U20? Are you turning into Raul? (How many does he have?)
Just wondering.

Will

I've created a monster... Oh wait that wont run on pump gas. Sounds fun, my only suggestion is a longer duration cam, Im running a 284 intake 294 exhaust and it would pull to redline without thinking twice. It would be an interesting drag race. I'll have you in displacement, I think the rotational wieght will be about the same as I have a lightened crank, and forged pistons arn't that much lighter than my cast ones. I also have tri-metal bearings for the bottom end as well as the jackshaft.

I should have my engine up and running by this weekend. I just picked almost everything up today, and the rest should be tomorrow.

Who did you buy the engine from?

SLOroadster wrote:Alvin,
Your swap will be as simple as removing one and dropping the other in. You do want a 2ltr radiator, transmission support and driveshaft but beyond that you will have a fake 67.5 2000.

Will

What is this Fake Crap ....Will
Why do you have to make Alvin's roadster project sounds like its
nothing to be happy about. Just like his SR20 swap.
I dont think Alvin is trying to make a fake 67.5 2000 .
All I see him say is that he is putting some 2 liter in a 1967.5 Spl .

SLOroadster wrote:Alvin,
Who's car is getting the U20? Are you turning into Raul? (How many does he have?)
Just wondering.

Will

And what is this turning into Raul ???
What does that mean??
If he is turning into Raul ... it only means Alvin is getting better looking.
Man I should check this forum more often.

Raul, you kill man!!! that was funny.

Alvin and Raul,
I am not cutting on the 67.5 U20 swap, I think its cool, I ment nothing bad, its just not the real thing. I was looking to go down the same road with the car that Datsun Bucky now has. I was going to strip my car and build the 67.5 1600 up with it. If I had a spare U20 and 67.5 1600 lying around, I'd do it in an instant!
As for turning into Raul, that was a roundabout complement to both of you. Raul, you have the coolest cars, and you have a bunch of them. It was along the lines of you guys are both friends, and Alvins collection is growing (Alvin, arn't you up to 3 now?)
I didn't mean to insult or rub anyone the wrong way.

Will

Minh wrote:Raul, you kill man!!! that was funny.

LOL...Thanks Minh...
But I meant it....He he he..just kidding..

SLOroadster wrote:Alvin and Raul,
I am not cutting on the 67.5 U20 swap, I think its cool, I ment nothing bad, its just not the real thing. I was looking to go down the same road with the car that Datsun Bucky now has. I was going to strip my car and build the 67.5 1600 up with it. If I had a spare U20 and 67.5 1600 lying around, I'd do it in an instant!
As for turning into Raul, that was a roundabout complement to both of you. Raul, you have the coolest cars, and you have a bunch of them. It was along the lines of you guys are both friends, and Alvins collection is growing (Alvin, arn't you up to 3 now?)
I didn't mean to insult or rub anyone the wrong way.

Will

Thanks for the apology Will...not needed for the comment about the Raul
thing..but thanks for the compliment nevertheless. and no offense taken.

But about Alvin's new project . I know its not the real thing, but I dont think that is what he is going for. Thats the only reason I commented about it. I kind a like the idea myself.. he can drive
the car as much as he wants and not have to worry about the car
being so rare and having a matching numbers engine.

Any Roadster on the Road driving, Is better than a Roadster collecting dust in a field or at the side of someones yard.

Keep up the good work Alvin, Its great to see you on the Road again......

Lou Smaldino
66-1600
67-2000
65-1500

Couple of comments...

If you are fitting a 5 speed into that 67.5.... don't forget the shift plate.
The 5 speed is SHORTER than the four speed. I had a "Stan Chernoff" repo plate in my 67.5 2000 (long since gone).

Fuel Pump... uh, they are INTERCHANGEABLE in bolt up only. Guess what, the U20 items delivers a little more fuel. If you have a top end problem on the track.... time to check the fuel pump. Do not overlook the spacer between the pump and block.

Radiator... look at where the radiator cap is on a 1600 (engine) then check a 2000 (mounted in the radiator). Yes I saw a U20 w/ 1600 radiator cap... owner had overheating issues.... but the overflow bottle was full!

Return Fuel Line... the 2000 carbs will have a fuel return. Your 67.5 1600 will not. Block off the line.

Gee... no one mentioned "lengthen the temp sending wire".

I need to stay away from this place... makes me want to go out and work on my roadster.

Tom