Well it's the way things are in Datsun land isn't it?! A bloke is after a ute diff for his coupe and ends up with a complete '83 ute - for nothing!
Now it's hardly a minter but it's enough to give me the antler about these things. I'm on the lookout for a roadable one now - love the thought of A-framing the race car behind it
to the track...

Mate if it's made 600000 I'd be aiming for the million km with the original, untouched motor! I agree with Davo 1200 - check out everything else before rebuilding the engine.
The A12 will go forever burning a little oil and they go even longer burning a lot! So don't panic and rush into things...

That's the early Datsun/Nissan speed limiting software working for you. Satellites travelling over New Zealand feed your vehicles progress on any given road back to the police computer in
Wanganui. If you're exceeding the posted speed limit (as you were) then the satellite downloads to your speedo and locks it's reading to the speed limit - 60 mph. If you exceed the limit
again the police computer gets the satellite to communicate with your engine management module causing valve bounce at progressively lower rpm's. In his book 'Early Datsun Electronics'
Geoff Nilson points out that the Nissan Motor Co. decided not to introduce the system to Australia in the early '70's because of the perception that Aussies don't pay attention to their
speedos or laws anyway.
There is a slim possibility that a previous owner has disabled the speed limiter in your car in which case you will probably find that the coiled spring that holds your speedo needle at
tension has broken. Hope this helps.

I'm for the SR20DET - mind you I'm biased cos
I've got one in the shed! Of course Andrew may have a different opinion.....!
There is a lot of development work to be done on them yet for racing applications but for a street car you'd be pretty happy. There are no reliability problems as far as I
know - they're both Nissan after all.

Hi Simon - here's some info about a L18 that someone put in their 1200. I reckon there are better choices out there now but maybe this will help you make up your mind. This is from Martin
Pots Website at http://members.iinet.net.au/~mpot/DatsunMods/
... has heard of someone who installed an L18 engine into a 1200. Then entire job was done by an
apprentice mechanic. It was a huge job, and involved deeply scalloping the crossmember, engine mount mods, and reshaping the sump.
The engine runs custom extractors for clearance, with a 2.5" system and 3" tip. Induction is twin 45 side draught Webers, which give an incredible throaty roar under acceleration. The
head was extensively worked, with maximum porting, valve increases and a huge cam.
A factory EFI setup imported from Japan was tried, and found to be much smoother, but too restrictive above 6000rpm when used with the cam. The gearbox used is a reverse H Japanese race
box. The radiator is a custom 5 core with a big thermo fan. The diff is a shortened 1200 ute diff.
The engine produced in excess of 170 hp, and was incredibly quick!

Dropped the A15 head off today - was going to have 2mm/80thou planed off to give 27cc combustion chambers but got nervous. Opted for 1.5mm/60thou off instead - can always take
more off later!! Is supposed to cost about $50 plus GST - includes chemical dip.

Hi Chris - I used an ordinary elcheapo muffler. I think it cost like $40 and the 2" pipe was about the same. I've mounted mine forward of the diff (under where the back seat was). My last
A12 with twin 40's and big extractors sounded grunty with this system - but not so loud that the constabulary came looking! The induction noise wasn't drowned out either :)
Hedman Hedders make a nice muffler out of the States - $60. Most of us who buy original 1200's find that they still have most of the 28 year old pea shooter exhaust system left - mild steel
lasts OK and frees up money for go fast things!!
I'm dropping my A15 head into the machine shop tomorrow. I'm running avgas so will aim for about 11.5:1 compression. I cc'd the head today - was 30ml - and we need to plane that down to
17ml. I can let you know how things go with gaskets, pushrods etc if you're interested. Are you going to modify it or just bolt on? Is it a round or oval port head? Let me know if I can
help.

Hi Davo - I don't think there is any more development available on Andrew's A14! Go for the freshen, plonk down the moola and I reckon you'll be grinning. PS I've just been told I
have to go and work in Sydney for 4 weeks - how far away is Mudgee from there? Might take an A14 and box back as hand luggage

2 inch with one V8 muffler will allow any A Series to do all the breathing it needs. Sell your stainless to someone with a turbo, Rotisserie or V8 and buy
da bomb tip.

Hi Chris - I'm doing an A15 head for my A12 race motor. Try and get the oval port head from the SGX Sunny or Van. You'll have to grind out your manifold if you're putting
twin carbs on. The manifold studs also need to be matched up. It's a good swap - standard Oval A15 same flow as worked A12. It's all good!!