Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

I thought that I should introduce myself again, as I have been inactive (on the forum) for several years. I bought a 1970 1600 about 9 years ago, and I was hanging around this forum for several years while I resurrected the car from smashed up briar patch condition to something I could drive. I drove it for a couple of years, and then decided that I wasn't happy with the leaky rattly 1600 engine and sloppy four speed, so I pulled it out for a swap. Long story short, I ended up with the body of the frame, and two aborted Nissan engine swaps, before settling on a Ford 2.3 (pinto type) and a five speed. The interior was stripped, and a new dash started, new wiring harness, smoothed firewall etc. At that point, life got in the way, and I spent the next few years raising young kids, and taking care of tractors, cows and fences while the poor Datsun sat in the carport surrounded by lawn mowers, hay and tractor part. Anyway, I have been off work for a couple of weeks recovering from an appendectomy, and since I wasn't able to do any heavy work, I started poking at the Datsun again. I've spent a couple of days trying to figure out where I left off and bolting things back in place so I don't lose them. We are planning on moving at the end of this year, and I will have a real shop with a concrete floor, and all of my tools in one place, so I hope to get back to work on this project. I hope that I can be more active on the forum, and possibly help some newcomers with the little bit of knowledge I gained (what I can remember) from my first rebuild. This really is one of the best forums on the internet, all because of the great people involved.

glenn

Welcome back Glenn

My son spent some time working in Portland OR and he loved the place and people.
What went wrong with your Nissan engine swaps?
A Ford PINTO

Welcome back. that should b fun, a 2.3 Pinto engine has some nice torque and tons of speed equipment available. I had one in a MGTC replica and it was a rocket.

Nissanman,

I finally realized that by the time I bought a good Nissan engine, and figured out the wiring, and built the appropriate mounts, I was going to have way more time and money into it than I had available. Also, I just happened to stumble on a mustang with a 2.3l that I could drive home for $200. I figured that I could have an engine that I knew was a good runner, and I could use factory carbureted parts to make for a clean and simple swap. I also had some experience with the Ford engine as my dad has one in his Jeep. I don't know whether this engine was used in anything in your part of the world, but it was used here in everything from Pintos to mustangs to small pickups for 20 years and has a reputation for making decent power while being very tough and easy to work on. Anywho, I'll try to keep the board updated on my progress.

glenn

Fair enough.
The Ford Pinto was in some Escorts and probably commercial vehicle as well but I have only heard of a 2L version.
Not being a ford person I wouldn't know.
However a 2.3L 4 would certainly have some grunt
Enjoy!

Nissanman wrote:Fair enough.
The Ford Pinto was in some Escorts and probably commercial vehicle as well but I have only heard of a 2L version.
Not being a ford person I wouldn't know.
However a 2.3L 4 would certainly have some grunt
Enjoy!

Saw one in a Ford Ranger pickup with a turbo from a Cummings Diesel on it, almost the size of a soccerball a 3.5 or 4 inch air intake.

Glenn;

Welcome back to the group! I am really interested in hearing more about the 2.3 engine. I am putting in a 2.8 from the same type of Ford (could have been a bobcat, mustang, or pinto). I am also trying to use the front end from the same car and converting it into a roadster...its just a bit too wide at the moment I think.

Welcome back with wide(er) arms to embrace your bigger engine!

And T-bird turbo coupe was this engine as well, no? (and Mustang SVT turbo 4, same engine?)
I only say that because the "pinto group" (now there's an eclectic bunch) showed up at Donut Dererlicts a few weeks back, so saw all variations of Pinto (and 302's).