Photo: Damarble on Grassroots Motorsports
Offered between 1965 and 1970, the Datsun Sports 1600 is pretty desirable and surprisingly affordable in this day and age. Nissan never released exact production figures for the roadster, but the 1968 model we’ll be covering today is one of probably 13,690 units made.
Damarble, the owner, explains on Grassroots Motorsports that his car is a “one-owner barn find, except that barn was a carport where she languished for the past 44 years.” Even though the odometer was showing 49,000 miles (78,857 km) upon discovery, the R16 powerplant will soon be yanked out.
“The 96-horsepower 1,600-cc engine was never going to cut it,” said the original poster. “The go-to engine for these is the SR20DET from the Silvia, but those have dried up and for the current prices I knew I could do better.”
As the headline implies, Damarble made up his mind on restomodding the Japanese roadster with American oomph in the guise of a 2.3-liter EcoBoost. A fairly large powerplant compared to the R16 and SR20DET, the four-cylinder turbo should translate to loads of fun in a 2,000-pound (907-kilogram) car.
The OP has placed an order for a turnkey engine, and although he’s $5,000 out of pocket, the owner of this cutesy little fellow will have to wait 10 to 12 weeks for delivery. With 310 horsepower and 320 pound-feet (434 Nm) of torque out of the box, the motor will be complemented by a five-speed manual from an MX-5 Miata or a six-speed box that will require cutting.
The front end has received unspecified hardware from the Nissan 300ZX, slotted and ventilated discs, and red calipers. Out back, Damarble intends to take off the rusty drums and shoes in favor of modern rotors as well.
In addition to frame mods, the Datsun’s hood will have to be modified after the EcoBoost goes into the engine compartment. The reason? As it happens, the high-pressure fuel pump is located high on the back of the head.
“The 96-horsepower 1,600-cc engine was never going to cut it,” said the original poster. “The go-to engine for these is the SR20DET from the Silvia, but those have dried up and for the current prices I knew I could do better.”
As the headline implies, Damarble made up his mind on restomodding the Japanese roadster with American oomph in the guise of a 2.3-liter EcoBoost. A fairly large powerplant compared to the R16 and SR20DET, the four-cylinder turbo should translate to loads of fun in a 2,000-pound (907-kilogram) car.
The OP has placed an order for a turnkey engine, and although he’s $5,000 out of pocket, the owner of this cutesy little fellow will have to wait 10 to 12 weeks for delivery. With 310 horsepower and 320 pound-feet (434 Nm) of torque out of the box, the motor will be complemented by a five-speed manual from an MX-5 Miata or a six-speed box that will require cutting.
The front end has received unspecified hardware from the Nissan 300ZX, slotted and ventilated discs, and red calipers. Out back, Damarble intends to take off the rusty drums and shoes in favor of modern rotors as well.
In addition to frame mods, the Datsun’s hood will have to be modified after the EcoBoost goes into the engine compartment. The reason? As it happens, the high-pressure fuel pump is located high on the back of the head.
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