Hey that was me! I posted the message on the ozdat website! I have messages on just about every Australian website dedicated to datsuns of any sort! The 1200 wagons arse does look a little plain, I will admit. But the rest of it is pretty good. I'm looking for one as a new project/daily driver! Want a good example of a shell though...more steel than rust...
I own and run a rally team and you will never guess... yep, it's a 1200 coupe!

((The wagon should look pretty rude with some flares, big rubber and a decent blower sitting out of the hood!))

Thanks guys, I thought no-one took notice of the ad for the wagon...

Jacob welcome to the Datsun 1200 Club.

Could you give us all some details on what your rally coupe runs, ie engine, 'box, diff, suspension etc. There are a few of us in the club here looking to rally our cars and any info would be greatly appreciated Im sure.

Cheers,

Simon

yeah what cha got

I used to have a trick little sedan as a racecar, big down-throat, extractors, balanced, little head work, just the usual cheap stuff, since just getting to the rallies is pretty damn expensive. It ran standard drivetrain and 13 alloys. The obvious camber problem was fixed with a modified strut top and 1600 control arms. Other than that, not really exciting. (Gas shocks)The car was sold to recover debt... alas.

I have spent the last 8 months putting together the new car, only to be held back by more finance woes. I opted for a coupe this time for only one stupid reason... it looked better. Unfortunately the car still needs the suspension modified, while I rebuild the motor. I'll have to be patient, but time I have plenty of.
If you have anything at all you need done to an A series motor with regards to racing, see Datsun Performance Centre in Melbourne, one of the best guys in the business, (has been for longer than I have been alive!) He's in Melbourne.

Thanks for the welcome Simon, chat again soon.

Jacob, so your big into your rallying then? How long have you been involved in rallying?

So whats the setup for the new engine? Single or twin carbs this time? Im assuming its an A12.

Sorry for the questions just doing some research into what other people are running and how much it costs.

1200rallycar: was it you that mentioned something about be able to use A14 motors in rallying? There is a guy down here in Tas (Graham Malcom) who was selling his A14 injected rally coupe, so I spose A14 is legal. Its in the 4 sale section on www.rally.com.au The motor must be stroked because he said in the description its 1559cc, with quad throttle bodies.

Simon

Mr Nismo 4,
I have only been into rallying a little while now, just over a year or so now. One word of advice for rallying, you need a really, really, really big budget to start out. You should try to buy someones old rally car already setup, preferably running. Most of the time the car will be cheap because they want to rid themselves of a huge debt machine!
((Don't let this totally discourage you from rallying!!!) It is absolutely awesome!))

My car will be virtually stock as far as the motor is concerned. Twin Mikuni 40's, cam, clean up the head and deck it (11:1), standard bottom end and a balance.
New gas shocks front and rear, custom front springs, stock rear. 120y front sway-bar.
(This may sound a little lame to hardcore 1200 tuners, but to win, first you must finish...)

As for running a 1400, no go...
You may stroke an A12 out to whatever the hell you like, but the block must be an A12. Homologation papers for the 1200 only state that the car used an A12, so be it. As for the carbs, they are free in both type and number. Normally this is not the case. The original number and style of carbs (fuel/air delivery) must be kept in production car class. HOWEVER, (loophole)... the age of the car permits us to change to twin carbs of a larger size. (Pre 1 Jan 1987 production). ((Refer to CAMS manual, schedule R , rally car section, "Eligibility" section 3.3 Engines, paragraph 1.))

As for work on the motor, don't get carried away. Believe it or not, the standard motor, with a mild cam, gx head and twin carbs is all you need. SPEND THE MONEY WHERE IT COUNTS! Tyres make the most amount of difference to your time, so get decent ones, even if they are a little more than you would like to spend. Next is your shocks and springs, then brakes. Just getting the car to the track is expensive, so don't do anything that can render it more unreliable. So worry less about working it.

Good luck with your rallying!

There are a couple of cars to my surprise for sale at the moment down here. But unfortunatly I cant afford to buy either so Im looking to build the car myself over time when money permits (Im still a student @ Tafe).

Yeah my motor will be close to stock. Cam, exhaust, and carb(s), and head if I can afford it. My main priority is the suspension and diff. Ive got that sorted, well, I mean I know what I would like to do. That is Stanza front and ute diff rear, so its all cheap.

Ive got the CAMS manual aswell and thats what I thought it said about engines. I have been studying this book religiously as I have been advised to do. Couldnt get the homologation papers tho, the bloke at the CAMS office said that they were avaliable for the 1200! If youve got a copy could you scan them for me?

I hope to get in contact with Graham Malcom (see above) and see wether he would be willing to help me out with my ideas and getting started. His car is a beast! Stanza front, Pintara disks and caliper all round, 4.875 diff, 5spd, seam welded, 8 point cage...oooh yeah.

Cheers,
Simon

still reckon youre allowed a14! im gonna ring cams and find out for myself. nismo when you said "Couldnt get the homologation papers tho, the bloke at the CAMS office said that they were avaliable for the 1200!" was this in reference to the a-14 or not, please explain which homolagation papers youre reffering to. i also reckon youd be allowed twin cams even if that date didnt apply due to twin delortoes on 1200 sss in N.Z., to get these things in rally cars youve got to get your facts straight and present evidence to cams and they will then allow use of this stuff! but youve got to convince them, cause they dont know about all these things.

Good luck with CAMS, they wont be able to help you. They will just tell you to present the FIA homologation papers for the car, which unless you have already, can be ordered from the archives in europe for $300.

Sorry 1200rallycar, it's not legal, at least not in traditional rally anyway. (Maybe hillclimbs and motorkhanas?)

1200rallycar, this is what the guy at CAMS said when I called him up: I aksed if I could get a copy of the homologation papers for a Datsun 1200. He said: Whoa, hang on, we have got to first check whether they are avaliable for a 1200. He looked something up in his books or on computer and said No we dont have them for Datsun 1200's. So I asked him what the papers actually said, he reckoned they just had factory specs and what they came out with. He also said seeing as there were no papers I should get a Haynes Repair Manual or similar cause they have the same info. Ive got one of those, but it doesnt tell that much except how to repair the car. So what do the other rally guys use???

In an article on rallying in a very old issue of Street 4's and Rotaries Ive got it says:

"Toyotas Corolla and Celica ranges have an advantage in that there are vast numbers of cheap Japanese twin cam engines avaliable to suit, engines that provide vastly improved performance over the more mundane Australian carburetted versions.
The only real problem is deciphering which of these models were produced in Japan with twin cam engines. An effective means of finding out is o contact CAMS for a set of homolgation papers. Basically these papers will tell you what you can and cant do with a particular vehicle."

It goes on to say:

"Holden Gemini. the Gemini seems to be the flavour of the month, in particular the Japanese produced 22R fitted with an 1800 EFI engine, five-speed gearbox and disk brake rear end. Unfortunatly, obtaining an original 22R is next to impossible, so your option is to build one up using an Australian bodied coupe. Homolgation papers must be consulted here as there are a few grey areas."

So from this it sounds like if there were A14 engined Datto 1200's in Japan (from the factory) we SHOULD be able to use an A14. BUT we need some homologation papers to clarify this, but there are none avaliable!

Cheers,
Simon