Guest Anonymous Posted July 26, 2003 Share Posted July 26, 2003 I've been looking into a v8 conversion for my 210 for a long long time. I finally found this sweet Vortec V8 from a junkyard, and I've got the guy waiting to sell me the tranny too. Is it possible my old automatic transmission from my 1979 Datsun 210 will hold the V8. The same question goes for the driveshaft, rear diff, and axle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted July 26, 2003 Share Posted July 26, 2003 I've been looking into a v8 conversion for my 210 for a long long time. I finally found this sweet Vortec V8 from a junkyard, and I've got the guy waiting to sell me the tranny too. Is it possible my old automatic transmission from my 1979 Datsun 210 will hold the V8. The same question goes for the driveshaft, rear diff, and axle. No. Do not try to cobble anything together either---not worth the time or money to do so. Get a 700R4 and make that work instead. You'll need to modify the tranny tunnel most likely and the driveshaft for sure. The rear end is probably not up to the task of the new power, but a lot of it depends on what kind of tire you will run. Look into substituting the rear end with a pickup or wagon diff (solid axel, no?) from a 510 wagon or 620(?) pickup---just a thought--if it will work. A 210 with a V8 would be great IF it will fit under the hood and stay cool as well. A 5.0 Ford V8 might be better choice with the disty in front of the motor instead of behind. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 26, 2003 Share Posted July 26, 2003 DELETE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 27, 2003 Share Posted July 27, 2003 thanks for the reply. I guess I'll get the tranny that was rigged to the thing to begin with. But I guess this also means tearing apart the housing like you said and fabricating a new drive shaft and then looking for a new rear axle which shouldn't be a problem because they've got a million of em just sitting on old dead trucks at the junkyard. Other than that, will all the lines be ok for the conversion? I only mention this because the 210 (not many people know this) doesn't use an electric fuel pump, and so its lines go straight from the tank to the front where there's a diaphram fuel pump rigged to the engine. Am I going to have to do something funny with the lines like cutting or whatnot or should I be able to maybe lift the rear and fit a tank from some other car under there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted July 27, 2003 Share Posted July 27, 2003 Hmmm. You might want to plumb the tank to a Holley or Carter fuel pump for sure. Use a regulator up front to get the desired pressure, or use the Holley blue which is preset at 7 lbs (I think). A lot of guys use 3/8" fuel line (even the braided stuff, but it is not legal at some dragstrips) to go from the tank all the way to the carb. This will need a 3/8" fitting in the tank if you do this. One of my Z tanks has been plumbed for a 3/8" line and that's the one I will use. You have taken measurements to make sure this will work, right? Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 27, 2003 Share Posted July 27, 2003 hehe... no not really... I just know that the old powerplant is dead... the old L4, and now I have what people tell me is a very nice V8 engine from a wrecked chevy truck... that's the vortec. I'm just hoping it'll fit. I have a buddy that can make all of the lines from scratch given the right material, so I'm not worried. But its of some relief that I can get an offbrand fuel pump with some sort of regulator and it'll work. I dunno... maybe i'm just building a funny car or something... I'm not all too concerned about the think just destroying itself on the first run. In fact, I think if the V8 and the old auto nissan tranny will mate then I'll give them a shot with all the original equipment. If by some miracle it all holds, then its good that way because I really don't want to have to yank the rear diff and axle then somehow replace it with another one not designed for the car. Basically, my big fear is cutting the body and having to mod it because those conversion kits just add up like no other. If I can keep this to the bare essentials, then this entire scheme will have run me $800. $800 for the vortec V8 and tranny. oh, btw, thanks for the replies... I really thought people were going to just ignore the whole concept of a 210 conversion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted July 27, 2003 Share Posted July 27, 2003 Doh! I just picked up the Summit catalog and then it hit me: the JTR method uses an electric pump because the mechanical fuel pump is done away with. If a mechanical pump will fit in your 210, then by all means go that way! If you go electric, Summit has COMPLETE fuel systems around $275. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 27, 2003 Share Posted July 27, 2003 sweet... thanks for the info. But it mounts right up next to the engine. If I could get another diaphram fuel pump that works for a vortec V8, then I wouldn't have to mod anything, except the fuel pressure in the lines would be incredibly high because they're so small. Oh well, trial and error. Unless that's something particularly dangerous to be playing with. 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.