Gary and his 2JZ Datsun 1200 Coupe

It might look tiny amongst its rivals but Gary Halpin’s 2JZ powered Datsun coupe packs a helluva punch! A self-confessed Ford fan, Gary always had a soft spot for Datsuns, so when the time came to pick a platform on which to build his drag car, Gary didn’t have to think too hard.

Built by Matt Lisle from Mr Enforcer Engineering, the car took a few years to complete but Gary reckons it was all worth it. The car certainly stands out from the crowd and turns heads on and off the track wherever it goes.

“The build took a while and we hit some bumps along the way but I really wanted to do it right the first time.”

“Since the completion we’ve only been doing minor adjustments and fine tuning.”

What lies beneath

Okay, so let’s take a closer look at what’s hidden beneath the body panels. The first, and the most obvious thing is the engine. To be competitive you need reliable and plentiful power and Toyota’s 2JZ inline six offers both plus a plethora of aftermarket parts.

The front chassis has been extended to accommodate the inline six. The rest of the body retains the factory chassis. With the nose on the little coupe looks remarkably similar to its original shape.

What makes it move

The 3 litre, 2JZGE uses factory crank and block with Carillo rods and pistons, GE head, CamTech cams and Supertech valves and springs. Cam gears are by Titan and the billet manifold is by Plazmaman.

Boost comes via a GT55 Pro Boost Turbo with some Nitrous to help Gary get on boost on the startline. The car runs on Methanol delivered to the engine by 12 staged 2000cc injectors. Credit for the engine build goes to GJW Race Engines and Dale Hiler for the tune and race prep.

The power (approximately 1500hp) gets to the ground via a 2-speed Powerglide transmission with straight-cut billet gears, and a McDonald Brothers 9inch diff with 3.56 gears. Suspension and brakes are by Strange.

What controls it all

Gary runs a complete Haltech system in his Datsun with an Elite 2500T ECU at the centre of it all. The ECU is wired in using a Haltech 2JZ Terminated Engine Harness and is supplemented with an O2 Wideband Controller, Ignition Coils, a set of EGTs with a TC2 Thermocouple Amplifier. An iC-7 dash occupies the central position directly in front of the driver.

The most recent addition to the setup is a PD16 power distribution module which, which the help of a 15 button CAN Keypad expanded the functionality of the Elite 2500T ECU and also helped in removing a ton of superfluous wiring, fuses and relays.

“I’m proud of where we are with this car today.”

“We got here through hard work, determination and help from friends and family.”

What’s next?

At the time of writing, Gary was still testing the car after the latest upgrades. His goal was to get into the six-second zone at the next event and if the initial tests are anything to go by – sixes are definitely within reach.