Anyone have any pictures they don't mind sharing of a Model A with a 1200 in it?

Rod and Custom mag did an article recently about a Toyota 2T-C or 3T-C engine being put into a Model A. In researching those engines, I stumbled into the Datsun B210 and found this site. (I am not familiar with the Datsun engines at all). Just wondering if the 1200 will pull a tudor well. I am not looking for break-neck speed, as the car is to be a cruiser and not a hot rod. I am looking more fore economy and just an easy to work on and nice working engine and tranny combo. Would I be looking for a '70-'80's B210 or a Datsun truck as the best donor source for a good engine/tranny?

This is certainly a non-traditional street rod set up to consider a foreign engine in a Ford, but I am dead set on doing it at this time. I am tired of the cookie-cutter 350/350, 454, flatties and other engines that I see at every car show. I am looking for something different, that won't break the piggy bank, and that is easy enough to maintain and get parts for. Again, economy and enough power to get it on the super slabs is what I am looking for.

Anyone seen such a set up and have any pics? I'd appreciate any info on what to expect in taking on such a project. I have already begun disassembly of my 1930 tudor. I was thinking of looking over some R20, R22 stuff this weekend, but stumbled into the Datsun site and began looking over the great engine pics.
Thanks,
Huey

Your better off putting a A15 in your Rod. As the A15 is no difference in size to the A12 and has more Hp and Tourqe. Both motors are good on fuel. I guess your in america? If so you will have more Tranny options than Australia, so finding a 5speed shouldnt be a problem.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, America is where I am located. Actually, it may sound weird, but I am hoping to install an automatic tranny, as the wife has hated the Model A for years. She refuses to drive or learn to drive it. She has not driven a standard in years, but I think things will change dramatically in the A if I go with an automatic.

Is there a place to find out the history of the A15? I'd like to know what they are out of and what year model I'd be looking for. Padon my ignorance, but I am not all that familiar with DAtsuns/Nissans. However, I am generally a quick study and am willing to do some research to learn.

Not really looking for anything that I need to do much of any work on in installing and operating. I know they are performance goodies for this engine, but, as I said, I am not really looking for break-neck speeds. A good stock engine would probably do, but with headers to open her up just a tad.
Thanks,
Huey

If you look to the left on your screen on the main "menu bar" there you will see the "tech section" it has everything you need to know about Aseries, Drivelines etc etc .... Great info.


The aseries are a great motor, strong as! and with a little bit of Work (cam, headwork, headers, carbies) will give plenty of extra grunt.

How much does you rod weigh? Bear in mind that these engines are meant for 700- 800 kg cars and so might be a little low on torque even for a nice cruiser. Why not look at L-series datsun engines (L16,L18,L20). A 2 litre L20 might be better suited. They are a bit bigger than the A-series but with people using 454's I don't think you'll have a problem with space. And they are also more common and easier to get parts for than A-series. But obviously you'll use more fuel too.

There is plenty of info on the Lseries in the tech section as well. And Timo is right the Lseries in stock form will pull better than the Aseries and are just as strong a motor.

Interesting project Huey...... have a look through the tech section you should be able to find some details of years & models. I spose an A series would have more power than the original model A engine (a big four cyl??? I have only had experience with model T's)

But if you dont want V8 power, why not keep it original?

Edit: this one is moving a bit fast for me

Datsun engineers, those clever little fellows that they are, matched the A series engines to the cars that used them in terms of weight & size to ensure adequate performance.
Now I know that the A isnt particularly large or heavy, but it is about as streamlined as a barn door, so while the Datsun engine was able to easily & economicly push along our beloved little charriots at highway speed, I suspect that you will need a little more throttle to duplicate that in the A.

If you are really keen to go with a four cylinder, then have a look at some of the larger engines in the 2 litre [120 cubic inch] or larger class. The KA24 Nissan engine [2.4 litre or 144 cubic inch] is found in many commercial models, as well as some passenger ones I believe. These are a dual overhead cam design that is based on the almost unbreakable L series block that dates to the 510 of the mid 60's. A basic engine design so good that the only real way to improve it was by updating the head design.

It's fuel injected, & if equiped with a programmable aftermarket ECU it should provide you with a cood compromise between power & economy, particularly with an auto.
There are many other possibilities of course, like the L20B, FJ20, the SR20 & the CA18DE & all of these [except the L20B] were also made as a turbo engine, but if you are going to go with a four cylinder in this car, then I would recomend against the little A series Datsun if you don't want to be laughed off the road.

Keeping it orininal can cost waaaay more than going to just about any street rod engine. The payoff is bigger as well. I mean. I love my little puckka, puckka, puckka engine and it's 40 horses, but restoring it and the car is a low budget project for me to the nth degree at this point.

I can sink a good sum into a fresh original engine, but I'd just have a stock old engine that I sunk big bucks into when done. The resale on a stock tudor is pretty low (a Shay is even higher and so is a poorly constructed rat rod), comparred to a decently done rod.

I don't have that many good driving years left. I have used my stock Model A for years as a daily driver and know pretty well how to repair it with bob wire when necessary. However, a few years back I committed a horrible, horrible stupid human trick #5,001. I left an open container of pool acid out in the garage by accident. I got called out of town and forgot I had left it beneath the rear bumper and did not put it away. I did not get back for quite a while. Well, it did about $5,000 or so in damage to the car in the meantime. The fumes etched many metal parts (door handles and such), left the chrome on the bumpers a green goo, flash rusted anything at all that did not have a coat of paint on it, and just out and out did some really bad things. It also flash rusted every tool, exposed wire and metal part of any object that happened to be in the garage at the time. Don't ever do my stupid human trick.

In order to restore it now, I'd have to sink a slight fortune into the ol' girl. Instead, I plan on going with the mods as I indicated. I like to be different, and what the hey, that was what rodding was all about in the old days, anyway. This may be the wave of the future too, as I have a suspicion that the youth of today are much more familiar with rice rockets and newer electronic technology. They will eventually inherit their Dad's old coupe or rod project, and, instead of reviving the tired old flattie engine, 302, 454, etc., with glee, they will go to what they know best and are more familiar with. They will put in a four popper, hop it up with a turbo, 240Z carbs, Webbers or such and be quite pleased with the results. In the meantime, Dad will be rolling in his grave at the thought of such blasphamy. Me, I want to try my hand at doing it, just as much as for the total learning experience, as the fun involved in just being a bit different.

Original is no longer the option I want to go with.
Huey

This will be a highboy-style, fenderless sedan, so weight drops a bit. Everythng from engine weight to tranny weight would actually be less in this conversion than a stock Model A.

I don't know if you have ever been in a Model A with a stock engine that was kept up, but Henry touted they would go 65 MPH, when new. Mine will actually beat that, but the ol' girl is just too old to be doing that with to impress people all that often. I hit the superslab at 70 quite a few times when I lived in KY. I also drove the ol' girl in the snow, rain, hail and what ever. She was never treated all that nicely, but she did exactly what she was built to do; she got me from point A to point B. Actually, she often did so when the other modern cars could not get going in the snow and all.

Any rate, it is like driving a brick in the wind, but if a 40 HP stock engine can pull her along at a steady 70MPH, I have my doubts that the Datsun engine is going to be all that less powerful. I don't know that I'd buy into the streamlining necessary to make her work properly. The weight of the car is not all that heavy as one would think. Actually, the problem with a stock Model A is not generally the speed at which she will run, but is the lack of owner driving experience and lack of brake maintenance that creates any problems at all. Most Model A owners I have known have inherrited their car or bought it with no previous experince in driving such a vehicle. I drove mine daily and learned quite a bit about what works with it and what does not.

You may be entirely correct in engine choices, but I am trying to learn quickly as to what is a good option and what is not. Not so sure anyone would laugh me off the road, though, as most folks don't think a stock Model A can pass a school bus on a downhill slope, and with a stong wind pushing it. Like say, I have gotten too old to try to impress people with what the engine will do when tromped, but every now and again the ol' girl just has to be goosed.
Thanks for the info and suggestion,
Huey