1974 Datsun 260z (2 seater) with R34 skyline engine conversion

[Napes94]

hey Guys, iv'e had my 260z for about 5 months now and am looking to do an engine conversion. the engine that came with the car is a 5L V8 Toyota Lexus engine with 5 speed Auto trans. It's to difficult to get it registered with such a big engine where i am, so i want to do an R34 skyline engine conversion with manual gear box. Have any of you done this before because i just want to know how difficult the conversion will be. Ill be looking to get a complete R34 front half cut and put all of the goodies into my 260z. Can it be done well.

 

Cheers, Napes 94

[thriller]

I think a 1jz conversion will be a lot cheaper. Granted the motor won't be as new unless you get one from a JZX100 chaser etc.

 

Best bet I think would be to watch the Pickles online salvage auctions like a hawk. Seen lots of cheap things go through, S14 for $1,800, S15's for $5,000, etc etc. R33's get written off all the time so I think that might be a good option too. Nobody wants Toyota Soarers either so they're also very cheap.

 

Lots of info is available online about wiring up a 1jz if you're worried about that.

 

 

 

If you're not too handy on your own and need a workshop to do lots of the work it will cost two arms and half a leg to have it done well, but if you can weld & point a soldering iron then it won't cost too much more than the cost of the donor car.

[Fairlady Z]

^^^^Well said Ryan

 

Yes it can be done.

 

Biggest issue is sump and r33/34 gearbox is big requires custom trany mount, old ones remove as they foul.sump a modified patrol or cut and rotated skyline one or if you can find rb20det sump from a z31 200zr. Also need oil pick up.

 

Other bits is fuel system with surge tank requires lift and high pressure pumps.

Radiator upgrade can use r32 modded one, or alloy ones from ebay.

 

Exhaust fabrication, intercooler and than wiring.

 

As Thriller said get a write off and transfer everything over.

 

Brakes need upgrading so as diff and driveshaft. Rb25det will destroy the shaft and if diff aint lsd its almost pointless.

 

There are few 240/260z currently being built check member projects.

 

Like said above not hard or expensive if u know what u doing. If not start selling a kiddney or have 10k extra for labour alone.

 

But since you got the v8 you probably got few upgraded stuff on it allready.that will save u a bit in labour and parts.

 

Easier just try get the stuff engineered u allready got. 4l v8 aint that big.

 

Good luck

 

[MATTY]

i'd go with an RB mate yeah the 1uz might be good but every one puts a V8 in a zed so stay with a six(a nissan six at that too!!)and boost it like crazy

but also depends on your deication to the build at hand

[Ledge]

Howdy,

Why not put a worked L back in there mate ?.

 

Dont get me wrong im all for the RB swap.

 

 

Come on Ryan 1J wash your bloody mouth out. might as well put

a diesel motor from sssyangyoung in it

 

Cheers

Paul

[nat0_240_chevZ]

even beter napes, ive got a 34 neo installed into one of mine......

i can send the convo mounts along with your rails???

 

its an easy swap bud, just need the right parts and the right knowhow i guess.

 

I may be straying from my existing install, with costom engine and gearbox mounts which I can make for you,

to possibly instaling a whole 34 crossmember.

 

Dont put anything toyota in, not saying they are not good engines, just keep it in the nissan stable of your going to keep it Jap powered.

My old r34, with no real mods ba boost and full 3" went hard as all hell......I was able to slide it without much temptation up our south eastern freeway accross 3-4 lanes @ 100+,

wont say how fast i go to....but it screamed, now imagine that in my lil Z......

nat0

[neRok]

the engine that came with the car is a 5L V8 Toyota Lexus engine with 5 speed Auto trans. It's to difficult to get it registered with such a big engine where i am

Got my 5.7 chev registered with no dramas. I even drove through Karratha 

but every one puts a V8 in a zed so stay with a six(a nissan six at that too)

There seems to be a lot more RB conversions on here than V8.

[pauly_adams]

sorry paul but I must agree with ryan, im a L28 man myself but for ease a 1jz will be almost strait bolt in from his current setup. personally I would tear the evil Toyota engine out and build 1 mean mother of a L series

[Napes94]

I'm not very mechanically apt but I have the will to learn and I pick up things pretty quick, problem I have is budget and lack of time. Can I pull off an r34 conversion in a few weeks on a low budget. I'm looking at a r34 complete front cut for 3800$. With no budget for payed work.

[MickieB]

You needs heaps more bits than the front cut.

Head over to hybridz (hope that's not against rules to mention them  ) They have a thread in the RB section that is pinned giving you all the info on what parts you need and pics showing you how to do it.

[C.A.R.]

I'm not very mechanically apt but I have the will to learn and I pick up things pretty quick, problem I have is budget and lack of time. Can I pull off an r34 conversion in a few weeks on a low budget. I'm looking at a r34 complete front cut for 3800$. With no budget for payed work.

 

[d3c0y]

No you cant.

[dat240z]

This thread would be locked and put into the tool shed on Hybrid z. There is so much info on these sites, thats why they are so useful. However you do need to research these threads as these issues have been covered many many many times over..... I reckon if you cant even dig up the info you seek, Id seriously think twice about starting a "simple R34" conversion!!

[Retro Z]

I'm not very mechanically apt but I have the will to learn and I pick up things pretty quick, problem I have is budget and lack of time. Can I pull off an r34 conversion in a few weeks on a low budget. I'm looking at a r34 complete front cut for 3800$. With no budget for payed work.

 

 

Your kidding me right?. Budget, Zed, lack of time, and engine conversion should never be said in one paragraph.... you bought the wrong car if you want cheap. I suggest throw a l26 back in and have some fun. Should all bolt back in and people are practically giving them away.

 

And if your not mechanically minded i suggest go do a course, learn off someone or fiddle around first on a cheaper car but first of all learn the basics as cars, electrics and power tools can be dangerous for a beginner. And research research research. Not being a prick just some friendly advice.

[Zedman240®]

Couldn't have said it better Tai....

 

Your kidding me right?. Budget, Zed, lack of time, and engine conversion should never be said in one paragraph....

 

You are just setting up for disappointment. Took me months to do a conversion even when parts that are needed were still available (from the US that is). Quite a few parts had to be made by myself like the ITB manifold for the RB. 

[BobsYourUncle]

I don't know... although I tend to agree with everyone else, I'm doing a"budget" rb25 (series 1) conversion (budget meaning aiming for less than $6-7k, but I'm not constrained by that, which is probably important, and I'm doing almost all the work myself). I also have no set time frame for getting the car on the road.

 

I knew_nothing_ about cars when I bought my first Z. I'm still no expert, but you do learn fast when you start working on them. Maybe it's possible, but it will take more than a few weeks.

 

edit: are you talking about turbo or NA engine? NA would certainly be cheaper and a bit easier...

[dat240z]

I honestly cant understand how people do these conversions for anything under 15k, let alone 30k. I cant beileve how "over ambitious and under budget" some  builders out there;

I could not be bothered listing costs as its been done over and over, but YOU CANT do a swap like this for the money your thinking. And if you somehow did get close, I really wouldnt be driving it as it will be a death trap....

 

Heres a tip, get the L series in order and learn to drive it, properly drive it.... Once satisfied and in control, upgrade brakes/suspension etc. Once the car stops/turns and handles _ THEN and ONLY THEN upgrade the power....

 

But seriously though.........rubbish thread... .....and lazy..........and wont happen..... and should be locked.

 

[Scoota G]

My V8 conversion i wanted to do for 5 Grand, came in at 6 grand but included black interior with dynamat and new carpet, lots of chrome, brake upgrade and a satin black paint scheme. Did all the work myself but it'll still cost me minimum $2200 to engineer and roadworthy. I've said it before that in my opinion it's better to try something and fail at it then not try at all. I like the road less travelled.

[Retro Z]

Yeah but then again you know what your doing Mark and mechanically minded. And had more than a few weeks to get it done...

 

Napes94  you're asking to fail. Trust me i have in the past and i was trained and had the resources . Something like a engine conversion shouldnt be taken for a grain of salt. And can potentially get you into major debt if your not careful. Its the little things that people often overlook like. Electrics, fuel system, engineering, hoses/clamps, exhaust, fluids, emissions etc. These can really add up.

[dat240z]

My V8 conversion i wanted to do for 5 Grand, came in at 6 grand but included black interior with dynamat and new carpet, lots of chrome, brake upgrade and a satin black paint scheme. Did all the work myself but it'll still cost me minimum $2200 to engineer and roadworthy. I've said it before that in my opinion it's better to try something and fail at it then not try at all. I like the road less travelled.

 

Even doing it all yourself, thats extremely cheap mate. Just the parts alone would account for more. U sure you didnt forget to add a 2 infront of the figures? 

 

I mean dynamat - 2 packs $500 straight up, thats almost 10% of your overall spend!!

[Scoota G]

Even doing it all yourself, thats extremely cheap mate. Just the parts alone would account for more. U sure you didnt forget to add a 2 infront of the figures? 

 

I mean dynamat - 2 packs $500 straight up, thats almost 10% of your overall spend!!

Got every receipt in my folder. I went with a single extreme dynamat pack which did from the firewall to the back seat. Was $198 delivered. I could not tell you how much time i spent on ebay but 80% of the car came from there. Oh i have a spare motor as well that had $2800 on parts and machining that i swapped for my Peavey PA system but that's still sitting in the shed.

[nat0_240_chevZ]

make of it what you will....

lurchos, i gotta love that popcorn slinger....cracks me up everytime...

how do you think some of us more experienced guys started out??

just grit your teeth and clench your fists and have a good crack at it.

 

I give him this much......looks like his car is already nearly completely stripped!!

now that didnt take to long now did it??

Being in his trade, im sure this will help him along his way,

I wouldnt be making too many assumptions yet boys n girls

 

yes conversions normally cost shitloads,

however they dont need to.....

my rb25 neo conversion thus far has not cost me much at all.......

when you get a motor for nothing but some work, engine mounts you make yourself, gearbox mounts you make yourself........yep upto about 60$ for new engine mount/isolators,

nat0

[dat240z]

^^^^Agree but not everyone gets RBs for free and making your own mounts can be considered dodgey.. compared to buying quality items Mckinney mounts. Its the same as saying its an Ebay turbo or a Garret turbo, Kia or Mecredes. The quality, or lack thereof will show soon enough. I may be different but I think doing it once, and doing right with good parts may cost a little more initially, but in the end you will have a much more reliable, safer and much higher standard car. Plus you wont have to keep changing crappy parts.....God I got F&$% all change out of 5k on just brakes and suspension, and even then that wasnt going all out

[sco_aus]

I'm with dat240z on this, do it once and do it right, learn from my mistakes.  A half arsed job will result in an unreliable waste of money...  Trust me...

 

Go back to an L series, maybe stick a turbo on it, you will achieve all the power you need doing so,  if you later think you need more power, you will have more experience working on cars and hopefully more money to do it right.

[Napes94]

i completely agree with last two posts. I only thought that by putting in a R34, id have less mechanical problems in the long run, than an L series engine. if i could find one in good nick and fairly cheap including delivery, it would be a preferred option as i don't really want to have to manufacture extra support parts. Its not really power i'm looking to get out of my Z, comfort and good pickup and a smooth ride is more desired. And a few weeks may be cutting fine for a conversion, i just wanted to know if it was even possible. I really want the car to be completely finished within 18 months from now. Still might be cutting it fine. 

P.S

Can an L26 or L28 be converted into fuel injection?