BowtieBandit
BowtieBandit New Reader
12/5/10 1:21 p.m.

I've been bench building this truck in my head for some time now. This older fella that comes in my store, has a few oldcars sitting around that he's been trying to sell me for years now. One of which is a 1965 Datsun Pickup, problem is it has no motor. Its been a few years since I've looked at it, and don't remember if it has a trans or not, but its a pretty solid little truck.

The thing is, those little motors aren't quite as common as they used to be, and the engine bay is TINY!!! Now the firewall pokes into the engine bay probably a good 6 to 8 inches past the cowl, but I don't know how much footwell area is there.

What motor could I swap in given the limited space? My automatic assumption was a Rotary, but they aren't too common 'round here either.

I'm not looking to make an autoX truck or anything, its just a funky little truck that I would think would make a pretty cool little project. Maybe cram it full of batteries and make an EV out of it? Who knows... if I can get out there in the next little bit I'll snap some pics, its a funky, tiny little thing.

stuart in mn
stuart in mn SuperDork
12/5/10 1:51 p.m.

Sometimes the answer IS Miata. http://community.ratsun.net/topic/7446-project-mx520-top-secret/

Junkyard_Dog
Junkyard_Dog Dork
12/5/10 1:56 p.m.
BowtieBandit wrote: This older fella that comes in my store, has a few oldcars sitting around that he's been trying to sell me for years now.

I officially volunteer to help you with this "problem". What else does he have?

Do THIS!!!

Edit: stuart in mn beat me to it!

I might buy the CF hood from you if you part out this Miata as a donor

skeze
skeze New Reader
12/5/10 2:00 p.m.

I second stuart in mn

BowtieBandit
BowtieBandit New Reader
12/5/10 2:15 p.m.

In reply to Datsun1500:

That actually looks dead-nuts like this truck. What vehicles do I need to look for as a donor?

JtspellS
JtspellS Reader
12/5/10 2:56 p.m.

Or your original idea....

Search around get inventive.....

Osterkraut
Osterkraut Dork
12/5/10 3:05 p.m.

What about a little diesel tractor motor? Doesn't Kobuta make a 3 cylinder?

JtspellS
JtspellS Reader
12/5/10 3:39 p.m.
Datsun1500 wrote: In reply to JtspellS: No way those will fit. These have an extremely small engine bay.

Sure it will, you will just need this:

As well as a few more tools......

Travis_K
Travis_K Dork
12/5/10 3:51 p.m.

do you realize how small they are inside? You would have to be 5 feet tall for it to be at all comfortable to drive.

belteshazzar
belteshazzar SuperDork
12/5/10 4:02 p.m.

Subaru motor fit between the rails?

Streetwiseguy
Streetwiseguy HalfDork
12/5/10 6:24 p.m.

Trying to find the original motor would definitely be an exercise in frustration. If length really is an issue, cam in block Nissans like 1200, B210, up to 210 of the early 80's would work.

Head for the junkyard with tape measure in hand. I'd look at Corolla 1600's as well, but the Nissan might be pretty close to a bolt in.

Junkyard_Dog
Junkyard_Dog Dork
12/5/10 6:52 p.m.

Theres plenty of room in the bed.

Just sayin'

EvanB
EvanB GRM+ Memberand Dork
12/5/10 7:00 p.m.

I say you should go with a G13 engine from a Suzuki Swift GT mated to a Samurai transmission.

EvanR
EvanR New Reader
12/5/10 8:34 p.m.
Osterkraut wrote: What about a little diesel tractor motor? Doesn't Kobuta make a 3 cylinder?

+1

I absolutely LOVE the idea. But it's Kubota. :)

BowtieBandit
BowtieBandit New Reader
12/5/10 9:40 p.m.

In reply to EvanB:

Again, not too common car, most anything that old in a junkyard around here would have already been crushed. Where we don't have many rust issues, when scrap prices go up, everything goes to the crusher, sadly.

AquaHusky
AquaHusky New Reader
12/6/10 5:10 a.m.
EvanB wrote: I say you should go with a G13 engine from a Suzuki Swift GT mated to a Samurai transmission.

You would also need the adapter from the Samurai to turn the dist. the needed 90* to avoid the firewall.

Karl La Follette
Karl La Follette HalfDork
12/6/10 8:40 a.m.

1098 or a 1275 mg midget motor ?

egoman
egoman New Reader
12/6/10 8:49 a.m.

800 cubic inch john kasse boss 9 with a 14/71 gmc supercharger and a carbon fiber injector hat. I am not sure if there is an adapter to go to the stock datsun transmission available. You may have to fab some parts to make it fit.

ultraclyde
ultraclyde Reader
12/6/10 12:02 p.m.

Hayabusa? I mean, unless you wanted to HAUL something in it besides arse.

grimmelshanks
grimmelshanks HalfDork
12/6/10 12:48 p.m.

sr20

mndsm
mndsm Dork
12/6/10 12:50 p.m.

LS1? I have yet to see an LS1 NOT fit in something... (liberal application of fire wrench notwithstanding.........)

Pumpkin Escobar
Pumpkin Escobar SuperDork
12/6/10 1:22 p.m.

paging 93celica...93celica come in...

100 hp 4AFE from a corolla/celica to a trans of unkown origin - do 4afe'bolt to any RWD trans or is there any common bellhousing pattern that comes close? All I know is that 4afe is a TINY motor...seriously tiny. With a little prodding it wakes up nicely and should be able to haul that tiny truck around easily. It moved my sedan around pretty well...not fast, but definitely quick and fun for a 1.6

93celicaGT2
93celicaGT2 SuperDork
12/6/10 1:52 p.m.
Pumpkin Escobar wrote: paging 93celica...93celica come in... 100 hp 4AFE from a corolla/celica to a trans of unkown origin - do 4afe'bolt to any RWD trans or is there any common bellhousing pattern that comes close? All I know is that 4afe is a TINY motor...seriously tiny. With a little prodding it wakes up nicely and should be able to haul that tiny truck around easily. It moved my sedan around pretty well...not fast, but definitely quick and fun for a 1.6

I'm 90% sure that the 4afe shares bolt pattern with the 4age, which opens up some possibilities.

BowtieBandit
BowtieBandit New Reader
12/6/10 2:03 p.m.

In reply to egoman:

Maybe if I flip the axle upside down, and haul it behind the truck in a trailer? If I were any more stupid, I would attempt it.

If.

slantvaliant
slantvaliant Dork
12/6/10 2:04 p.m.

SBC

PIITBed

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