While i was replacing my engine mount this afternoon, i thought let me have a look at the engine number ... To my suprise it matches the little metal plate ...

I was told when i bought the car that it was an A12 ... But the engine number is A10XXXXX ... Is it a case of grind and re number? Or is it likely to actually be an A10? How do i tell the difference?

Hamza

I would suspect that if the engine number matches the complaince plate, then its the original engine. Ive never heard of engines being mis-stamped, although body numbers have been in the past.

if the engine numbers matches the complaince plate, and it matches whats on your rego papers, then its fine. its all legal and no need to restamp. I wouldnt suggest you do that anyways.

If the dizzy is in the middle of the block then it is definatly not an a10, but if its at the front it could be either an early a12 or a10.

Aside from the engine number
You could measure the stroke of the piston, as the outside is all the same between the early a12 and a10.
or pull the sump and count the main bearings. a10s had three, all a12s had 4.

Maybe post a photo of the engine, and the professionals could hly you identify it.

If it runs well then dont worry about it but if you must know
get your oil change at a place that has a key-hole probe camera
and by just looking through the oil drain hole once properly
past the baffles theyll see the difference with 3 bearing crank.

Dizzy and timing cover timing-marks will determine.

But if it's stamped an A10 then it's an A10.

If you suspect it's an A12 re-stamped then upload a picture of the number. You can tell if it has been re-stamped by the font, depth and thickness of the lettering.

Hmm ... Thanks fellas... ill get a pic up tomorrow ...

There are ashitload of other giveaways so don't bother with the keyhole camera.

Steel fan, crank pulley, rocker breather pipe (venting to air), rocker cover oil filler cap etc etc

I have all those things on my a12 for the original look so you never know.
All the a10 goodies fit the early a12 from the 1200 coupe nicely.

The A10 was the only A series Datsun engine that did not have provision for PCV.

Have a look at the block under the exhaust manifold at the rear. If there is a metal tube sticking out to the side, or if there is a machined hole with some sort of plug in it, then it is NOT an A10.

If there is no tube & no hole in the block to allow one to be fitted, then it would indicate that it is an A10 engine.

There are other indicators but this would be the main one.

Ok fellas ... Tell me what you think ...







On the last pic you can see where the engine # is, its a little "worn"

Hamza

thats a 1200 gearbox setup im pretty sure
dizzy at front - early a12 or a10. doesent help much
plastic fan - A12 maybe. they are interchangable
looks like round port head - a10 or a12 doesent help much.
cant see if the rocker breather goes to atmosphere or to frypan.

can you get a photo of under the air cleaner?