Hello all, Im new here. I recently bought a 79' 1200 ute to fix up for my first car its completly stock except for 120y disc brakes on the front. The engine has had some water in one of the cylinders but i got the head shaved and got new gaskets which has fixed the water problem but now the car is blowing alot of blue smoke. I think it needs new rings which would cost a fair bit. This has made me wonder if its worth getting the rings replaced or getting another engine like an a14/15 or something newer and more reliable like a CA18 ?

Thanks
Jake

If you've got $10 grand go the ca.
You wont be dissapointed.

you could get an A series engine quite chaply or rebuild your current A12 for e few hundred dollars. Your 79 ute will have a H165 diff which would handle an A15 easily so lucky strike there!

a rebuild kit for an a series is around $400 you could get a second hand a14/15 for around the same price
maby you should give the origonal motor a compresion test to see if all cylinders are even.
Did you get all the water out of your engine when you replaced the head gasket

I Have a 120y engine under the garage in storage, Let me know If your in the Wollongong area I could be persuaded to let it go for a case of beer or 2 cases for the gear box as well. Engine was running when It came out of the 120y. although the car had big front end damage I drove it off the trailer ond into the Garage for dimantiling
Offer goes for every one else as well

mate i've got an A15 in my ute, my second, car and there is nothing that i enjoy driving more. Sure a CA18 gives you heaps of power and what not, but if its your first car a powerful rwd ute can be really dangerous.........not mention your gonna get pulled over by the 5-0(police)ha ha, and being young myself, i know how much of a pain in bum that can be.

good luck whichever way you go.
ty

I am going to clean out the a12 and tune some things and see if i can get the smoke to go away. If that wont work I think i am leaning towards the a14/15 because yeah a ca18 would be too powerful and would cost too much $$$. But i have a few questions first. If i got an a14/15 would it directly fit into my car without modifiying anything and would my a12 4speed gearbox fit onto it.

Being a late model ute it should all bolt up!

I have found that with a late model ute crossmember that you may need to change to dizzy side bracket on the A14/15 to a 120Y one....waiting to confirm this with an attempted engine fitment tonight.

If you are from NSW and assuming you are a P plater as it is your first, your only real choice is the A14/15 for the moment anyway. You will have plenty of fun with a decent A15 in a ute. I know I did...

Mat

Im from QLD and im still waiting to get my learners so my ute is a long term project. I am thinking of rebuilding the a12 and maybe getting it bored out aswell.