QLDers are alittle odd
They probably just don't know how to make power out of these things thats all.
I built my own using stuff I just threw together......seems to be working alright for me.
I'd go the A myself.....as I have with the racecar.
But my streeter is getting a CA18et

I am a QLDer, I am a little odd (probably more than a little, lol) But i have definately worked out how to get near maximum power out of a n.a. A-series motor!!

Lets face it, people have been hoping up the "A" series engine since the '60's, & the factory, along with some well heeled racers have made it an art form, so gaining improved performance form one of these treasures does not involve re-inventing the wheel. For a modest performance improvement, you could just about trust a job like this to blind Freddie, yet the mechanics in north Qld seem to want to pass on this.
Hell, thats gotta be money for jam. Most unusual.
If Lemonhead & I can do it, then anyone can, although he does it better.

In my opion and experience with A-series and now a CA, you have to look at two things;
1- How much cash flow you have at your disposal,
2- What you intend to use it for.

A-series is a great, don't get me wrong and makes an unreal street car for everyday driving, while,
CA18det is alot of hassel, all the things that have to be modified(brakes, diff etc) i think is more suited to a race application.
They both are an exellent choice for a race application, but i prefer putting my CA coupe on the race track due simply to the fact that you can't drive it to its full potential on the road, After all it is a serious performance modifacation and it should be driven too it limits(And your own limits)
driving on a race track is an entirely different beast all together,If you think your a great driver on the road, unless your car is set up right you will have difficulty being compeditive, and that takes time and money, Its great i love it!

so............................................
IN MY OPINION, I would use an A-series for a street car/every day driver, and install a CA18DET for a race/street application

Any thoughts on that?????????

Im with you Steveo!

I reckon the A series is the go even with a mild A14 or A15. It will be a lot of fun and very reliable.

the reason I went to an L series were:
a) to get more power for the same engine mods
b) readily available, cheap, strong 5spd boxes

for the cost of an Aseries 5spd you can get a complete L series driveline (engine, 5spd box, and 120Y/Corrola diff). No real choice if you can do the conversion work yourself.

I know you can get A series engines to go very well, but dollar for dollar the L series wins hands down. and as a street engine the A series is totally outgunned by the L. It has way more torque which makes it a much nicer thing to drive and much faster at normal road speeds. you can even overtake without knocking it down a gear or two.

If it was a 120Y or Sunny, there really is no choice with the L series being a bolt-in fit.

Shame we never got the B110 Sunny Excellent here, with the L14...

i just sold Team_dat my 180B, so he can slot an L18, weber and 5 speed into his 120Y coupe.

you can't tell me that an A14 or A15 will be quicker than this - all he needs is a cam and a pipe and it will wipe away any NA A series in the same car.

and considering all the crossmembers interchange, it's gotta be one of the easiest conversions going.

Ok i just wanted to jump in with my own question, kinda on the same subject. I was thinking about puttin in a naps Z20, in my 71 1200, instead of a L series, only cause the Z series has had more mods and less miles. I tried test fitting it and i am having oil pan/crossmember issues, i was told that a oil pan from a car might work, i took this motor from a 81 720 pickup, also which gearbox should i use i have a 5 spd from a z series, or a 5spd from a ka series, sorry i keep asking these questions im just new to the datsun scene, any info would be great GreaseMonky81@aol.com

I'm with L18_b110, and I'm sure i'll agree with him even more once i get the L20b in my ute going.
I got into the L series mainly because a mate of a mate had all the L series running gear out of a 1200 ute for sale, and it was cheap. It didn't end up being anything like a bolt in conversion, but still, all the parts were there (except the motor had a blown head gasket, and the bores had rusted out, so i got another engine in good nick for it)

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hehehehe... try that with an a series...

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i remember something about being able to use a stanza front end under the datto 1200, coz i know the 180B 'just' doesn't line up (but goes into a 120Y easy enough) from people on here.

maybe just make your own sump. really, it's not as hard as people make out if you have access to an angle grinder and a mig.