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The distributor on the Datsun 1200's A12 engine is of the traditional "points" type. Contacts points, rather than an electronic control module, are used to switch the coil on and off thus generating a spark. GX models with the A12GX Engine used a dual-point setup for better spark at high RPMs.

Also see: Ignition Timing

1 Warning
2 Advance Characteristics
3 Removal & Installation
4 Interchange
5 Part Numbers
- 5.1 Points & Condensor
- 5.2 Vacuum Advance
6 Electronic Distributor Upgrades

Warning

Most old distributors have a bad vacuum advance unit. This goes for wrecking yards, and probably the one in your 1200 too, if you haven't checked it recently. On a recent trip to the wrecking yard, 9 out of 10 circa 1980 Datsun distributors had a bad advance.

See Vacuum Gun

If your advance is bad, plug the vacuum hose at the carburetor until you get a new unit. It will drive fine plugged, but fuel economy will suffer.

Advance Characteristics

For a factory stock USA-specification engine, including 1.5" exhaust, here is the curve. These are for emission-controlled engines.

Centrifugal Advance - part D412-80 for manual transmission

0° at 600 rpm
12° at 2,100 rpm

Vacuum Advance - part D412-80 for manual transmission

0° at 6 inHg (inches of mercury)
6.5° at 9.5 inHg

Mechanical (Centrifugal) advance is all in by 2100 distributor RPM = 4200 crankshaft RPM.
This is distributor angle. Multiply by two to measure at the crankshaft pulley.

All A-series distributors have similar curves, but vary a little by year and model. Check your Factory Service Manual for your specific model and year to find the curve for your distributor. NOTE: on the side of the distributor is the model number. Mine is D412-63.

The stock design is a nice performance curve. But due to factory tolerances could be several degrees too low for best performance and economy. Blueprint your distributor to ensure it is right.

Total advance is:

5° initial + (13.5 x 2) 27° mechanical = 32° total

Removal & Installation

See Installing Distributor

Interchange

In general you can swap any A-series distributor into any other A-series. Technically, few are a strict interchange do to variations in advance curves used for various years and markets.

When interchanging distributors between 1966-1973 (early A-series) and 1974-2007 (late A-series) engines, minor modification to the mount plate is needed. See Using Newer Distributor.

Part Numbers

Datsun 1200 uses a Hitach D41/D40 type distributor, with the smaller 70mm I.D. cap. Same as Datsun B10. By contrast the B210 uses a larger 75mm distributor (Hitachi D4A type).

JDM 1200s alternately use a Mitsubishi TVA/TVG distributor.

All these distributors are physically the same (will bolt right in and connect electrically). The difference is:

Mechanical advance curve
Vacuum advance curve

They differ due to differences in requirements for automatic transmission vs manual tranmission, and for emission control requirements.

North America Models

22100-H1001 ASSY-DISTRIBUTOR (HITACHI D411-61) non-EXHAUST CANADA
22100-H1901 DISTRIBUTOR [early] (HITACHI D412-63) EXHAUST

AT EXHAUST

22100-H1902 DISTRIBUTOR 1271- (HITACHI D412-63A) (Hollander 152)
22100-H7100 DISTRIBUTOR 0772- (HITACHI D412-89) (Hollander 1060)

22100-H3900 DISTRIBUTOR 0671-
22100-H3901 DISTRIBUTOR 1271- (HITACHI D412-80A) (Hollander 1059)

Japan-market

22100-H1011 ASSY-DISTRIBUTOR (MITSUBISHI TVG-4FL) Except GX
22100-H1001 ASSY-DISTRIBUTOR (HITACHI D411-61) Except GX
- Also CANADA 1970
22100-H2300 ASSY-DISTRIBUTOR (HITACHI D407-54) (High Gas) GX
22100-18016 ASSY-DISTRIBUTOR (MITSUBISHI TVA-4F2L) (Reg Gas) GX
22100-18006 ASSY-DISTRIBUTOR (HITACHI D412-53K) (Reg Gas) GX
- Same as B10 sedan, last revision

Hitachi

22136-H2300 ASSY-BRAKER (breaker plate)
22136-E4600 ASSY-BRAKER PLATE from 1271
22145-18005 SET-CONTACT
22157-H1000 ROTOR-HEAD, formerly 22157-78500
22162-21007 CAP
22165-30101 POINT-CARBON
22102-00801 CONDENSOR

B10 JDM
22100-18001 ASS'Y-DISTRIBUTOR (D412-53) ALL (ex. coupe)
22100-18005 ASS'Y-DISTRIBUTOR (D412-53K ISO) ALL (ex. coupe)
22100-18006 ASS'Y-DISTRIBUTOR (D412-53K) ALL (ex. coupe)
* replaced earlier
22100-25700 ASS'Y-DISTRIBUTOR (D412-57) Coupe
22100-25705 ASS'Y-DISTRIBUTOR (D412-57K ISO) Coupe
22100-25706 ASS'Y-DISTRIBUTOR (D412-57K) Coupe

B210 JDM
22100-H5010 DISTRIBUTOR-ASSY (MITSUBISHI T3T03571) A12S
22100-H5000 DISTRIBUTOR-ASSY (HITACHI D411-89) A12S
22100-H5710 DISTRIBUTOR-ASSY (MITSUBISHI T3T03572) A12T
22100-H5700 DISTRIBUTOR-ASSY (HITACHI D412-91) A12T
22100-G1600 DISTRIBUTOR-ASSY (HITACHI D411-A3) A12S.V 1975-

Nissan Competition

22100-25720 (no vacuum advance)

Points & Condensor

Condensor Interchange
Isuzu 1.8
Mazda 1972-1973 1.8/1.6
Honda 1973-1979
Nissan A/L/R/U/J
Subaru 1971-1975 1.1/1.3/1.4 H4

Vacuum Advance

ASS'Y-VACUUM CONTROL

22301-H1000 non-EVAPO superseded by part number 22301-M1500 $27.25
22301-B3000 EVAPO
22301-B3001 EVAPO (formerly 22301-B3000) $35.07
22301-H3900 EVAPO from 0671 $35.92
22301-H3901 EVAPO from 1271 (formerly 22301-H3900) $32.22
22301-H1900 EVAPO AUTO from 1271 (formerly 22301-B0300) $30.13
22301-E4603 EVAPO AUTO from 0772 (formerly 22301-H1900) $39.13

Orange:

4mm travel adjustment
Inside needle height: 21.5 mm (from spring seat)
Spring 33.5 mm free height
Diaphragm diameter approx 52mm

The needle/screw height adjust max travel. The spring sets the starting point.

diameter: 63 mm (cut gasket larger)

Possible Fit:

Standard Motor Product VC507 Nissan 240Z 71-70 $26
Nardek NVA-605 Australia

Electronic Distributor Upgrades

For converting your A12 to electronic ignition, see:

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Distributor

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