Text quoted from my brothers post on Datnet;

We recently installed some custom coilovers on the front from stewart wilkins which allowed us to fit the 16x7 GTS skyline rims shown in the pics below. It's currently sitting about an 1 inch too high but an old guy drives it so he's happy.

Specs:

FJ20T Turbo
Hi flowed turbo
ported and polished head
water-to-air intercooler (pump not yet wired up, but soon to be)
9-10psi made 189 rwhp (no intercooler) using microtech lt8
four wheel discs, r200 LSD, 300zx turbo clutch

Completely re-trimmed interior using r31 skyline front seats as the basis, momo wheel and gear knob.

Pics from then

Here is a pic of how it currently stands



So recently I finished a front mount install on my 180b, and my old man has been collecting parts for a front mount install for his car.

Now that I've had some experience in doing one, we are going to do one on his car (his will look alot better than mine )

Parts we've got;

PWR radiator with 16 inch thermo mounted on alloy bracket
PWR IC 400x300 (heaps better fit that the 450's which are a common chinese cooler size).
XF Throttle Body
Davies Craig Electric water pump

Parts we need or need to make;

Cut inlet manifold and get adaptor plate welded on to suit XF throttle body
Make aluminium cover for where we are removing the stock water pump.

There is more, but thats all I can think of at the moment.

Pics!

Current bay



Grill off showing water exchanger for old Water to air setup



Old radiator and cooler out



Checking cooler fitment, perfect. Due to the support already being opened for the N13 radiator.



Room showing the amount of space left with the cooler in. The fitting kit used for this car was a custom made Godzilla motorsport kit (one of the first fj20 kits into 510 done ever), so the motors sits a bit further forward than kits today, so we have a little less room.

Decision was made to purchase an electric water pump to give us the room needed for the radiator and thermo fan.



Grill will fit back on



Pic of radiator and cooler





That's it for now, will be back into this saturday hopefully. Thinking we might get brackets welded onto the cooler and radiator to make them bolt together (alot neater).

So tasks for saturday are working out fitment for the cooler and radiator. Remove water pump and hopefully make a blanking plate.

Electric pump has been purchased, will probably receive it next week. It's a Davies Craig EWP 80, you don't run a thermo stat with these pumps. Pic below

Martin, love this car! Looks sweet as with the OM's on it, and the bumpers being chromed now!
Always remember it when it was in fast fours and rotaries when i was like 13 or 14, credit to you, your Dad and Ben for keeping it in such great shape!
Makes me wanna get mine engineered and just enjoy it

Thanks for the comments Tim. Yeah I guess it was the car that really got me into datsun properly.

My old man still has the magazine feature for it, but most of the information is up here;

http://www.turbocreations.com/fj20/white1600/

BTW just furthered this upgrade by buying a forged motor for it. 0 km's since rebuild, so this is going to turn into a engine replacement upgrade as well.

Hopefully get some more done on it this weekend.

Small update, picked up new motor 2 weeks ago. (don't mind the dirty oil pump cover, may still change it)



Last weekend I removed all electric connectors and cables from the old motor in the car in prep for removal.

This week I gave the XF throttle body to my mate, his old man is going to make me up a alloy flange to bolt the throttle body to, once he gets that we'll cut an inlet manifold to reposition the TB, then weld it on.

Also got a set of extractors that I got with an old motor but never fitted, so donating them to my old man for helping me out over the years;



That dodgy dump pipe won't be being used don't worry. Also picked up a braided turbo oil feed off ebay for $60, so hopefully that's long enough to use on the extractors;



Might look at pulling the motor out this weekend if we get time.

Not alot done this weekend, but got all the manifolds, turbo, starter etc off the motor in readiness for engine removal.

My old man tested the extractors and it looks like when the turbo is fitted it points straight at the wheel arch which is a slight issue. Pic below;



Had a look at the stock manifold today and where the actuator for the turbo bolts onto (2 bolts at the back that hold the front compressor housing on.

So I'm thinking we might be able to rotate the compressor housing to our advantage. Either point it straight down, or slightly up on a 45 degree angle.

Once we've sorted that, I'll move to working out the mounting tabs and everything for the radiator and cooler.

Still need to find a piece of material that will suit the blanking plate for the front of the motor, but that's easy stuff. May also get the crank pulley machined to remove the power steering knuckle on it to give more room.

More updates during the week.

Looking good Martin!
Let us know if u need a hand! Got an engine crane if you ever needed to borrow it

Thanks Tim, should be sweet with the engine crane, we have a pulley setup on the RSJ's under the floor of the house so got that sorted.

Going a different way with the turbo now as it looks like the t3/4 that was on there has a damaged impella wheel, must have eaten a nut or similiar at some stage.

So, just secured a deal for a T28BB off a jap S15. Should give the old man good low down response and mid range boost.

So now I have to get an adaptor flange for either the stock manifold or the extractors, will see once we get the turbo.

This weekend I want to sort out mounting the rad and cooler.

Not much progress this weekend, but worked out cooler and rad fitment.

Removed the water pump on the existing motor so I can check room for cooler and rad.

The cooler is touching on the front valance down the bottom on it's lip. Decided to give it a trim, marked and cut with grinder (won't be seen, so didn't mind cutting it).



Trimmed, now cooler sits right against the front valance which is what I wanted (but don't want to cut the valance)



The 16inch thermo fan that came with the car isn't a slimline, so it touches slightly on the crank pulley.

We are going to get the power steering pulley (circled) machined off to give that extra bit of room.



Moving on, now that cooler sits in place, I marked up the area we wanted to remove for the 90 degree cooler bends. Someone had already had a hack at it years ago to fit some water lines.

Marked for cutting;



Cut with the grinder using a cutting disc



Now fixed up with a grinding disc and file (not finished)



Quick check of grill and lower mold fitment, looks good




That's all for now, hoping to have some updates on the inlet manifold this week. Looks like we aren't using the extractors now (not that they were needed for hp).

Now hunting an S12 exhaust manifold as that positions the turbo a bit further forward allowing for more room for the dump pipe. Will then get a T3 to T2 flange adaptor and check the turbo fitment, then new oil lines.

Since the t28bb uses water as well, I'm thinking we'll use the water connections that usually flow water to the throttle body but everyone blanks off.

More updates next week.

Small update, still waiting on my mates dad to get the inlet flange machined up.

On the exhaust side, was banking on getting an S12 exhaust manifold then using a flange converter but went to meet the guy only to find out it was a dr30 manifold, doh.

So that brought me back to the idea of making my own extractors, as I have the fj20 flange in cad format. While pondering I remember a guy in NZ had used a set of SR20 extractors and chopped the flange and made them fit onto a FJ20 flange.

So that's what I'm hunting for at the moment, a set of stainless SR20 extractors, need to get a flange cut out of stainless, then will get my mate who is a fabricator to adapt it for me.

Once that happens and the inlet is finished, it will come together pretty quickly. Mark P has offered to help me paint the engine bay as well so hoping to do that in the next few weeks as well.

More to come.

Small update, been working on another car recently so haven't had alot of time to spend on this.

Was half way through getting some quotes and finding SR20 extractors when I mate agreed to sell me his S12 manifold and flange adaptor.

So now the turbo is all bolted up which is a step forward



Just about to start ordering some silicon bends from just jap, then the exhaust side IC piping will start coming together next week.

Bought the following parts;

1 x 2" to 2.5" 90 degree bend silicon hose
2 x 2.5" 90 degree bend silicon hose
1 x 3" hump joiner silicon hose
1 x T2 exhaust flange

The old man knocked up the water pump blanking plate out of a piece of stainless just need to get the holes drilled on it for the bolts then that's sorted as well.

I have a track day coming up in 2 weeks so I have to prepare for that so work may stop for a while unfortunately (plus I've got a holiday after that for 3 weeks).

Ok so finally getting back into the progress on this thing. Currently we are up to stripping down the whole engine bay.

Next thing is we are going to do a removal front (basically just cutting the front valance where the radiator sits), this will make removing and replacing an engine very easy and alot less chance of scratching it later on.

Pics of the pulley, cut with a hacksaw and cleaned up, not a bad job.

Before

After


Radiator and cooler in position, checking clearances. Hopefully with the trimmed pulley it will allow the fan to fit.




Once we cut the front of the radiator support, this motor will be coming right out and then the sanding and prepping of the engine bay begins



I have done most of the IC piping which wasn't difficult, only part left is to cut the inlet manifold and get the flange welded on, and cut one more bend and get it welded on the inlet side.

So, painting the bay is the next step, then mounting the radiator and cooler permanently once the new motor is in.

Updates to come.

Dropped round to the old mans this afternoon and found this



Old and new fj20

Having had an update in a while, spent a day stripping more stuff out of this bay.

During the week got some different grade emry papers and with the help of my dad we have been slowly rubbing back the engine bay in preparation for some primer.

Now we aren't expecting a show job but thought since we are going to the effort and the motor is out, we may as well have a crack at painting it.

Got a day off this friday, so i'm hoping to have it in primer by the end of the weekend, then possibly painted in the next 2 weeks after that, then re-assemble!

Couple of other side things happening, will get the inlet manifold cut and rewelded on friday barring any issues, also plan on painting in the VHT red wrinkle paint for that fresh FJ20 look, see how we go.

Pics to come.

Not many pics to update, still rubbing back the enigne bay ready for primer, not far off.

One here are how the piping is going to play out



Just need another 90 degree bend going the opposite way to the throttle body and thats the piping done, will do that probably last.

Any progress Martin?

Hey Tim, been trying to sort out getting the bay painted. My old mans garage is to damp to paint it so we moved the car to my brothers place.

Hoping to have Mark of Dural Datsun fame over next week to put some etch primer, primer and top coat on then everything will move alot quicker.

We have cut and welded the inlet manifold, just need to collect it off my mate.

Will hopefully have some updates by next weekend, want to get it done asap.


Forgot to mention, also got some other parts for it donated by my brother.

- Extended control arms
- Brake front brake lines
- Braked clutch line
- Nolathane bushes
- Bigger turbo (disco I think)

Got the inlet manifold back from being welded off my mate. Gave it a paint job with the VHT wrinkle paint, didn't come out as great as expected, but it's not to bad.

Rocker cover will be done in the same paint.




Mr Peacock is planned to come round early next week for some primer in the engine bay

More progress

Mr Peacock in action, first layer of primer down, now need to fix up a few spots and then rub back.





Good to finally get a first layer of primer down on the bay, this part has really slowed down the conversion.

My old man painted up a spare rocker cover during the week. Came out alright, pic next to an old one for comparison



After scratching off the paint on the lettering, still need to finish shining it up.



On monday we will be going hard on the engine bay rubbing back to the etch primer and fixing up a few small bits in preparation for Mr Peacock to come back and throw some top coat on it.

More updates to come.

Had a day off today, was supposed to get my own datsun to the mechanics but ran out of time so decided to spend the rest of the day rubbing back the engine bay of this car.

Went to bunnings and bought some sheets of 240 & 400 grit wet n dry and got stuck into it.

On the passenger side wheel arch the previous owner had welded up some holes but not grinded them back. Went about grinding these back then skimmed it with bog and rubbed back with 180 then 240 - 400.

Took a few small pics but they are on my brothers camera, will try and get Mr Peacock round to throw a top coat on it so we can keep progressing.

Engine bay was painted on friday night (another thanks to Mr Peacock), so after a getting rid of a couple of runs and a buff it will be ready for re-assembly.

Will get a pic of the paint but i've been told it came out great.

First things on the list;

1. Fit Maddat crossmember, SWR extended control arms, noltec bushes etc.

2. Install brake and clutch master and run all new brakes lines in the front.

3.Steering box back in.

4. Install motor and box, maybe consider hiding the wiring.

Once all that is in and done, then we'll move to complete the IC and radiator mounts.

Some pics, looks really good IMHO

Plans for this weekend.


1. Rub back a few runs in the paint in the engine bay
2. Paint brake booster and re-install.
3. Install brake and clutch master cylinders
4. Run new brake lines (then remove and get them flared and reinstall.
5. Possibly install motor and box.

Got a few things done this week culminating with the install of the engine/bix/tailshaft today.

extended lower control arms & new extended steering arms


new cross member & NOS eng mounts, booster/master, clutch master and starting making up new hard lines


one rebuilt FJ


new heavy clutch installed and box attached to the donk




eng & box in with zero damage - happys days

Just got back from overseas. Hoping to finish bending the brake lines tonight and get them flared tomorrow.

Booked it in for dump pipe to be made for next week on thursday at Liverpool Exhaust.

Might try and get the piping sorted for them to weld up at the same time to, then it's basically just rewiring and finishing IC and radiator mounting + water pump.

Got most of the brake lines bent tonight with the help of a mate. Lost part of our brake flaring kit, so hopefully we can buy that piece tomorrow from auto one, then we'll do the flares.

Got a few flares done with the new flaring kit, ran out of connectors.




Will finish them off next week.

Next is bolting all the exhaust manifold and turbo up, need a new fitting to connector the banjo fitting to the braided oil feed line. May need water lines for the turbo as well.

Also getting the inlet manifold prepped for installation.

Exhaust has been done, went off to Liverpool exhaust today and i'm told they did a really good job.

Plans for this weekend.

1. Tap the threads for the throttle body on the inlet manifold.
2. Work on getting radiator and intercooler mounts sorted or worked out.
3. Finish the IC piping and start bringing the wiring back in the bay.

See how we go.

Pics of the recent stuff

Update

So it's still not running, but it's pretty close, and I'm on leave for this week and next so hoping to get it done if not very close to.





Gotta finish off cooler piping, turbo oil and water lines, fix up a bit of wiring, that's about it really.

Red rocker cover will go on eventually

Just ordered a bunch of speedflow fittings for the oil and water lines for the turbo, hopefully get them tomorrow.

I'm going to use the old throttle body water connections for the feeds to the turbo water lines, so I need to work out a solution from stepping down the 15mm hose to the hose size for the lines (don't have the measurements yet).

Got the connections today for the oil feed line, so that will hopefully be sorted once I get the stud out that the previous owner put in the whole for the turbo feed on the sump (guessing he did this perform the oil pressure test).

Also have the water lines and stuff, swung by a scrap metal place and bought a chunk of aluminum just in case I need to make something up for stepping down the 15mm to the water hose size.

It's a square block, would just drill to holes on opposite sides, tap a thread, insert brass fitting with bigger size on one side, smaller on the other and install it. Not the greatest solution but since the motor is already in it's to hard to weld up the connectors.

Still progressing with the car. Hard to find the time to work on it but doing small bits here are there.

Today

- Speedo cable connected
- Cut and marked turbo side IC piping, worked out inlet for filter as well so good to have that covered. Will get it welded during the week.
- Ordered some -6AN Threaded bungs to give us the water connections to get some speedflow stuff on, that will finish the turbo.
- Got the oil for the steering box as it all came out when we painted the bay, will get that filled while the inlet manifold is off.

Other things to do

- Fix wiring while inlet manifold is off.
- Put inlet manifold on permanently after plugging up some bungs underneath it they are no longer needed.
- Bolt on dump pipe
- Finish water connections for turbo.
- Mount and fit electric water pump
- Finish filter mount
- Mount bov and sort out plumbing (this can be done after car is running).

Small update, this thing is almost to the point of running, nigly things take time (forgot about them as it's been a while since I built my car).

So there is what has been happening over the last few months

- All IC piping has been cut, bought an extra 90 degree 2 inch bend to weld onto the outlet of the turbo (cut off cast one, kept flange and welded on the new pipe). Made a beading tool and beaded all the IC Piping, came out alright for home job.

- Modified stock fj20 water pipe on the front of the motor, blocked up the existing throttle body cooling pipe, rewelded that section back on with a threaded bung on it for water connection for turbo (will post pics soon).

- Mate came round and did all the starter motor wiring, alternator wiring, new front comb light wiring and general tidy up, heat shrink etc.

- Inlet manifold is together with new bungs etc ready to be fitted. Made temporary inlet pipe for turbo to filter.

Last jobs remaining

- Mount and wire in MSD ignition, mount coil and tidy wiring.
- Remount thermo fan relay etc under dash and re-route wiring to ecu and under dash (previously hooked up to switch)
- Make a mount for the electric water pump on the motor
- Assemble IC piping and put on silicon water hoses for turbo
- Complete oil drain pipe back into sump.
- Check everything twice.
- Get wheel alignment then drop to tuners.

Will post pics soon.

So the car is finally running and almost completed. Motor runs great (always a gamble when you buy a built motor that you didn't build yourself).

Needs a basic tune so we can do some run in km's, then will go back for another power tune. Just a few small niggly issues to sort but no leaks and noises, happy days.


Turbo Water Lines


Electric Water Pump installed


Boost Missile switch installed on dash, along with Thermo Fan override


Inlet manifold installed, cleaned up, painted. Sarg Reg installed on custom bracket, looks factory


Inlet piping completed, coil hidden behind headlights and MSD installed



Red rocker cover will be installed once the motor has been run in, so doesn't look 100 percent complete at the moment.