Datsun Laurel C31 sleeper VG30DET

[Jelmer C31]

Datsun Laurel C31 sleeper VG30DET

A build thread about my Laurel C31. The Laurel C31 shares the chassis with the Skyline R30 and Leopard F30.

I bought my Laurel last october year from a guy who treaded it not so good. I had some damage on the front but for only € 200,- I coudn't complain.

The day I brought it home:

IMG_20160714_210353200_HDR by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20160716_172740188_HDR by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20160716_172723588 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG-20160718-WA0041 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

The exhaust was made from several unmatched pieces and was leaking everywhere. With future power upgrades in mind I decided to make a 2,5" stainless exhaust with straight thru mufflers.

IMG_20160813_164209933 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20160813_164347635_HDR by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG-20160828-WA0018 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

I found a wing and put it on together with a brand new headlight

IMG_20160910_154046664 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Than had it inspected and drove it!

IMG_20160920_192619124 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

But 113hp is not very satisfing when your last project car was a BMW E28 with a 340hp S38B38 M5 engine with carbon airbox.

A friend of mine who did a lot of jap import engines had a VG30DET so I bought that.

IMG_20161019_155612247 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Z32 gearbox behind it and I started position the engine

IMG_20161112_182627527 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20161121_201809365 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

It sits pretty centered in the engine bay but if I want it more rearwards the turbo hits the steering box and the intake manifold hits the brake booster.

IMG_20161121_203952444 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20161121_203429278 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

[PranK]

I love this!

I also love that your tow car is a Mk4!  

[Jelmer C31]

Yes, a 2003 1.6 16v....very lazy engine but good mileage and it towed the trailer pretty good. And I never have to work on it exept maintanance.

So with the engine in position I made mounts

IMG_20161126_075610006 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20161122_185135151 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

VG30DET's are non intercooled but now it is time to put one in offcourse

IMG_20161126_080739027 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20161212_163226862 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Position of the gearlever is perfect

IMG_20161215_194557444 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

So I made a bracket for it

IMG_20161230_151451006 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Also got a H190 LSD in

IMG_20170102_193549027 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

The intake manifold was hitting the master cilinder

IMG_20170104_190839325 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

But a Patrol MQ one solved that. It is also bigger

IMG_20170216_191826832 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20170216_193423125 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Bought a R33 alu radiator because it has better positions of the inlet and outlet than the S14 one I had

IMG_20170114_132637951 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

The high presurre powersteering line bolted right up to the Z32 pump

IMG_20170118_202153147 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Made a Walbro fit the S13 cradle that fits the Laurel C32 (Skyline R31) tank that I'm using

IMG_20170209_200640006 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Edited June 8, 2017 by Jelmer C31

[Jelmer C31]

Re did the intake manifold

IMG_20170216_204333187 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

And on again for test fitting

IMG_20170304_141057756 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

The old engine had the power steering resevoir on top of the pump so I had to put on in. A Patrol GQ one fitted the best so i made a bracket and fitted it

IMG_20170325_113915045 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20170325_114012820 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Next job where the injectors. The VG30DET uses very strange injectors and they are low impendance so I modified regular (and bigger) Bosch ones which are high impendance

IMG_20170329_195803979 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20170504_065153851 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20170514_114038075 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

New fuel lines

IMG_20170425_134619046 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20170425_150007834 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

New brake pipes from master to distribution block

IMG_20170411_162728850 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Had the cooling pipes extended so that I coud use stock Nissan hoses and not have them on with a lot of tension. Otherwise they will fail at one point

IMG_20170418_083343138 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Brackets for the R33 rad. I used radiator rubber mounts from a Mitsubishi that I took from the wreckers

IMG_20170422_115406420 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Stock throttle cable made to work

IMG_20170425_164249237 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

I will use Microsquirt as a ECU so I put a simple 2 wire idle valve in

IMG_20170425_164305963 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

And because of that I also put logic coils in. These are from the Volkswagen 1.4 TSFI engine and short enough to be put under the stock cover

IMG_20170325_134115209 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20170325_134106240 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Now I'm working on the wiring. I never did this but it is fun to do

IMG_20170517_165749807_HDR by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20170517_165742230 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20170601_212016553 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Because the stock brakes will have a hard time with the added power I'm upgrading them. On the front I'm going for redrilled Mitsibishi Sigma/Magna rotors and BMW E23 4 pot calipers. The rear will get a S14 rear setup. I have a extra rear axle that I will prepare for the brakes and the LSD. In the meantime I will do a lot of one wheel skids....

IMG_20170602_181524553 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

[Jelmer C31]

Some progress;

The wiring is almost done now. Time consuming but fun to do. I had a friend with experience check it and I only made one small mistake on the cam adjusters.

IMG_20170601_212016553 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20170530_201001299 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

I also found a C31 brake hose in the stash of parts I bought and it is a perfect match for my clutch slave:

IMG_20170624_085209689 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

An aftermarket disc for the Crank Angle Sensor so that the Microsquirt can read it:

IMG-20170512-WA0004 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Saturday I cleaned the fuel tank (it is from a diesel Laurel) and I fitted the fuelpump cradle with a new o-ring. For the sending unit I made a gasket out of thick gasket paper and put silicone gasket on both sides. Next I made the wiring which only needs a plug now. I have a water proof plug for it.

IMG_20170625_155139700 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20170625_163501178 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

[PranK]

I'm loving this. Well done! 

[Kane_R32]

this is awesome!

[Jelmer C31]

The driveshaft is made from the Laurel shaft and 300ZX shaft and fits perfect. Both use the same size tubing. Only needs to be welded and balanced.

IMG-20170624-WA0006 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

IMG_20170628_195610087 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Once the car is lowered the driveshaft angle will be spot on!

IMG_20170628_195522374 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

I also redid the shifter. I just had the 300ZX one installed but It was to short and didn't take my Laurel knob so I cut it and welded the top part of the Laurel shifter on it. Now I have my chrome back and the original knob (which needs a new emblem....)

IMG_20170628_195411340 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Yesterday I took the engine and box out again and fully welded the new mounts. Tomorrow the will see some paint.

20170703_171612 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

20170703_171605 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

After that I started on the timing belt. I already had it the old one off and I wanted to change all seals but the crank gear was stuck. I had a nwe one so I drilled and tapped the old one and with a self made tool I got it off.

20170703_171537 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

20170703_173931 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

20170703_171554 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr
 

[Jelmer C31]

Not far from running now!

I changed the timing belt, idlers, cam and crank seals and the waterpump

20170705_214142 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

20170711_210913 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

I trew some paint on the subframe area's which are welded

20170711_210904 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

20170711_210859 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

After a couple of years I will go over the car. I will get painted and the suspension, axle and subframes wil get powder coated.

The tank is fitted. All new stainless hose clamps. I also poured Owatrol oil on top of it.

20170711_210845 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Filler hose is a temporary solution till I find a suitable hose. Any suggestions?

20170717_152134 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

I made an extra support to the chassis rail to take some load too

20170712_193104 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Engine back in and bolted down!

20170712_210352 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Fitting hose clamps was never as exciting as now!!

20170712_210414 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

20170712_210401 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Airfilter to turbo setup. I don't like all the shiny stuff onder the hood so these al wil be painted in wrinkle black later on

20170713_220130 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

20170713_220216 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

We are getting there! The thermostat housing is not on yet because it was hitting the timing belt cover so I made it clear and no it is at the welder again

20170713_220101 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Overflow bottle fitted. It has a blue silicone hose on it now but this will be a black one offcourse

20170717_154216 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

And latest job is the down pipe. This is temporary again because I want to make a 3" dump pipe out of stainless steel later on. That is way I welded it mayself with regular steel.

20170717_142619 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

20170717_142626 by Jelmer Eppinga, on Flickr

Biggest jobs are now:

* Have gearbox rebuilt
* Fit new rear crank seal
* Fit flywheel and clutch
* Have driveshaft welded
* Hook up crank angle sensor
* fill engine with oil and coolant

Can't wait to drive it!!