Matt,
I've owned two L-Series powered roadsters.
1) 1966 SPL311 - With L18 (several years later....owned by Calspeed!)
2) 1970 SPL311 - With L20B
The '66 with the L18 was a super reliable powerplant. However, I didn't
perform the swap on this vehicle...I purchased it with the L18. One very
noticable point about the L-Series is it a taller motor than the R Series,
and will require a slight 'notch' to the frame/crossmember in order to fit
it in. In the '66, instead of notching the crossmember, the P.O. created a
'lifted' hood vent that provided an extra 1.5 inches. Also, the original
transmission from the roadster should probably be replaced with a Z-5spd.
Though the install on the '66 was a real butcher job, the car had lots of
power and was completely reliable. This was my full time driver through
college.
I was so impressed with the performance of the L-Series that two years
later, I bought a 1970 SPL311 with a thrashed motor and implanted in a L20B.
This was a real challenge. The L20B can fit....but it is very, very tight
(height wise). I believe the L20B is about an 1nch taller than the L18.
Be prepared to fabricated customer motor mounts, as well as trans mounts.
Also, the Alternator sits on the opposite side of the R-Series motor. Or
alternatevly, Stan Chernoff sells a kit with the mounts, and alternator
brackets. Probably you will need to find a L20B with side draft carbs. Also,
the original tack / Oil pressure gauges may need to be updated.
Best of Luck.
Dan Zubkoff
San Mateo, CA
1965 SPL310 Fairlady
>From: "Matt Peterson" <pete_303@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: "Matt Peterson" <pete_303@hotmail.com>
>To: datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
>Subject: L20b swap?
>Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 18:00:07 PDT
>
>Hi everyone,
>
>Just took my car off insurance today so no more roadster driving for me
>until next spring :( Anyway I want to make a few improvements to it this
>winter. My first project will be to replace the brakes, that's no problem.
>My second project I want to tackel would be to put in a different engine.
>So since it seems that a few people have done the L20b switch I would like
>to ask anyone who's done this before of any problems or modifications they
>ran into. I would just like to get an idea of what I should expect before
>I
>drop any money for an engine.
>
>Also, does anyone know of a good place to find a decent running L20b engine
>and trans? I'm going to call a few places locally when I get a day off but
>I don't know what luck I'll have.
>
>Thanks!
>
>Matt Peterson
>68 1600 Soon to be 2L powered hopefully!
>Zimmerman, MN
>
>
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