Well, it seems we finally found out what Scott considers to be "The Best Car Ever Made Ever".... Owned and raced by the Bramble family, this 1968 Datsun 1600 won the 2020 NSW Clubman Championship. As it happens, the Brambles and Scott share a borderline unhealthy obsession with Datsuns and in particular the 1600 - so get ready for some serious Datto nerdiness! What type of a race car would you like Scott to cover next? Let us know in the comments section! - Shortcuts: 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Scott reminisces about his old Datto... yeah it goes on for a bit. 03:24 - A brief history of this Datto 04:15 - Engine overview 13:40 - Fuel system 17:00 - Drivetrain overview 18:26 - Engine management 19:50 - Interior, instrumentation and safety 22:40 - How to get into rallying 22:25 - More Datto reminiscing from Scott...

@AmirPomen

3 жыл бұрын

Yes me and my dad is rally family... And yes... My dad got not 1..not 2... But 3 datsun L16 twin carb sss edition.. 1-510 sss rally car with twin weber 2-pa10 sss rally car also with twin weber 3-pa10 road car with stock twin carb setup... Too bad all those 3 cars already rotten beyond salvage... But i still have load of L16 engine and parts including the stock twin carbie and twin weber dcoe40 in storage

@PC-pj6iw

3 жыл бұрын

Should do Neal Bates or Clay Badenochs ra40 Celicas

Tuning Fork could have a channel of just him driving around in cars he doesn't fit in haha ! Awesome content

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

We are seriously considering that as a challenge!!!

@kimmyrask7368

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed! But it would go on for F-ing ages, he doesn’t fit a lot of cars😂

@slicktop2jz855

3 жыл бұрын

@@haltech smart car first lads

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

😄😄😄

@ischafer567

3 жыл бұрын

@@slicktop2jz855 surprisingly, there's much more room in the Smart than in this one here 😯 would be fun to see anyway 😄

Thanks for an awesome day hanging out with the HALTECH crew last week! Hopefully we can do the datto proud the next time its out in the bush!!

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

It was a pleasure - and good luck in the bush!!!

@robertsomerville5377

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Jake, I think this car I did the seam welding & strengthening on way back in the 90's . There was a bit of damage to the right quarter, that repaired perfectly. It was the staightest , rust free 1600 I've ever seen. I regret not buying it when it was for sale.

Owned and raced 3 of these. Such a great car to build and learn with. Miss them dearly & now can't afford to buy one 😂👍😎

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, sadly they've gone up in price now and finding a good example for reasonable money is not easy.

Love this thing. The first car i bough with my own money was a 1600. It was baby poo brown but I didn't care, it was such a great car. I saved and saved and managed to rebuild the L16, with a works 68 degree cam and twin 45mm DCOE webbers, and some cylinder head porting. The car came with a set of DAT rally tuned headers it almost sounded like a rotary. Wish I still had it.

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Baby Poo Brown. LOL. We know exactly which colour you mean!

Great episode. I’d like to see a cool Haltec solution like the Holley sniper where older cars like the dattos, cortinas, even standard HQ Holden’s with 202s can been converted to efi with an relatively easy bolt on and wire up to keep the classics running . Love your work 😎

Go the Datto. My first car in 1988, I was 17 and so was it. L18 with single Weber, SSS Stanza interior. Rolled it 6 days after I got my licence. I’ve had another 3 since. Hard to believe they are 50 years old.

Been places in one of those you wouldn't take some 4 wheel drives damn thing was tough as nails

Few things in life sound as good as an L-series with side draft Webers (or in this case, ITBs).

Go the Datto. I built one in the early 90"s. Put a 200b L20 donk in it Twin 45mm webbers biggest inlet valves and cam 240k diff and box bolt straight in and a button clutch from keith at KCF rally sport. Did low 13's at willowbank ,did burnouts everywhere went bush flat chat through the forstery and never broke it and it reved it's head off . I have a book "How to hotrod and race your datsun" just a wicked car.

It IS the best car of all time! Mine was a 69 deluxe model that came with chrome strips on the side and a heater. It had a nut and bolt body resto with a hot l20.

Scott's right. I owned 8 of these very reliable vehicles over 20 years of dirt rallies all over Australia. They are lightweight and with the right bits are very competitive.

I have fond memories of throwing my Datto around the Dandenong ranges . That distinctive L series with big webers sound . Awesome . I too cant afford one now !

It is a lovely car. My father had a 510 with a L13 engine and a three speed manual transmission. I learned to drive in that car. It is a car with superb handling. I would love to have one again if my country allows to import a car of this age. Thank you.

A big reason why Datsun was such a popular rally car in Australia, compared to the UK and Europe where it was all about Ford Escorts was parts interchangeability. In the UK and Europe where there are bigger budgets, it was no problem to buy Ford Motorsport parts. In Australia, it was Datsun Lego, fitting parts from 6 cylinder cars, and the every popular front diff from a 720 4WD.

Yea boi! I have a 71 Datsun 1600 with a 180B SSS engine and a 240K 5 speed!

“We want to beat the more expensive cars” man I laughed, it’s the most expensive

I agree Scott. 1600s are a beautiful looking car. They look great from every angle. I missed my chance as an 18yo to own one. I got a nice VK instead but never got the opportunity to go back and buy my dream car...

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

VKs are pretty cool too:) And getting pricey these days!

That sound!! Love it!

had a few datsuns back in the day thanks for the trip down memory lane enjoyed it.

That was awesome. Best 1600 rally article I’ve seen.

Great video , 1600’s are legendary

loved the show Scott! I have a z18t one and have had for nearly 30yrs now, i ll be in there soon for computer upgrade .cheers

This has made rethink what I was planning to do with my dutsun in the shed! super doable now

Had so much fun watching this and actually learned a lot. Thanks.

Had one once went forever extremely reliable.

Can’t wait to get a haltech elite 550 for my 180b. ITB’s and a great enging management system is a no brainer. Great video team!

5:55 Another great aspect of the L series engine is that everything from newer and bigger engine versions fit in the older versions. You can bolt a Z or KA head on an L block, fit a Z24 crank, use L28 valves in an L18 head, etc etc etc. Also, the stock L16 was 98hp, and the SSS version was 105hp 🙂 (maybe 60hp at the wheels)

awesome subject to cover great car, great video nice job !!

Great episode... I love these cars too... I always get a chuckle seeing Scotto almost fit in these car though...😂 Big guy...👍

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

We always take the opportunity to chuck him in a tiny car when we can... 😂

I love the 1600’s. my second car was an ex rally car in 1994. Same l18 with the dogleg first five speed

Nice video Haltech we really enjoyed dyno tuning this car for Jake 👌

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! 👍

@Motorsportmemories

3 жыл бұрын

Great work from Newcastle Dyno as usual.

Great episode thanks, my first car was a 1970 deluxe 1600, Go the Datto ! 😆 Cant afford one anymore

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

It's kinda sad they are not affordable any more. That's the price of popularity...

The greatest mass produced sedan car of all time🏎️

Liked the episode brother!!

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks:)

Mate this was the first car I learnt to drive in too it was a 1600 SSS and wish I owned it today.

This is so awesome 😎 good on that family

Makes me miss my datsun so much

Datsun Gang 🤘

A Japanese version of the MK1 & MK2 Escort ... love it !

Great video Scotty I've had 67 1600's since 1999, still have 18 ( mostly wrecks for spares), They're a very addictive car. Current build is a 69 model with a L20B bored and stroked to a 2.2L with twin 45's.. Also building a 70 sss coupe for a mate atm

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

That's awesome! You aren't at all interested in parting with one, are you? I'm quite keen to get my long legs back into one.

Many cars had independent rear suspension before the Datsun 1600, including various Triumphs starting about a decade before the Datsun (and whose later IRS Datsun look to have copied). But otherwise sweet :)

I never knew that Tuning Fork had such great taste in cars !!

I had a '69 Datsun 510. I drove it all over, even went motocrossing with it (yes, on track). I loved that car. Unfortunately, it got into an argument with a '72 Rambler on a back road and got totalled.

@haltech

2 жыл бұрын

ouch... sorry to hear that.

Great video 👍🏼 I wish I still had my datto 😢 had a L18 taken out to almost 2l with big cam etc. it sounded magical. It was a little rocket ship that handled amazing. I foolishly sold it for $1k to go overseas 🤦🏻‍♂️

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Nooooooooooooooo 😢

Still got my Datsun 1600 but mine got a FJ20et.

I had a 910 Bluebird wagon NZ model as a shop hack. Did 400,000km. and then the roof broke off all down the l/h side. Probably from being abused on dirt roads in the Coromandel. I scrapped it, and I pretty much cried as the Hiab crushed it putting it onto the scrap truck. Should never have let it go. It was quite repairable, but I was busy-as. Has a damaged 910 Turbo at work, and the plan was to do a swap. Sadly, it never happened, and the 910 wagon handled WAY better than the sedan - live rear axle.

First I have to say very friggin cool that is awsome accept just one detail I live in the states and eventhough I dont drive a datsun in RALLY RACES{ still way cool though} here in the U.S.A. parts for my L20 b {& yes its a 4x4 720 are a bit harder to find . haveing said that Way to go thats some awsome stuff keep on doing what you are doing Scott . Much Respect J.

@slowlearner984

3 жыл бұрын

Navara 2.4 cranks are hard to find here now. L20bs and L18s are still around most places though. But I understand why people convert to FJ, SR and CA. I'm about to go EFI on my L18. Time will tell whether I go more CCs or boost.

Had a 1972 as my second car (AP6 valiant was my first!). I added a 180B sss motor ($200 from the wreckers), ported it and chucked on a down draft Weber extractors and 2inch exhaust. 5 speed stanza box and Pedders red suspension. Went like a cut cat and handled so well. Rust and a dodgy panel beater killed it. Fast forward 35 years and I have a new project; 1970 1600 pretty stock but all the work done on the body. Just need the time and money. Ground breaking car. Would love to do an EV conversion on it.

The L series engines are most underrated engines. These were the building blocks of the sr20de. Reliability and power.

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

No arguments there. Solid powerplants for sure!

I have one I have the l20 stroker Just need to finish Oh and it is the best car ever for the very same reason I raced in hidden valley in one for many many years!

Scott needs his own channel!

Greeting from Bali 🙏🙏🙏

I think they were looking at the BMW 2002 for styling, but the Mercedes 4 and 6 cylinder inline engines of the timing mechanically, which you will see if you compare the two. BTW the OS-giken 16 valve head makes these even more SUPER!!

Good story guys, thanks. Go the Dattos.

Its like a bear in lada cruising around the hood damn adorable

Nice! I still own a 1972 1200 sedan all original

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Wow - that's gonna be worth some coin nowadays!

Tuning Fork: Hi! I am reallllllllly tall! Cars in General: Oi, we're going to make Tuning Fork look like he's karting!

Even the 1600 L16 was just a car that wouldn't die. Just thrash them all day long. The 180B was damn fine, (first series), but they were softer in the rear suspension.

Awesome 🇦🇺

Scotty's story about his first 1600 rings so closely to my own teenage years. Only diffence is my first Haltech was an F9a (I think) in my 13BT RX7. I was too poor to buy anything other than twin SU's for my 1600's.

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

RX7 - nice! What series?

My first car also, agree with everything in your intro except for one thing....much, much better looking I think was the coupe version...which of course we tragically never had access to 😭 ( this was waayy before days of JDM imports of course). Always thought it was funny that UK dudes seem to feel the same way about escorts- same purpose & nostalgia I guess (except they had much crappier suspension & interior 😛)

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Have to agree about the coupe being the nicer looking model. Super rare though....

2:01 Scott, E6K - early ..... Pffft. We ran a Z18ET in our 910 Turbo Bluebird rally car with a straight E6 Haltech 👍 That combo ran faultlessly for over 15 years and drove like a normal road car. It started my love for Haltech products! Great to see the L series still fitted 👌👌👌 Unlikely to have built up the L16 into a 2.4 though, the L18 W block can be made that big

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

#PINNED - pls email your postal address and shirt size to marketing@haltech.com

@Danger_mouse

3 жыл бұрын

@@haltech Thank you guys, thats so cool, appreciate it 👌 Email coming soon - David

@Motorsportmemories

3 жыл бұрын

Dangermouse The engine is a L20B block bored out to 89mm.

@Danger_mouse

3 жыл бұрын

@@Motorsportmemories Roger that. I thought it might be 👍 Built a few L motors over the years, mostly from L18s

@Danger_mouse

3 жыл бұрын

@@haltech Thank you guys for the shirt, it arrived today!! Looking good now 😁👌

Do a 90s swift GTi review please 👍

I built the engine for this car. Before jake bought out half of the car, I owned half with Mick bramble. Same car as my profile pic

I'm stunned that it's only got 160 hp from a 2.4. Back in the late '80s, a mate of mine used to rally with a 1.8 (from a 180B SSS) with twin Dell'Ortos and cam that made 160 hp at 8000 rpm - in a Datto 120Y body. Admittedly, that's probably 160 at the flywheel, but considering the advances in tech over the last 45 years...it's still a bit of a surprise.

@mjrocketsurgeon

3 жыл бұрын

I think they mentioned in the mk1 escort video that the rally guys usually chase boatloads of torque, especially low end, as it's a lot more useful than high hp on the dirt.

@Motorsportmemories

3 жыл бұрын

Hi aussiebloke609. This engine makes 375NM of torque at the wheels at 5000 rpm so its all about the torque. I do love the smaller engines though nothing better than a L series at 8000 RPM.

@kasperiheikkinen2061

3 жыл бұрын

Well, two finnish guys got 205 hp and 232 nm from a 1.9 lada engine, so I wonder why dosen't the datsun make at least 200.

back in day i got 1977 toyota t2 where was ported heads and real webers

R31 Skyline Silhouette wheels? Or maybe R31 Ti Skyline (i still have a set of NOS Silhoutte hubcaps that fit on the mag multinspokes) Edit: 11:30 mins- R31 Ti's for sure!

nothing like an injected L!! mine runs Gtir throttle bodies a ka24e dizzy and a Haltech e6x!!

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Well done - old school!

@njs4wheels157

3 жыл бұрын

Love to see more about your motor, any links? Currently building a L20b with GTiR tbs for my 1600sss.

@DRIFTSUNRC

3 жыл бұрын

@@njs4wheels157 nothing on you tube mate sorry. I made an adapter plate that bolts to a twin Doce manifold. It works.

I am just now building a Mk II 2 door ESCORT for a bit of fun Scott , 2 litre Duratec. Celica box and whatnot. Which model of Haltech should I use?

My first car I drove was a Datsun 200B.

@plantpoweredhealth9383

3 жыл бұрын

I'm building a 200b SX wagon with efi and turbo L20b. Can't kill a Datto,they just keep going!

These were very popular cars in SCCA racing in the 'States. Guys would put 14" Chevy Corvair wheels on them for more width/diameter. The rust bug got most of them in the Norteast. I hate to mention it, but Scott in that car reminds me of a "large" girl on a Gyno table...

@brucebeauvais1324

3 жыл бұрын

Corvair wheels were 13X5.5. There’s still a couple in my garage from my 510s. To go to 14”, we used 240Z wheels. Wasn’t often done as there weren’t a lot of low profile 14” tires at the time.

@bvward

3 жыл бұрын

@@brucebeauvais1324 Got it. Thinking back 40+ years ;) Don't get old.

I've got an L18 in a Sunny coupe, haven't raced it since 2009, but still have plans for it. I've got a couple of L20B's (the l20 was a 6 cylinder) & some stumpy 5 speeds, so the igniton set up in particular interested me. I've also got a Sunny sedan I want to put the L18 into, to do Motorkhana's. I almost bought a 1600 way back in the 1980's, but I was gazumped by somebody who wanted to use it as a Rally car. Even had the underdash handbrake set up.

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Wasn't Sunny the one with both Datsun AND Nissan badges on it?

@paulfitzgibbon4110

3 жыл бұрын

Yes they have a Nissan badge on the left side of the bootlid & a Datsun Sunny badge on the right side. They were built during the changeover from, Datsun to Nissan. The cars have a larger engine bay than the 1200's I started with (1st car, 2nd car, etc) & had better rear end grip because of the coil springs, against leaf springs. I've got another sedan with an sr20de with a cage, the engine looks quite at home in there. The only problem with the L series swap is the height of the engine, so you have to modify the brackets to lower it, using an A10 stanza cross member.

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Nice! So much useful Datto info in these comments:)

I'm lucky enough to own a 510 (1600) as well. They are amazing machines and always bring a smile to people's faces. Mine is heavily modified, but I still consider it a 510. @ Tuning Fork, if you're ever in America, take my car for a spin. You'll actually fit. I built the car for me to fit in and I'm 6'10" (210cm), so you should fit just fine 😊 #4G63510

My 1600 L series runs a Haltech IG4. Hows that for old school Haltech.

Hill climbs would be interesting

Cool wheels. They're like the old school tom walkinshaw holden alloys, vk was it? I think the old renault 5 gt hatches had similar wheels too but not sure. I forgot the skylines had them lol

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

They can take a beating too! And yeah, very similar (if not the same) as found on the Walkinshaw Commodores.

@lancecooper4646

3 жыл бұрын

HDT Aeros...definitely on VK's but dunno about VL's 👍

@ischafer567

3 жыл бұрын

On Renault 5 you see a lot of Ronal Turbo wheels, which look quite similar 👍

@utesbikes63

3 жыл бұрын

Nissan skyline ti rims?

@lancecooper4646

3 жыл бұрын

@@utesbikes63 ohh yeah...same stud pattern too 👍

in europe they're 510's aswell fyi

Look how high those knees are.

That's a tight fit! ...either you're 7' tall or the roll cage is to blame.

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Scotty is a giant!

mad

Who was the engine builder?

What is it with big dudes and tiny Datsuns. Scott and I are close to the same height, and I'm just about to get my 510 wagon back on the road.

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Nice! 510 wagons are cool:)

Make sure you go watch Brendo Reeves Rally after this...

Race Trucks 👍

Are those R31 Ti rims on it? If so sweet, I've got an '87 myself. Edit: Ok so he mentions it. Nevermind. Pretty sure they're from a 31 though.

@Motorsportmemories

3 жыл бұрын

Yes they are R31 Skyline

i hate those led lights.. :D

I had triple s datson

@johngibson3837

3 ай бұрын

Me too

Dattos? Tough old thing. But worth too much these days to kill further rallying. And 90% of the things have rusted out or expired through abuse. Fatigue in rallying them kills them. Seam welding may help but they do not crack on the seams. Within 2 feet of a suspension pick both ends. And they bend the rear body badly above the springs as well IRS? Old Benz style swing axle. The engine too is a Benz clone. 60bhp? That was a 1200, 1600s were 96bhp originally. Nissan and Datsun. It is the same company!! As for fool injection and the coil on plug? Webers and electronic ign is all that is required and is period correct. And if done properly bullet proof. And nothing like the sound of a side draft Weber All of this stuff however was done in the late 70s early 80s. L24, 240 gearboxes ute diff centres. I have never hear of one with driveshaft issues in in the early 80s I shared house with a bloke working on one of these. The ute diff was for ratios only, the standard diff was stronger as like all short ratios the pinion gets too small. Revving a 2.4 hard breaks them. And in that respect I doubt the need for the 4.8 diff. Factory 4.1 would be better. Most Dattos had the L series chucked and used later engines of many breeds. Barry Lowes Dazda one radical example, 1600 with a 13B PP and then an Escort Sports Sedan fibreglass front clip. That in the 80s. It won or broke. Both often!

just pull the front seat out 😄

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

We actually suggested that but he still needs to sit on something LOL

@bugproductions9050

3 жыл бұрын

High Tower.

Enter East African classic safari rally this year

The 510s were fun, but best car ever? Yeah, nah - that goes to the 240Z.

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

510 or 240Z - that's like choosing your favourite child!

Autocross would be interesting...

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

This thing would be an autocross weapon.

@puggsincyberspace

3 жыл бұрын

@@haltech I would have thought Autocross would need low down toque due to the lower speed sharp corners where rally is more high speed corners.

Cheap? there hasn't been a cheap Datto 1600 for 30 years. When I wanted one in the 90's they were 10K and I got a 180B for $1500. more power but it was heavier than a 1600

No no it is the best car ever... just look at every kids drawing of a car...1600

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

LOL - never thought about it that way - but damn, you're right!!!

"in the bin"

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

NOOOOO!

Mech Stig is too big for a 510. lol

That vehicle looks thoroughly un-enjoyable for you to drive

@haltech

3 жыл бұрын

Most vehicles designed for "average sized" humans are uncomfortable for Scotty...

Bollocks......and what the hell is Twenny Twenny ?

@haltech

Жыл бұрын

exactly what you think it is.