So i'm moving up from a nissan tech to a position at Nissan corporate level, and in doing so will have more money to play with. So i've been really amped to get a project car once i get settled in and i'm wanting to do something alil crazy. I'd like some opinions to see if they are even do-able. I want to use a 4.5L from a Q45 and put it into a 1977 Datsun 810 wagon/sedan or 610 coupe. I was thinking about using a 240 or 300zx for the swap, but they seem to be a bit common now and i'm really liking the way the 810 and 610's look. Well the potential they have to look good lol.

I've read that the 810's have mostly the same underpinnings as the Z's of that era and that the rear end will bolt in place from a Z, and i've seen people use older Z rear ends in this conversations. So if i'm understanding correctly, i shouldn't have too much in terms of fabrication on that end. The engine bays are pretty large to hold the straight six, so should be able to accomodate the 4.5 without much fuss. Was also throwing around the idea of a turbocharger..or two. Plus, unlike the 240 or 300's they will be considerably cheaper. That is if i can find them. I've found a couple wagons for under 2k, no sedans or coupes though.

What do ya'll think?  think of any major obstacles? I don't know much about the rarity of these vehicles, so if they're really rare, i don't think i'll butcher one as a project car.

Sounds like a good way to turn money into noise!

 Well, its definitly difficult to find some 810's, 610's. I did find a really clean B210 for around 2k. Just not sure on the engine bay size. Anyone know the dimensions on the 4.5L? I've seen a few in person outside of the vehicle, just can't recall the width roughly. I'm more worried bout width than anything. 

Also, anyone have any good website for finding any old datsuns?

A lot of moeny, time or both to turn ugly cars with crappy underpiings into really crappy unbalanced cars for a lot of money. Just my opinion though, who care what Ithink, if you want to do it, go for it!.

Thanks for the opinion, I don't mind the truth. I'm not expecting this to be a corner carver. Just want to do something different with a cheap entry level vehicle that no one will miss if things don't work out. Though I'm alil torn between the motor.. I honestly don't think it'll fit, the strut towers are oddly placed on these cars and I think the 4.5 is just too wide. So i may just fall back on a 4cyl, unless something else pops up that catches my eye. Would be a lot cheaper with an sr, ka or any other 4cyl combo i come across.

VH45s are nice engines that's for sure but the problem is they have about as bad of market support as ANY Nissan engine can have. There are a few people here and there that have turbocharged them and what not but I *THINK* a GM LS1 or variation of it would be better as far as V8s go. Pushrod engines are just typically thinner and shorter, you've got a single cam to worry about replacing and plenty of options. I saw a 5.3L (iron block) out of a 1999 Silverado the other night (locally) for $300. Granted that is "played out" and everyone hates on it because it's not "JDM tite" and too "inbred american". Sticking with Nissan brand loyalties I really don't see a better option than the SR20.

As far as your chassis choice goes I'm with Mike, old Datsuns just don't have the best underpinnings. Correct me if I'm wrong since I don't know them that well but they probably use semi-trailing arm rear suspension? Maybe a live axle in some applications? This doesn't exactly seem like a good idea for "a turbo, maybe two" (especially on mildly high compression 4.5L V8) unless you're trying to make some kind of dyno queen

Best site I know of (though I've never really visited) for old datsuns that aren't S30s/Zs is http://community.ratsun.net/ but be warned, with the internet "bolts right on" becomes 3 hours with an angle grinder, 50% additional unexpected expenses, yada yada.

The thing about obscure platforms, they aren't obscure because "nobody thought of _____", they are obscure because most of the time they aren't cost effective. Even if you do pay a premium for a 240SX, you get a well engineered suspension in a lightweight body, with an ample sized engine bay and you have aftermarket support. You may stand out more from the crowd in the "whatkindofcaristhat" but it's hardly worth it unless your goals are extremely modest or you are a masochist.

Thanks for the input.

I'm not looking for something to be a track car. More of a cruiser/toy and the rare drag event. Not saying I don't want the suspension/engine sorted, but i'm not gonna be beating on them constantly and don't expect race car like precision. I don't want any cast iron v8's, too heavy. I don't expect any v8 swap in an old small datsun to be nimble, but figure saving a couple hundred lbs up front between a cast iron and aluminum v8 wouldn't hurt. I'm still researching to figure out if its even possible to fit the VH45 in without ridiculous amounts of cutting.

HP goals, are quite modest in my opinion. Around 400HP. So 1 turbo would probably be fine. Which is do-able between a lightly modded v8 or a boosted sr.

So far, all i've seen are semi-trailing arm rear suspension. I'm not a suspension guru and i haven't experienced many high power turbo cars, but i'm curious as to whats wrong with a turbo and semi-trailing arm rear suspension? Can they not handle the loads? I mean, the 240-280Z's used the same suspension, and some had turbo motors. Is it just a putting down the power issue?

If you dont plan to track the car, you can get a 240 and probably pull a reliable 400hp even out of the KA engine that comes with it.  On the street, a KA turbo setup wont hit anywhere near the stress levels of a track driven car and should last a much longer time.  Plus you get the added benefit of the simplicity of not doing backyard re-engineering to make an old chassis accept an engine that it was never meant to accept, with power levels that it was never meant to accept.

You can do damn near anything you want with a 240, and turn it into almost any kind of purpose car that you want.  Having a simple setup with tons of flexibility means you can save time and headaches making things work and use that time for things like driving around and actually enjoying and sharing your car with others.