Hi all, my first post here! I'm not sure how much I'll be able to add to the website because I seek mostly answers however I really hope you guys can help me. Thanks.

I'm working on a project to swap a Diesel engine into my car and since it is going to be a show car it HAS to be unique, I hope that helps to understand my insanity. I have a 1979 Datsun 280ZX and I'm going to be swapping a Diesel engine from the early 80's Nissan 810 (Maxima). The setup is a bolt in so I'm not worried about the mechanicals and I can sort out the ignition, fuel, etc. when I get the manual for the engine. The thing I'm having problems with is my crazy idea. I want to twin turbo the engine, acctually I want to run a sequential setup (one small turbo one large). All the datsun guys I've been talking to have little info about Turbo Diesels and even less about twin turboing them. I was hoping that someone here would know a bit about turbo theory and could help me figure out what size turbos I need to run, what compression to run, etc... Even links to other pages would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

You need to find out the compression ratio. To turbo charge it more than a few pounds, you don't want the compression over 17.5 or 18:1. Usually, naturally aspirated indirect injection diesels are at least 21:1. Do you know if it is indirect or direct injection? Most likely, it is indirect.

I am 99% sure that the LD28(maxima engine) has indirect fuel injection, I dont have the engine yet and I havn't found any good pics of the head. According to my references it has a compression ratio of 22:1, it is N/A. Which means that I'm going to have to lower the compression. I'll have to go through my spec sheets and see if there are any lower compression pistons that I can use.

Put a cummins in her. Easier to find and sure to be a show stopper and much more worth your while and a helluva lot more fun to fly, I mean drive:D

Here's all the specs I have on the LD28, thought it might help:

Displacement - 170.35cu.in.(2792cc)
Bore - 3.327in(84.5mm)
Stroke - 3.268in(83mm)
Compression Ratio - 22.0:1
Combustion - Swirl Chamber
Type - 4-cycle OHC
Horsepower - 93hp @ 4400rpm
Torque - 148lb-ft @ 2000rpm
Weight - 415lbs(238kg)

BTW: I can get a thicker head gasket for the engine that will bring the compression ratio down to about 18:1.

Put a cummins in her. Easier to find and sure to be a show stopper and much more worth your while and a helluva lot more fun to fly, I mean drive:D

Which Cummins, a 4BT? I can't believe you could ever get a 6BT in there, then the front end couldn't hold it up. A 4BT may still be too heavy. If you can do the head gasket thing, that may be the way to go. However, I would worry that a thick head gasket could blow easier than a thin one, especially with alot of boost from two turbos.

A 3-53 driptroit would be a great addition for a show car ):h

Get a wrecked 2500 reg cab 2wd dmax/alli and put your body on it, would be REAL :cool2: and :driver:

Don't forget to strait pipe that 3-53 . The only thing that would describe that would be "DEAFENING"!

i think the 3-53 would weigh about same as 4bt and stick through hood. what about m-b, old vw, volvo or for that matter small john deere or cat inline 6 if you could find some where. is that a head gasket or head spacer plate, i have seen some engines that have plate about 1/8-1/4in to lower compression or could make one depending on valve train setup(overhead cam), could be pain side cam with pushrods could fab longer rods. good luck.
saw were opel has twin ohc 1.9ltr with 212hp, would leave room for intercooler, just food for thought.

You can do a few other things to drop the cr. Drill the valves, shave the piston tops, offset the wristpins or rod caps.
The turbo(s) would require a little research and fabrication to get them to work. It would be easier to add one than two.