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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 |
Overview
Pistons are connected to the crankshaft via the Connecting Rods.
Datsun 1200 (A12) pistons are modern design of the lightweight slipper type -- unlike the earlier 1200 Bluebird/pickup 60hp engine which used old-design heavy alloy pistons.
light piston from A12
heavy piston from older Datsun
Specifications
Piston Pin Diameter x Length to fit Connecting Rods A10/A12: 17.45 mm x 65.5 mm A14/A15/A12A: 19.00 mm x 63 mm Pin Height (Compression Height) A10/A12/A13/A14: 32.5 mm A15: 30 mm Piston length A12/A13: 67.40 mm A14: 67.5 mm A15: 65.00 mm
CLEARANCE, Piston to cylinder wall cast (stock pistons): A12: 0.0009-0.0017" A14/A15: 0.0010-0.0018" forged: Use manufacturer's suggestion typical: 0.0050-0.0070"
CLEARANCE, Piston to valve * See POST discussion
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
Also see: * Justy Piston Swap for 1607cc A15 engine * Bored And Stroked for performance oversize pistons
KB10 and 1200GX Engine - flattop
1mm oversize
A12 STD and 1200GX low-gas
1.0mm oversize A12
A14 Cosworth pistons
A14 early
A14 76mm Piston
A14 early quench head - deep dish
A14 late model for quench head
A14 76.85mm Tomei Piston
A15 Piston (small dish - early A15)
A15 Pistons (late A15 H98 quench type vs round-port A15)
A15 late model
A14 79mm from Matsuoka
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 pistons a12 +040 with floating pins, teflon buttons
Arias forged pistons with press wrist pins and rings $175 each (2008)
Venolia forged flattops
Kameari A14+3mm (79 mm)
Wiseco
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
12010 Piston with Pin 12033 Ring Set
1200
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 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
Nissan Competition Parts
NOTE: 99996- part numbers are Nissan Competition
Nissan Competition Catalog
A12/A13 FACTORY CAST FLAT-TOP PISTONS 12010-H2361 73MM/2.874" PISTON 12010-H2310 73MM/2.874" PISTON * Similar to 12010-12361 except for valve reliefs for increased piston-to-valve clearance 12010-12364 73.5/2.894" PISTON 12010-H2366 74mm/2.913" PISTON
12010-H2366 pistons (4) +1.00 mm over size
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-H8500). 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
Other A12
B310 JPN 12010-H1061 Van
C20 Vanette 12010-18011 [flattop] 12010-18021 > 12010-18011
A12A
A12A 75mm bore 1237cc
B310 JPN (S,K "A12", replaced by A13 8011) 12010-H8511 JPN -7901 <2,0> 12010-H8521 12010-H8521 JPN 7910-8010
12010-H9012 USA 0879-0780,CAN ALL YEARS <> 12010-H9022 <> 12010-H9001 12010-H9502 USA 0880- <> 12010-H9512
A13 Tall Block
USA B210 model year 1974 (from July 1973 to Oct 1974) 12010-H6201 SET-PISTON WITH PIN STD 12010-H6211 SET-PISTON WITH PIN STD <> 12010-H6201
L61-4374 A13 +030" oversize
A13 Short Deck
12010-H8661 B310 JPN
Factory A14 pistons came in several versions with differing piston dishes.
Dish: Small vs Large (large used with wedge chambers on FU Engine)
Late high-Quench offset dish
H72 5.37 mm dish 12010-H7284 STD * STD GFU EARLY 1276-0777 * STD CAN 0877-
H75 JAPAN B210 * 12010-H7511
H76 4.08 mm dish 12010-H7684 STD * STD GFU LATE 0877-
H87 Offset Dish * 12010-H8702 A14 B310 FED 0880-
H89
H92 EFI piston (flattop?)
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 * H721x B210 -0977 * F10 * H771x B210 1077- <> 12010-H7211 <> Sealed Power 12146P
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-
B310 JPN A14 12010-H7511 V.-7909 12010-H7685 V.7910- 12010-H8911 S,K+AT <2,0> 12010-H8931 12010-H8931 S,K.7910-8010 12010-H9211 A14E -7909 <2,0> 12010-H9221 12010-H9221 A14E 7910-8010 A10 JPN with A14 12010-H7511 -7803, Van 7804-7906 <2,0> 12010-H7685 12010-H7685 Van 7907- 12010-H8911 S,K.7804-7811 <2,0> 12010-H8921 12010-H8921 S,K.7812-7901 <2,0> 12010-H8931 12010-H8931 S,K.7902-
A15
12010-H9718 A15 B310 CAN 0879-
12010-H9704 A15 B310 FED -0779 [centered dish, shallow]
12010-H9714 A15 B310 FED 0879-0780 [centered dish, deep]
CAL -9780
CAN 0879-
150Y 1979-1982
12010-H9802 A15 CAL 0880- [offset dish]
12010-G3421 A15S JPN 8011- [Offset dish] 12010-H9261 A15E JPN 8011- [Offset dish]
E15 Piston
E15 engine (1983-up SOHC) piston share similar dimensions to A15, but uses a different kind of dish. Possibly they might work in A15 engine.
Bore: 76 mm (same as A15) Compression Height: 32.5 mm (same as A15) Piston Pin: 19 mm (same as A15)
E1 Piston
Old-tech E1 engine piston with full skirts may be used in the A12 engine, but it is heavier, and not certified for 6400 RPM use (the stock A12 redline).
1958-1964 Blubird 211/311/312/410 E1 engine (1189 cc) 73 mm flat-top * AE 17482 * Kolbenschmidt 91 071 600
AE brand 17482 +0.75 mm pistons placed in Nissan box
The Nissan box belong to the modern slipper-skirt pistons
12010-H1016 PISTON SET-with pin (1.00 over size) (Reg Gas) * (from '72-6) ALL (exc. GX-H)
Using T-slot like early Datsun B10 (A10 engine) pistons.
Kolbenschmidt listing
Rings
Standard equipment was Cast Iron rings, which work well and seal good -- you can't go wrong with cast iron rings. Chrome rings are available, but need a finer cylinder hone.
It is not mandatory to hone a block when your using new piston rings. As long as you can visibly see the crosshatch, then you will not experience any problems. As always when rebuilding, check the cylinder for trueness and straightness (it may need to be re-bored even if the hone finish is good).
Ring Type A12/A13, early A14: 2.0 mm, 2.0 mm, 4.0 mm oil A15/A14 late: 1.2 mm, 2.0 mm, 4.0 mm oil
It is critical to install the rings right side up
Positioning
There is several ways to "do it right", and so you'll find different diagrams. All the ways involve staggering the gaps.
The Datsun 1200 factory service manual (1973 edition) doesn't seem to cover this, you would normally follow the ring manufacturer's instructions. The Nissan B310 FSM has a circa 1980 recommendation. Your ring manufacturer may have a slightly different suggestion. Either way will be correct.
The thrust side of the engine (Major Thrust Side) refers to the side hit hardest during the power stroke (the other side is the Minor Thrust side). This is also why pistons are marked with an 'F' (for front) -- so that the piston's major thrust side will be installed correctly.
B310 Factory Service manual
Oil Ring is composed of three pieces
- Discussion: Piston ring gap placement
Part Numbers
B110 A12 12033-H6201 SET-RING PISTON STD A12 > 12033-H6200 > 12033-H1002 for oversizes, see Piston, Crank & Rod Part Numbers * Goetze/Federal-Mogul 08-291400-00 * NPR SWN30026ZZ > 12033-H6211 * Hastings 2C6714 Hastings 6714 or 2C6714 Chrome $37 set * Nissan A12 * Mitsubishi 4G33/4G30 * Replaces: 12033-01302/12033-01303, 12033-10600/12033-10601, 12033-10800 12033-13900/12033-13901, 12033-19100, 12033-B3040 (J13)
B210 with A13 12033-H6200 SET-RING PISTON STD <> 12033-B3040 12033-B3040 SET-RING,PISTON (STD SIZE, RIK-VENT)12K * also used by Datsun 520 with J13 engine
C20 12033-13201 SET-RING, piston (RIK-VENT) 12033-H1101 (RIK-VENT) > 12033-13201 12033-13203
A10 with A14 12033-H7200 -8003 12033-H9910 8004- <> 12033-H7200
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
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
Damage
Detonation (too much spark advance) causes broken ring lands.
Evidence of detonation can be seen in the combustion chamber:
Piston top disintegrated
Rod pulled the center out of the piston
