Wizzurp Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Ok, so I managed to do this swap in several hours but I wanted to do some documentation so others can have some visuals on how to do stuff/can learn from my mistakes. I'll update this with some pictures periodically. Car is a '78 280z, orange as hell, and has some minor rust floating around. I've got bc coilovers waiting to go on after I get everything exactly where I want it. Where is it now? I just finished my intercooler setup last night, need to build exhaust badly so I don't get fumigated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88dangerdan Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Will be following seeing how my son decided to claim a complete '75 280z (minus the motor) that was given to me for the cost of the tow ($25) to get it to my house last week. He has a complete rb20det lined up to put in it. As soon as dad gets it stripped and in a primer stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizzurp Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 Wow, that's a good way to start! I will be posting a lot about the small detail stuff that people get sketched out by. I have a good few images of my progress, it really was quite an easy swap honestly, super easy to get it in, super easy to get it wired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizzurp Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 Break down on my Datsun so far: Original purchase price of my car was 2100, clean title, running but munching coolant. Built a working L28e for about 30 dollars worth of parts, it has been together for a year, fairly healthy little motor. 1125 for my set of bc coilovers New brake master cylinder 55 Rb20det swap 1300 Compromised for a 27x9x2.5" intercooler 75 Four 90 degree 2.5" couplers 35ish bucks Assorted tubing/t bolt clamps had around the shop Spal 12" fan, also had laying around 650 for my crappy wheel/tire setup Plans/needs/stuff to do still: Figure out why I don't have speedo function Figure out a tach option Need to build an exhaust badly, going to be a shitty crush bent 3" tubing setup, not going for looks and 3" is overkill for my power goals anyways Need to procure a fan controller of some sort, probably a cheap hayes adjustable controller, shouldn't be too hard to get sorted Definitely need a new shifter boot to close off my cab Wire up my AEM wideband, waiting on the exhaust so I know where the actual sensor will sit Get my boost gauge plumbed Need to find a good place to mount the aforementioned shit Cut my suspension down and weld on my coilovers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Replace ball joints Definitely need to order an energy master kit, I have a lot of sloppy bushings and shit, same with the steering. Eventually I'm going to get an aluminum radiator designed for a KA 240sx (inlet and outlet both on the pass side) Drill out and remove quite a few brackets and other useless shit in the engine bay. Need to find some replacement heater hoses for the inside of my car, I would love to have heat in the winter! The heater hose routing should be easy in the bay, just cant run it in currently as one of my heater core lines leaks like mad Planning on socketing my ecu and using my moates ostrich (eprom emulator) for tuning my stock ecu, the coding doesnt look too bad Fix some assorted rust issues Rebuild drivers side door hinge (real saggy) Figure out how to get my damn door locks functioning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88dangerdan Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 A picture of what brackets in the engine bay that are not necessarily needed would be great. Since there is no engine in there at this time, it would be nice not to have to go back and remove stuff after I already had Bay finished out and engine in. Of course all this at your convenience. Thanks Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizzurp Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 Ok, I haven't had much time to work on my care recently. The exhaust is a full 3" straight setup, it's actually quieter than my 2.25" straight to can L28 exhaust. At least in the car... Bc coilovers are on as well as the new ball joints. They seem to work well, I need to roll my rear fenders as it's tearing the pass side tire up. May need to raise the booty up a little as the exhaust scrapes where it goes under the diff as well. Basic spal/autozone thermostated fan controller work well, just a single puller, I think my thermostat is stuck open though because it'll only come up to temp completely when stationary, it's about a third of the way up the gauge driving around. Car is a ton of fun, still need to drill a hole/weld in a bung for the wideband, need to run my line for the boost gauge and build some sort of plate to mount the gauges on. Need to figure out a shift boot badly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizzurp Posted December 8, 2015 Author Share Posted December 8, 2015 Ok, small progress recently due to time constraints, rolled my rear fenders, they clear nicely now. I was running an open maf due to space constraints, I finally got around to punching a hole in my core support under my intercooler piping to run a tube out for an air filter/intake. Seems to work nicely. Wideband is in after we welded in a bung (also welded in a flex section for the exhaust as I didn't like it solid) and it's holding a steady 11:1 even with the stock 280z fuel pump haha. Boost goes up to 14ish and tapers back to 10-11 at wot, seems pretty healthy for what it is. Did a quality rolling burnout in it the other day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizzurp Posted December 9, 2015 Author Share Posted December 9, 2015 Ok, pics in order: 1 pre swap, pre suspension, just one coil cut off per spring, actually rode very well! Rest showing swap, I attempted to show the intake/intercooler piping and whatnot. Also **** the rotation issues, ugh!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bestlowrida Posted December 14, 2015 Share Posted December 14, 2015 looking good can't wait to put mines in and get her running!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizzurp Posted December 16, 2015 Author Share Posted December 16, 2015 Thanks, it has been a very easy swap, nice and relaxed. I got my tach wired in with a 10k pullup resistor, fixed my drivers side door lock so the key works in the door now (coat hanger mod lol) and drove it around for an hour or so, it's a lot of fun! Car has a slight bog when it has been driving around for an extended period of time/you go wot, need to see what the wideband is doing when this happens, last time it happened i was driving into the sun and I couldnt see anything. Need to figure out why my speedo doesnt work. Also all my gauge lights stopped working randomly, need to look into that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihiryu Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Check your O2 sensor. When I used Pat's guide, I didn't have power on the O2. Secondly coolant temp sensor. I couldn't get the speedo to work on my 76. So speedhut gauges went it For the gauge lights, it's most likely the fuse. They are the passenger side kick panel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizzurp Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 02 definitely works, I can watch it swing the wideband on light throttle driving (closed loop) I wish I could communicate with the Ecu/see the values it sees. I'm going to try again with my speedo, if all else fails I'll put the stock rb one back in and see how it scales on my stock speedo/mark it for common speeds. Gauge lights turned out to be a pinched/grounding drivers side turn signal power wire, fixed that and no more popping fuses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bestlowrida Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 nice! what mounts did you use? the stock ones that came with the rb20det motor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizzurp Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 Stock skyline motor mounts and the stock Datsun transmission mounts! Had to slot the motor mounts down to get the motor lower but it was like a five minute job with a unibit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizzurp Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 Okkkkkkkkkk, picked up some goodies recently. Snagged a cheap used mishimoto s13 ka radiator I'm going to make brackets for/use so I can have non shit filled original radiator and so i can have the coolant inlet/outlet both on the pass side. Picked up stainless brake lines I need to get in. The woman bought me a master bushing kit for my birthday so that'll keep me busy for quite awhile. Going to hopefully be picking up a set of s12+8 calipers as the car could definitely use more brakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bestlowrida Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Let me know how those brakes go! I'm sure I can use more stopping power too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizzurp Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 Will certainly do, they are in the mail, I'm excited to get fresh lines, fluid, fix my leaking drum cylinder and get them bigguns on there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bestlowrida Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Also I wanted to know what oil pan are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizzurp Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 Just a hacked/flipped stock pan, lots of better options but it was the cheapest. Pat1 on here makes a bunch of really nice looking pans for the community for very reasonable amounts of money. Rear sump is a requirement, no way around it so you have to make it work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizzurp Posted May 22, 2016 Author Share Posted May 22, 2016 Fixed my brakes and shit, swapped a couple things in the bay to clean it up a little. Picked up a couple goodies for it! Forward facing intake manifold (upper one, I'm ebay cheap) Wiring specialties ls coil pack harness/set of ls coil packs (going to swap to those and sell my splitfires) Couple new fans to install as pushers as I have very little room in the bay for pullers Trying to close on a house (with a shop yay!) and then I'll finally have time to pull everything apart and do what I want. Need to swap a couple injector seals out as it's leaking a little fuel out the uppers. Overall car is still doing well after 7 months of the motor being in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.