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For all the details, pictures, procedures and accurate information it is a must to get a Repair manual (service or maintainence book). It will pay for itself. The recommend book is a two volume set of Nissan factory service manuals (FSM). Also recommended is to get an original Owners manual. These contains wiring diagrams and specifications for fluids and lubricants. The repair manuals also include detailed troubleshooting guides and pictures or drawings of all repair procedures.
Contents |
Factory Service Manual
A factory service manual can be purchased for as little as $10 on eBay, though $20 is a more typical price -- they are not rare. The factory service manual (FSM) is in two parts:
- A12 Engine Service Manual (1971: A10 and A12 Engine)
- Chassis And Body
For 1973, these were combined into one book.
They were published in various editions and revisions by:
- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Tokyo [for JDM and USA markets]
- Nissan Automobile Company (Canada) Ltd.
- Nissan Motor Co. (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Not only is the FSM from the designers of the Datsun 1200, but they generally have the most and best photos and diagrams. The other brand of repair manuals usually have reproductions of the Nissan photos, or just drawings, sometimes of poor quality.
Owner's Manual
Also recommended is to get an original Owners manual. These list general maintenence schedules, capacities, specifications for oils, etc. Owners manuals come up for sale on eBay from time to time. An online manual is here.
Owner's manual includes among other things:
- Gas station information
- Daily Care
- Operational guide (e.g. when to shift, towing information, etc)
- Wiring diagram (some owner's manuals, other's don't)
- Maintainence schedule
Sources/Shops
Places to get a service manual:
- Local library. Smaller city libraries can often order the book from the central branch. Larger cities usually have a good selection, perhaps even the factory manauls. For example, the King County Library in WA USA has both the factory manuals, and almost every other brand for the Datsun 1200. They can also order books from the Seattle Public Library, which is even bigger and has Mitchell Emission Diagram books.
- Local booksellers
- Amazon (used or new): Datsun 1200 repair manuals on Amazon.com
- eBay: eBay Datsun 1200 search. These are *not rare* in USA or Australia, so you should be able to get a new or good used one for $5-$10 or less if you are patient and wait for one to become available at that starting price.
- Online: Nissan A12 Engine Manual (in Spanish)
Repair Manual Brands
Brands: The following publishers make repair manuals specific to the Datsun 1200:
- Autobooks 753 (by Kenneth Ball) 1000, 1200, 120Y (Autopress, LTD)
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- Comments:
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- Datsun 1200 1970-73 Autobook [includes pick-up (B120)] (by Kenneth Ball, Autopress, LTD)
- Comments: Quirky british text
- Chilton's (many various editions)
- Comments: OK book. Chilton's is the mass-market leader in USA, and their product is a sort of "corporate" repair manual for the mechanic trade. On the plus side, they are superior in the general mechanic's information -- very useful for beginners -- i.e. safety, tools explanation (nice photos of tools), tire and spark plug troubleshooting photos. They even have thir own photos of actual parts, supplemented with Nissan drawings. Also instead of a regular (confusing) wiring diagram, they have schematics for invidual circuits -- a nice thing. But it seems they don't love the cars they cover. For example, the 1997 printing covers 1973-1981 (but mysteriously, not 1971 and 1972 models), and sometimes their step-by-steps seem to be missing something. Note that the 1997 edition is printed on low-grade paper.
- Clymer (many various editions)
- By Alan Ahlstrand
- Comments: Covers 1200 & B210. Early editions have many wiring diagram (e.g. 1978 edition), later editions have none. A fairly good book which looks like it is a repackage of the FSM data (and photos) into a more concise edition, focusing on the repair aspects. Has very good tune-up information.
- Gregory's (aka Scientific Publications)
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- See 'Scientific Publications' below
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- Haynes (many various editions)
- By J.H. Haynes, out of UK
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- Comments: 1986 printing has export wiring diagrams (three total). The main advantage over the FSM is that Haynes has organized all procedures into clear step-by-steps. Plus a few charts (including American-UK english word chart) make this a decent book. And of course the famous Terry Davey 'cutaway' drawing on the cover is priceless.
- InterEurope No. 206
- Comments: A nice-looking book published out of UK. It has interesting british writing, a few tidbits here and there, while "brevity and simplicity" is the stated aim. Lots of charts, export wiring diagram, and an exclusive two-page 'autoservice data chart' suitable for your garage.
- Motor
- Comments:
- Nissan (recommended)
- Comments: The best.
- Petersen's Datsun Tune-up & Repair
- Comments:
- Petersen's Complete Book of Datsun (1975 and 1977 editions differ)
- Comments:
- Popular Mechanic's Car Care Guide (covers all Datsuns)
- Comments:
- Repair Guide (by Peter Russek)
- Comments:
- Road Emporer
- Comments:
- Scientific Publications (SP) No. 87 (aka Gregory's)
- by Murrary Book Distributors Pty Ltd, Sydney
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- Comments: A nice book, with unique large photos. Includes reprints of three Wheels magazine "Road Test", two for B10 and one for B110 (four pages total), but no wiring diagram (fourth reprint, 1977). Covers both Datsun 1000 and Datsun 1200 in one book.
- Bucheli No. 204
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- Others? Please click 'edit' and add it
Specialty Manuals
There are also some specialty manuals (these are rare):
- "A look inside the 3N71B Automatic Transmission"
- "3N71B Automatic Transmission Service Guide"
- "Datsun Electrical Service Guide" - Service Department, Nissan Motor Corporation in U.S.A.
- "Differential Service Guide"
- "Race and Rally Tuneup Manual" (in Japanese), Nissan Motor Co., LTD.
- "Service Manual B110 Series Rear Axle Borg-Warner Model 60" - Nissan Motor Co. (Aust.) Pty. Ltd.
- "Service Manual B210 Series Rear Axle Borg-Warner Model 68" - Nissan Motor Co. (Aust.) Pty. Ltd.
- "Service Manual Datsun 1200 Model B110 Series Engine Emission Control"
- "Service Manual Emission Control System For 1972 Year Models" (USA edition, Nissan Motor Co., LTD.
- Tuning the Datsun (Petersen) Specs, Carb, tips etc. for 1200, 510 and 240-Z
