The Datsun 1200 A12 engine came with slightly dished pistons for approximately 9.0:1 compression ratio. Standard bore size for the A10, A12 and early A13 block is 73mm (2.874 in). Pistons are cast for quietness, and lightness. Nissan Competition does not recommend forged pistons for street use as they are not as close tolerance as the cast pistons (forged pistons are noiser due to larger tolerances required). The A12GX engine used the same dished pistons, except for the "high gas" version which used flattop pistons from the Datsun 1000 Coupe motor.
Contents |
GX Pistons
A12GX Engine came with two kinds of pistons:
- dished for low-gas (regular octane) engine
- flat-top for high-gas (high octane) engine
Piston Comparisons/Potential Swaps
Forged Pistons
The downside of forged pistons is noise and wear. But they do hold up to massive stress, so good for turbocharged engines or high-RPM racing engine.
1984 Nissan Competition CatalogNissan Competition does not recommend forged pistons for street use.
ARIAS FORGED RACING PISTONS
All of the forged pistons are of the dome-top design. Modifications must be made to the spark plug side of the combustion chamber for proper clearance. The compression ratio will vary depending on the swept volume of the engine and amount of material removed from the cylinder head. Piston-to-wall clearance for forged pistons should be approximately.005" to .007". All forged pistons use a full-floating .750" pin retained by Teflon buttons. For this reason the A12 and A12A pistons require the use of the A12A connecting rod (12100-98500). Also, the A13 and A14 pistons require the use of the A14 connecting rod (12100-H7200). Because of the full-floating pin the small end of the rod should be sized with a clearance of .0006" to .0009". End gap for the top ring should be .012" to .015". The second ring should have an end gap of .010" to .013". Clearance on the oil scraper ring is not critical. Forged pistons are not recommended for street use
ARIAS forged pistons a12 +040 with floating pins, teflon buttons
Arias forged pistons with press wrist pins and rings $175 each (2008)
Part Numbers
See Piston, Crank & Rod Part Numbers
- 12010-H1001/H1011 PISTON SET-with pin A12 regular, A12 GX-low
- 12010-18021/H2301 PISTON SET-with pin A12 GX-high
- 12033-B3040 RING SET-piston A12 all
- 12100-H1000 ROD ASS'Y-connecting A12 all
- 12109-H1001 BOLT-connecting rod
- 12112-18000 NUT
- 12111-20900 BUSHING-connecting rod (8 needed)
Suppliers
- Datrats (Australia) is listing A14 oversize Tomei forged pistons
- JE Pistons -- custom order
- JP Pistons (Australia) -- custom order pistons
- Malvern Racing
- JE and Wiseco forged pistons
- HP engineering (Rhode Island). Phone 401-789-6700
- A12 std. Cosworth race pistons with pins (19mm)
- A12 +0.040 Cosworth race pistons with pins (17mm).
- Nissan Competition no longer carries these.
- Nissan
- 76mm race pistons sold by Nissan under the number 12010-A14STD. These are used in the A12A engine when it is bored close to its maximum +0.040 inch overbore.
- PAECO These folke are real nice people lots of A-series goodies, custom order pistons, and a great price for the hi perf valve spring, pushrod and lifters, and some nice cam grinds .You can request a catalog via E-mail. Custom order $460/set
- Peter Zekert - click to see current available pistons
- Ross Racing pistons (California) $359 without wrist pins and domed for $391 also sans pins
- Wiseco
- Venolia (part number 10400 for standard pistons, $67 each in 2008). They told me on the phone a while back that they would make me any piston I wanted for about $86.00 each but they may be more by now
PISTON RINGS
- Total Seal premium piston rings
- Page 38 of the catalog has the A14 and A12A piston rings listed
- These can be bought from many parts stores
A12A +0.040" over (1.0 mm oversize) is the same as stock A14 pistons
Part Numbers
SET-RING PISTON STD - 73mm bore 12033-H1002 12033-B3040 ^12033-H1002
ITM Part # 51283.STD RPB Standard size Alternate # 021-1335
Interchange: * B110 1970-1973 * B210 1974 A13 * 410, 411 Sedan & Wagon, 1200cc, 1300cc 1964-1968 * 520, 521 J13 Pick-up Truck, 1300cc 1965-1969 ** Replaces Nissan 12033-H6200, 12033-19100, 12033-B3040
SET-PISTON WITH PIN STD (Source: USA catalog) 12010-H1001 12010-H1011 0672- ^12010-H1001
USA
B110 RAW LIST 12010-H1011 SET-PISTON WITH PIN STD 12010-H1003 SET-PISTON WITH PIN 0.25 OVER SIZE 12010-H1004 SET-PISTON WITH PIN 0.50 OVER SIZE 12010-H1065 SET-PISTON WITH PIN 0.50 OVER SIZE 12010-H1014 SET-PISTON WITH PIN 0.50 OVER SIZE 12010-H1005 SET-PISTON WITH PIN 0.75 OVER SIZE 12010-H1006 SET-PISTON WITH PIN 1.00 OVER SIZE 12010-H1066 SET-PISTON WITH PIN 1.00 OVER SIZE [-0.40] 12010-H1016 SET-PISTON WITH PIN 1.00 OVER SIZE 12010-H1007 SET-PISTON WITH PIN 1.25 OVER SIZE 12010-H1008 SET-PISTON WITH PIN 1.50 OVER SIZE 12010-H1061 SET-PISTON WITH PIN STD 12010-H1001 SET-PISTON WITH PIN STD 12035-H6201 SET-RING PISTON 0.50 OVER SIZE 12035-B3040 SET-RING PISTON 0.50 OVER SIZE 12039-H6200 SET-RING PISTON 1.50 OVER SIZE 12039-B3040 SET-RING PISTON 1.50 OVER SIZE 12039-H1002 SET-RING PISTON 1.50 OVER SIZE 12038-H1002 SET-RING PISTON 1.25 OVER SIZE 12037-B3040 SET-RING PISTON 1.00 OVER SIZE 12033-H1002 SET-RING PISTON STD 12037-H1002 SET-RING PISTON 1.00 OVER SIZE 12035-H1002 SET-RING PISTON 0.50 OVER SIZE 12034-H1002 SET-RING PISTON 0.25 OVER SIZE 12033-H6201 SET-RING PISTON STD 12033-B3040 SET-RING PISTON STD 12036-H1002 SET-RING PISTON 0.75 OVER SIZE
Nissan Competition Parts
NOTE: 99996- part numbers are Nissan Competition
A12/A13 FACTORY CAST FLAT-TOP PISTONS 12010-H2361 73MM/2.874" PISTON 12010-12364 73.5/2.894" PISTON 12010-H2366 74mm/2.913" PISTON 12010-H2310 73MM/2.874" PISTON * Similar to 12010-12361 except for valve reliefs for increased piston-to-valve clearance
Cylinder wall thickness should be checked by sonic testing when increasing initial bore size in excess of 1 mm/.03937". Standard bore size for the A12 or A13 block is 73mm/2.874".
PISTON RING SET 12033-H6200 RING SET FOR 12010-H2361 STD 12033-H6200 RING SET FOR 12010-H2310 STD 12035-H6200 RING SET FOR 12010-H2364 +0.5 12037-H6200 RING SET FOR 12010-H2366 +1.0
ARIAS FORGED RACING PISTONS
All of the forged pistons are of the dome-top design. Modifications must be made to the spark plug side of the combustion chamber for proper clearance. The compression ratio will vary depending on the swept volume of the engine and amount of material removed from the cylinder head. Piston-to-wall clearance for forged pistons should be approximately.005" to .007". All forged pistons use a full-floating .750" pin retained by Teflon buttons. For this reason the A12 and A12A pistons require the use of the A12A connecting rod (12100-98500). Also, the A13 and A14 pistons require the use of the A14 connecting rod (12100-H7200). Because of the full-floating pin the small end of the rod should be sized with a clearance of .0006" to .0009". End gap for the top ring should be .012" to .015". The second ring should have an end gap of .010" to .013". Clearance on the oil scraper ring is not critical. Forged pistons are not recommended for street use.
PART NO. DESCRIPTION QTY REQ. 99996-H1017 73MM/2.874" A12/A13 PISTON 4 99996-H1027 RING SET FOR 99996-H1017 1 99996-H1022 REPLACEMENT PIN FOR 99996-H1017 4 99996-H1123 REPLACEMENT BUTTON FOR 99996-H1017 8
99996-H1011 74MM/2.913" A12/A13 PISTON 4 99996-H1021 RING SET FOR 99996-H1011 1 99996-H1022 REPLACEMENT PIN FOR 99996-H1011 4 99996-H1127 REPLACEMENT BUTTON FOR 99996-H1011 8
99996-H1060 76MM/2.992" A12A/A14 PISTON 4 99996-H1065 RING SET FOR 99996-H1060 1 99996-H1022 REPLACEMENT PIN FOR 99996-H1060 4 99996-H1124 REPLACEMENT BUTTON FOR 99996-H1060 1
99996-H1061 76.75MM/3.022" A14 PISTON 4 99996-H1067 RING SET FOR 99996-H1061 * This ring set is designed for 77mm/3.032" pistons, therefore, some sizing will be necessary to achieve the proper end gap. 99996-H1022 REPLACEMENT PIN FOR 99996-H1061 4 99996-H1023 REPLACEMENT BUTTON FOR 99996-H1061 8
99996-H1062 77MM/3.032" A14 PISTON 4 99996-H1067 RING SET FOR 99996-H1062 1 99996-H1022 REPLACEMENT PIN FOR 99996-H1062 4 99996-H1126 REPLACEMENT BUTTON FOR 99996-H1062 8
COSWORTH FORGED RACING PISTONS
The only exception to the information provided in the above paragraph <for Arias pistons> is that the Cosworth piston still utilizes circlips to retain the full floating piston pin.
PART NO. DESCRIPTION QTY REQ 99996-H1170 76MM/2.992" A12A/A14 PISTON 4 99996-H1175 RING SET FOR 99996-H1170 1
A14
Factory A14 pistons came in several versions with differing piston dishes.
USA B210 A14 (See A-series Engine Changes) SET-PISTON WITH PIN
NON-GFU EXCEPT CAN 1978 12010-H7211 STD <> 12010-H7711 <> Sealed Power 12158P 12010-H7214 0.5 OVERSIZE <> 12010-H7714 12010-H7216 1.0 OVERSIZE <> 12010-H7716 * H721x B210 -0977 * F10 * H771x B210 1077- <> 12010-H7211 <> Sealed Power 12146P
5.37 mm dish 12010-H7284 STD 12010-H7286 0.5 OVERSIZE 12010-H7288 1.0 OVERSIZE * STD GFU EARLY 1276-0777 * STD CAN 0877-
4.08 mm dish 12010-H7684 STD 12010-H7686 0.5 OVERSIZE 12010-H7688 1.0 OVERSIZE * STD GFU LATE 0877-
B310 USA 12010-H7284 A14 CAN 12010-H7684 A14 KFU -0779 12010-H7685 A14 FED 0879-0780 <> Sealed Power 12147P CAL 12010-H8702 A14 FED 0880-
RINGS
1978-1979 GFU, CAN A15 1979-1980 12033-H7680 SET-RING PISTON STD GFU 0877- 12035-H7680 SET-RING PISTON (0.5 MM OVERSIZE) GFU 0877- 12037-H7680 SET-RING PISTON (1.0 MM OVERSIZE) GFU 0877-
* B210 EXCEPT 1978 GFU * F10 * B310 USA -0779 [1979 model year] * B310 CAN 0879-0880 [1980-1981] 12033-H7200 STD 12035-H7200 0.5 MM OVERSIZE 12037-H7200 1.0 MM OVERSIZE
1980 * B310 0879-0780 12033-H9900 STD <> 12033-H9910
1981-1982 A14/A15 * B310 USA 0880- * B310 CAN A14 12033-H9800 STD <> 12033-H9810
12033-H8915 * A15 1279-0780
A15
B310 USA 12010-H7284 A14 CAN 12010-H7684 A14 KFU -0779 12010-H7685 A14 FED 0879-0780 <> Sealed Power 12147P CAL 12010-H8702 A14 FED 0880-
12010-H9718 A15 CAN 0879- 12010-H9704 A15 FED -0779 [centered dish] 12010-H9714 A15 FED 0879-0780 CAL -9780 CAN 0879- 12010-H9802 A15 CAL 0880- [offset dish]
Specifications
Piston pin Diameter 17.45 mm (A14 is 19.00 mm) to fit Connecting Rods
Pin Diameter A10/A12: 17.45 mm A14/A15/A12A: 19.00 mm Pin Height A10/A12/A13/A14: 32.5 mm A15: 30 mm Piston length A12/A13: 67.40 mm A15: 65.00 mm
Interchange
A12
MAZDA 1976-1978 GLC 1977-1978 L4-1272cc 1.3L 2 BBL Vin TC MIZER 1976-1977 L4-1272cc 1.3L 2 BBL Vin TC
NISSAN/DATSUN 1967-1974 B110 1200 1971-1973 B210 1974 L4-1288cc 1.3L 2 BBL Vin A13 PICKUP 520 1967-1968 L4-1299cc 1.3L 2 BBL Vin J13 PICKUP 521 1968-1969 L4-1299cc 1.3L CARB Vin J13
A12A
Standard Size Piston Rings - Cast Iron Rings; Bore 75mm"; 8-2.0mm Comp and 4-4.0mm Oil Rings.
- SEALED POWER #E-362X.STD, 9469X.
- Hastings #2M-6813
Fits:
- 1979-1982 Datsun/Nissan 210 4 cyl. 1.2L 1237cc A12A engine
- 1971 & Up Mazda 4 cyl. 1.5L 1484cc UA engine
- 1968-1969 Toyota Corolla 4 cyl. 1.1L 1077cc KC engine
- 1969-1979 Toyota Corolla 4 cyl. 1.2L 1166cc 3KC engine
- 1981-1982 Toyota Starlet 4 cyl. 1.3L 1290cc 4KC engine