A series backing plate on a CA bell housing followed by a top view of the relative sizes of an A series auto bell housing followed by those of a 60 series and 71 series CA.







Whicever way you look at it, the bell housing of the CA is massive through the clutch cover area and will kit on any tunnel except maybe the auto tunnel. Plus you still have to get someone to dismantle the gearbox and machine down the spigot size.

Don thank you kindly for those pics, I feel the CA is easier
than the L & with careful tunnel hammering it will fit.
Auto bell is not far in size, for originally non auto cars
if done right scrutineers are not going to split hairs.
The starter wont be an issue to reposition and patch up and can be made to fit with studded threads on adaptor plate.
Main issue is making sure the whole thing is perfectly
centred and its no easy task yet others have done it plenty.
Ive seen the Locost (lotus 7) guys use plumbing pipe in diff
sizes over each other to build up gaps. Not sure that stuff
is accurate enough but they made it work without vibrations.
Im open need a plan of attack! open to advice and ideas.
As for investment is much preferred over T50 or 60 series for
the long haul for the reason mentioned.

The 60 series box is the ultimate for our light cars but
thats not an option for the many that want them for the
years will be putting into them and parts been scarce.

Bige, block needs sleeves honed for busa slugs needing
A series head clamping plate yet no one has one yet needed
I feel its needed for perfect sealing. Willing to pay rent for one!!!.

Wow don your garage looks clean now. Kids been busy helping?

D that last sentence makes no sense to me? Could be my dyslexia but are you wanting to buy bore sleeves or a head plate?

I say mod the motor and the car to fit the box and tunnel probably easier and cheaper in long run than modding boxes to fit

Need to imitate the force of a head bolted up with a headplate
in order to bore and hone the cylinders perfectly.
Some engines dont need it but once you sacrifice the bore walls
for 81mm slugs I could have some blowby.
Love to modify the back of the engine using a studded plate using this method we have been discussing. There arent many rwd boxes left in car yards to play with though.
At worst Mick I have that lil L series that will need a shortened water pump to fit into the thouee.

Easier to mod the water pumP. l series thou would be sweet

All engines benefit from using a boring plate, even Datsun competition recommended it.

D, you should start a new topic on that.

With reguards to 5 speeds and A series, if it seems too good to be true, it definately is. I thought I had got a bargain 60A 5 speed for $500 but it turns out it's rooted. Yay. Another burn job to me.

L series thou usually needs the engine laid over abit to clear the height
Seen a couple... go hard... but... not what I would personally do

DD, Yes all engines should use a headplate and nissan are finally doing it now with their latest engines! will try gather info soon on a new thread unless you beat me to it :)

Don sorry to hear that mate again thats not what people should be doing to others who love datsuns. You might be able to salvage it with the one Mal has for sale? Ill be happy to pull out a 71 stumpy from somewhere as discussed when I next come across one if you want to head this way if no other choice left.

There is one other way that could save a bit of welding/heat by using a section of a smooth case 56a bell section it can sit inside 2.5 inches of the 71 series bell then drill/tap the 2 together using time serts for nuts and bolts lined with a permanent auto or industrial adhesive for alloy. We will need Simon`s aligning crank tool to get it right but saves a hell of load on welding and saves space at same time.

After measuring the L16 with shorter crossflow Z head it fits like a glove after waterpump is shortened. Found NA20S head recently (latest Z redesign - Atlas trucks & taxi Cedrics) with better kidney shaped chambers suited for high comp NA. and ports have plenty of meat for better breathing.

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Neil,
This is the NA20S head like the Z heads they will
allow the L16/18/20b engines to fit under most hoods,
They are 300 delivered to melbourne brand new castings.
Can get cheaper with more than 2. To complete head just
need tuliped SS valves and wrecker Z head rocker gear.
Camshaft all depends on use and machining to suit.
44mm inlets and 35mm ex stock (+2mm more possible).

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