as I said earlier, if you can do the work yourself go for it. If you are paying for the conversion work, the decision on wether it is worth the money for your purpose is up to you. There are plenty of good modern engines you could have fitted up (but not running-that will cost) for the same money, but you probly can't use them in classic racing...

no it wont be a classic, but a CA18DET 1200 would be competitive on most classes of racing

sure will. there's a few around that are doing very well, even though that engine's heavier than the L series

It looks like L18_B110 is helping with the first line of my suggestion. If he has one of these conversions in his car then the voice of experience can be a good one to listen to.

Just for the exercise, i am measuring my 1000 coupe up to see if a Buick 215 alloy V8 can fit the cavity. I have no plans to actually do it as it is a G.M. engine, & i'm the D****man, but it IS surprisingly light & the vertical valve layout allows for a narrow dimention across the heads.
Just a thought
Chris

hey datto1200 ive just been through everything youve been talking about. i wanted to build a classic 1200 race car because both my girlfriend and her father race classic euro cars. Ive kept the a12 in the car in an atempt to get accepted into a classic class. there is none for japs in nz and there prob wont be 1 soon. now im stuck with highly modified cars that are at least twice the hp of mine and im finding paying for 6 laps and only getting to do 4 rather tiring. my advice is unless YOU want to keep it datto/ nissan for a reason go toyota 4age. its light and will therefore kep some of the original ballance, ####e loads of parts and easy to get hp out of. If you want a datto/ nissan go for the a14/a15. thats my 2 cents.
have i seen you at puki? do you have a datto?
Quinn

You will definately need a cert if you put any L series in a 1200. Correct me if im wrong but youd even need one for an A-series swap if it was the later one with the different engine mounts, even if it was only another A12 (although noone would know most likely so youd probably get away with it)

In NSW AUS, an engineer cert is required for A15,L16,L18,L20B,CA18,10A, Pretty much anything that is 15% bigger. We are limited to 1825cc Turbo or about 2300cc NA. If you want more power..You need many more tests, and your car fits into "ICV" catagory, meaning Individually Constructed Vehicle.

NZ could be completely different.

Chris

ps. You can't get 600HP from any L Series..Think CA18DET. But seriously..more than 300HP in anything lighter than 900kgs is a waste of power, unless you are of sumo wrestler stature.

hey Quinn,
You probably wouldnt have seen me(as i dont currently race) but I may have seen you. I was down there watching last weekend the Historic car club meet and saw a couple of 1200's. were you racing then?

i was trying to. i have the white one with the no.s 444. cracked the head gasket on the first day so i got another head (much better) and gasket off Rodney, the guy with the nice a14 powered blue one. on the second day i had electrical problems. entered 4 races and only finished one, it was my first meeting so i call it teething problems. Still it was heeps of fun. Everyone was really helpful and friendly. it was a wicked atmosphere.

hey man what are the rule/regulations for the class that you were racing in. You did pretty well cos in the race i saw you in you were pretty close to the blue one.