Ah yes, that's what mine looks like (at least on the port side - I haven't had it off yet).

Should I be getting higher than mid twenties for mileage? I haven't been able to do better, but the Hitachi Downdraft is pretty old & thrashed.
My car only weighs about 1600 pounds!

Quote:That sounds about right: A stock Datsun 1200 should get about 25 mpg in town. 38 on the highway.

I'm getting low 20s on the highway right now. I suspect the carburetor power valve is stuck. That's the long spring-loaded plunger inside the carburetor. If it doesn't pull up by vacuum, then it runs rich all the time.

I suspect that because everything else checks out good...

Just about all my miles are on the freeway.
I never get above 25 mpg.

Quote:

You have a problem. Should be at least 10mpg better.

Quote:Sorry, not off the top of my head, but they are the same length for all of the short stroke, 5 bearing engines, so short A13, 1200 & A12 should be the same.

If you really need the length, let me know & I will dig one out & measure it.
Quote:Remember that you will always get 20% more miles per gallon in NZ & Australia, no matter what you do, but even in the US, that kind of mileage is apalling for a Thrift A14 in a Spridget. [Sprite/Midget] Hell, even the big bore 1200 GX engine in my little B10 sedan could be coaxed out to more than 50mpg in economy mode [less 20%= 40mpg for USA] & more than 40mpg [less 20%= 32mpg] in general cruising, at speeds of 70mph [113kph].

The usual high density urban driving style was 'spirited' & even then the consumption was in the 33 to 35 mpg range [27-28mpg] so highway cruising in an A14 powered Sprite with its low weight & low Coeficient of Drag [wind resistance] should return significantly better consumption than 25 miles per US Gallon.

Better give at a REAL tune up & have a look at the usual culprits, like diff ratio, tyre size, tyre pressure, & you probably had better re-pack that parachute you been draggin' around.

Thanks Chris, I didn't even think about it before I asked, I've got plenty of A12 ones lying around, I'll just measure on of them.

I've bought a carb rebuild kit.
It's been a long long time since I've torn one apart, any pointers at all would be appreciated!

I drive around with the most sparse kit in the boot, and really no extra weight that isn't necessary.

As I said, the carb is really old & nasty looking - maybe it just really needs a refresh!

Quote:

My advice is: Do not totally dissassemble the carb. Just take the top off then clean up the two halves. Less chance for failure that way.

1. Factory Service Manual
2. repair manual (Gregory's, Chilton, etc)
3. Sheet that comes with the carb kit -- follow it carefully
4. Datsun1200.com wiki Carb Repair

Thanks very much ddgonzal - this will be of great help!!!

Quote:

well it wouldn't normally but this head has had the bolt holes taped into the head it doesn't show on the photo (becasue the gasket is in the way) but the head also has the centre bolts for the A12 setup, the ones that sit above the intake manifold. all it need are the studs removed from the A14 pattern and some put into the A12 holes.

Thanks dogeman I have an A12 manifold somewhere I'll dig it out.

seems this motor was built by a speedway guru maybe the A12 head on a A14 is a secret A series hotup trick!
I'll let you guys know how it goes, should be putting it all back together sometime this week.

Note: measured the rods same length in this engine as the tomei ones I bought