Quote:You know, that has to be the best advice you will get for free anywhere in the automotive world.

This obsession with HP numbers is really a load of crap. Just do the best you can with the money you can afford, & be happy with what you get, & you'll get plenty to be happy with.
I ran stock GX induction [twin SU type carbs] on my 1200 engine for the better part of 20 years & I will still sing their praises to anyone who will listen.
With lighter weight, better handling than most cars & better ecomomy to boot, all your revhead mates will wish they had a Datsun too.

Don't wory, be happy.

I'll second that , I've race with the GX set up in the car for years and it's been trouble free. I just put in my 1200 what ever I happen across cheaply.........I've raced other cars and while they were faster than my 1200 they were not near as much fun. These cars never "need" anything beyond gas and oil changes. I'm into driving cars not working on them.

Tom

I'm with you Dodgeman - Harry's advice is spot on!! Power to weight ratio / brakes / handling + DRIVER ABILITY all go a loooong way to overcomming HP differences. Ask any big HP street car to go out to Wakefield Park and match a 1:11.6 Enjoy what you have ..... sure if you have unlimited $$$$ you can be king of the hill .... but that egg timer feeling on big HP engines
Fast, Cheap, Reliable .......
Pick two !
Cheers

I'll add some more:

I'm building an A14 using flat top pistons , a GX head and carb set-up plus a moderate cam. I'm also shooting for round 100 HP if it happens it happens , meanwhile................I instruct at a few track days and becuase of this often end up out in the intermediate group with a student on board. This past year guys in BMW M3's , Lotus Elises , Porsche 911's and Mustang Cobra's have all learned it's the driver. The current motor belts out 85HP yet at the last event some guy in an M3 tried for 5 laps to even get close enough for me to wave him past. Just think how much more folks will struggle when I install the A14. Just build the thing with reliableity in mind you will be happier, trust me on this. I used to have a very fast single seat racing car and it took all the my time and spare change and all the fun out of things.........it was a rush for sure but not as FUN as a Datto. A 1200 with anything more than 85 HP can be driven alarmingly fast.

Tom

if he's doing track days. not a lot of fellas do however

having said that, I've been through this before with the A14GX, and the dyno thing, and the track days, and the disappointment

rally, you need to try a run group with drivers of your ability but in faster cars. then you'll be wishing for the sidedraughts. I know I was. The SU's wheeze for breath

if you're in the southern hemisphere and can't take my word for it, talk to feral errol

It all depends what you want to use your car for. Road or track?
My first 1000 was built for road use running a standard A14 GX import engine.
Then, I started to race it and found no brakes and single spinner no good on the track.
This car is still my nice road car.
Got the racing bug and built another 1000 purely as a race car.
It is very hard to build a nice road car that can also serve as a competetive race car.

Cheers
Mark.

I agree mark, also if its a road engine dont go too big on the cam.. ive got a 270deg.at .050" running LPG vapour inj. i dont think id go much bigger than that.

mate i wouldn't stress so much about your hp. For two years i have driven a 1.8 efi lancer and it burned almost every non-turboed car i went up against, simply because it was pushin 89hp and 900kg. Do the math 85hp and 700kg of datsun=an awesome time and if you add better handling, oh and of course, looks and rareness, you have a bitchin little car. I've got a 1200 ute with an A15 conversion SU's and no life except my car, I'm a very happy man ha ha ha.

You can drive a peaky slut of a whore that wants attention from everybody or a grunty sounding when pushed smooth drivable car.
I prefer drivability not a noisy tart that bogs at the lights unless it revved an inch of its life. Sus will do and so will webers all depending on your hip pocket and needs.

sikyne
vapour injection fill us in on your perfect lpg ride which computer you running?

Maybe this chart will help a little. It was originally for british SU's on british cars but it could be applicable here. The GX ones are 1-1/2", early Z cars use 1-3/4".