Best Small Light Powerful (potential) engine for a 510

[Vettezuki]

Update: 8/3/2010
Thanks to Ron (technically Ron's dad) for the 30VGET at a great price! This will be on a back burner for a while as other things are cleared. But a Turbo V6 Datsun 510 is'a com'n.

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OP
My brother looks like he's going to get a 71' Datsun 510 and we're trying to think of good engine options. The SR20DET is an obvious, ubiquitous choice, but are there some other interesting choices? NA or FI is fine.

[SeanPlunk]

Ls7

[BADDASSC6]

Nissan had an l25 inline six that was good in the older GT-Rs.

At the scottsdale pavillions that has a newer maxima v6. Cool, but heavy.

A NA RX-8 motor would be cool.

The 370/350 would be a tight fit because of the manifolds.

[Vettezuki]

We did think about the Rotary (turbo from an FD) since it can be packaged just about anywhere. The LS7 is likely too big and certainly too expensive. The RB25, like the 2JZ are fantastic, but probably too long as I6s. Mmmmm.

Of course sometimes, the obvious is obvious for a reason. Full SR20DETs with trans and harness go aroudn $2,500 +- and they can make awesome reliable power, it's just that everyone does that for a 510.

[Vettezuki]

Here's some more stuf I'm finding.

Tiny, light, powerful. Cheap? Probably not. Affordable . . maybe.
Ford 2.3
http://www.esslingeracing.com/midget-short-track.htm

S.C.A.T. V4 (not cheap)
300+hp in a 210lb engine.


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Outer space

Hartley Enterprises.
Twin Hayabusa -> V8. $27k
http://www.h1v8.com/page/page/1562068.htm

That'd be fun in a 510
YouTube- Dyno TEST - V8-hayabusa engine - Hartley Enterprises

[BADDASSC6]

A ls7 is expensive, but ls1s and 2s are not ~3-5K.

Also, the h1 and h2 engines you are looking at are used a lot in SR radicals. They are fast, but maintenance is intensive and expensive.

[Vettezuki]

A ls7 is expensive, but ls1s and 2s are not ~3-5K.

Also, the h1 and h2 engines you are looking at are used a lot in SR radicals. They are fast, but maintenance is intensive and expensive.


I'll have to take a peek at the LS to see if it could plausibly be fitted and located in an intelligent way. The H1/2 would be fantastic for wow factor, but is way way WAY out of our league for TCO.

[Sonic03SVT]

LS powered 510s are not exactly unheard of. With a little work with a BFH it fits. If i recall correctly theres a clearance issue with the steering rack, but a 240z rack and some 280z spindles drops the rack enough to clear for VG30s, and thats a big ass motor, so you might want to look into that, but you have to make some space in the trans tunnel, and I think folks usually move the firewall back 4ish inches. Ive seen it, and its about the coolest car/motor combo imaginable. :bigthumbsup::bigthumbsup:

[Vettezuki]

LS powered 510s are not exactly unheard of. With a little work with a BFH it fits. If i recall correctly theres a clearance issue with the steering rack, but a 240z rack and some 280z spindles drops the rack enough to clear for VG30s, and thats a big ass motor, so you might want to look into that, but you have to make some space in the trans tunnel, and I think folks usually move the firewall back 4ish inches. Ive seen it, and its about the coolest car/motor combo imaginable. :bigthumbsup::bigthumbsup:

What about balance? How much heavier is the LS combo than an SR? And is the Silvia rear end strong enough to blast around in an LS?

[Sonic03SVT]

LS is a bit heavier than the SR ( about 50 pounds, from what i could gather, once you factor in the weights of the turbo set up for the sr and their respective transmissions ) as far as the durability of the silvia rear end dont know, nobody keeps it :P all the swaps ive seen have ford 9 inch rears.

[89StangGuy]

RB26DETT Ftw

[Sonic03SVT]

meh, RB is heavier than an LS, more complicated, and more expensive, both to get and to mod. Now, an aluminum block 302 based stroker with a g-force/astro performance T-5 is actually lighter than an LS/t56 combo, and would probably be my choice, but you cant exactly go wrong with either one.

[89StangGuy]

meh, RB is heavier than an LS, more complicated, and more expensive, both to get and to mod. Now, an aluminum block 302 based stroker with a g-force/astro performance T-5 is actually lighter than an LS/t56 combo, and would probably be my choice, but you cant exactly go wrong with either one.


Very true. I have no problems a 302 with a t-5. Especially when it'll spin high rpms, and put out a good amount of power N/A. You can even pull a good budget build and go with a good GT-40 setup from an explorer. With all the bolt-ons and supporting mods you'll have a good runner.

[Vettezuki]

LS is a bit heavier than the SR ( about 50 pounds, from what i could gather, once you factor in the weights of the turbo set up for the sr and their respective transmissions ) as far as the durability of the silvia rear end dont know, nobody keeps it :P all the swaps ive seen have ford 9 inch rears.

From what I've been able to gather a fully dressed SR20DET with trans is about 450 and full LS/T56 is about 550. So about 100pounds, not a huge a difference. But just eyeballing it, it looks like a fair bit of that weight with an LS will be hanging over the front axle unless you really cut up the firewall and push it back into the cab.

[Sonic03SVT]

most ls swaps i see have about a 3-4 inch rearward shift of the firewall to move the engine back. Not to make it fit, but to even out the weight.

[Slow_HO_Daytona]

We did think about the Rotary (turbo from an FD) since it can be packaged just about anywhere. The LS7 is likely too big and certainly too expensive. The RB25, like the 2JZ are fantastic, but probably too long as I6s. Mmmmm.

Of course sometimes, the obvious is obvious for a reason. Full SR20DETs with trans and harness go around $2,500 +- and they can make awesome reliable power, it's just that everyone does that for a 510.

I may know of a 1980-81 RX-7 with a Wankel... My Uncle bought it new and sold it to this guy a few years ago after having it in storage for 10+ years...
The current owner backed into something and hasn't driven it since... (Newport beach). He said something like $1,000.00....
Just throwing it out there for anybody

[Vettezuki]

most ls swaps i see have about a 3-4 inch rearward shift of the firewall to move the engine back. Not to make it fit, but to even out the weight.

Mmm, may have to seriously consider it, though honestly I'm not sure that much power is really necessary and perusing super lightness might be a better challenge. Maybe a modern HO V6 would be worth taking a peak at. Then again hearing an LS from a 510 would be pretty cool.

[enkeivette]

Vq37vhr

[Vettezuki]

Vq37vhr

Not a big fan of the sound of a VQ motor, but it's a possibility too. They're expensive to mod beyond the stock form.

[enkeivette]

The 35 might be better for mods. Depends if he wants to be happy with 330hp, or if he wants to mod a 270hp motor to the 4-500 range.

[Vettezuki]

The 35 might be better for mods. Depends if he wants to be happy with 330hp, or if he wants to mod a 270hp motor to the 4-500 range.

Any idea on the weight of the 350 vs. LSx? Packaging would be a little easier. I think 510s can get into the low 2,000lb range fairly easily, so something in the 325WHP range with great balance would be plenty fast and "potentially" excellent handler.

[Vettezuki]

Well, interesting. $2k for a full reubilt VQ350? (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissan-350z-Engine-3-5LTR-VQ35DE-Rebuilt-Motor-3-5L-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZMakeQ3aNissanQQhashZitem58 88d72737QQitemZ380252923703QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTru ckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories)

[Sonic03SVT]

vq35 is roughly 330 lbs from what i can gather, minus trans/flywheel and front accessories. Ill see if my dad has the weight of a fully dressed VQ on his swap list from when he had his 280. Be warned. Its not much smaller than an LSx, if it is at all. Those overhead cams make for a wide motor.

[Vettezuki]

vq35 is roughly 330 lbs from what i can gather, minus trans/flywheel and front accessories. Ill see if my dad has the weight of a fully dressed VQ on his swap list from when he had his 280. Be warned. Its not much smaller than an LSx, if it is at all. Those overhead cams make for a wide motor.

THe info would be great. We're leaning towards teh SR20DET: 450lbs for full engine and trans, easy to package, ok stock power to start that can be beefed up, well understood swap, etc. Sometimes obvious is obvious for a reason. (We'd love to do the 2.8L V8 twin Hayabusa, but that's a bit pricey. :smack:)

[Sonic03SVT]

Why not try a four banger but be different? Ford 2.3 comes to mind, I know theyve got them putting foxes in the 9s, so its clearly got potential. Im just shooting from the hip here, as ive never actually seen it done, but it could be fun :lmfao:

[Vettezuki]

Why not try a four banger but be different? Ford 2.3 comes to mind, I know theyve got them putting foxes in the 9s, so its clearly got potential. Im just shooting from the hip here, as ive never actually seen it done, but it could be fun :lmfao:

The Ford 2.3 did cross my mind. . . I guess they build some wicked ones for midget cars etc. But how much? SR20DETs, with trans, are really pretty cheap (low $2k). But yeah, something at least a little different would be cool. Any good links to sources for ready to drop 2.3s or DIY kits?

[heypal]

ls motor or ford 2.3 my buddy just found one with a trans for cheap. I'll see if he won't send me the link.

[BADDASSC6]

How about the 5.6L v8 out of their full size truck. Really what do you want out of the car? Drag, road racing, cruiser?

[Vettezuki]

How about the 5.6L v8 out of their full size truck. Really what do you want out of the car? Drag, road racing, cruiser?

Drivable street car, powerful, but not at the expense of being well balanced and fun to drive in twisties.

[94cobra69ss396]

How about a 1985 VG30ET? They had 200hp and 227tq stock. I found out last night that my dad still has his out of his 1985 300ZX Turbo. He has the engine, trans (5 speed), driveshaft, ECU and wire harness. The car had somewhere near 90,000 miles on it when I rolled it.

[Vettezuki]

How about a 1985 VG30ET? They had 200hp and 227tq stock. I found out last night that my dad still has his out of his 1985 300ZX Turbo. He has the engine, trans (5 speed), driveshaft, ECU and wire harness. The car had somewhere near 90,000 miles on it when I rolled it.

It's a distinct possibility. Let me talk to my brother and figure some pricing. We're awfully cheap. I mean, we're not enkei cheap, he's on his own plane, but pretty cheap. :jester:

[94cobra69ss396]

It's a distinct possibility. Let me talk to my brother and figure some pricing. We're awfully cheap. I mean, we're not enkei cheap, he's on his own plane, but pretty cheap. :jester:

Cheap it is. Just let me know.

[Vettezuki]

Cheap it is. Just let me know.


I'll talk to my brother tomorrow.

[Vettezuki]

Thanks to Ron (technically Ron's dad) for the 30VGET at a great price! This will be on a back burner for a while as other things are cleared. But a Turbo V6 Datsun 510 is'a com'n.