Finally found some better photos of the FWD A-series. This is for sale on Yahoo Auctions right now

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/h354661705

KPE10-008222 Cherry X-1 A12 engine January 1972

Attach file:

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  A12 left side.jpg (106.10 KB)


  clutch housing and Release Lever.jpg (104.59 KB)


  A12 engine ID stamp.jpg (104.43 KB)


  diff-engine mount.jpg (107.33 KB)


  oil filter pointing up.jpg (106.42 KB)


  TM KD No.32010.jpg (105.25 KB)


  top.jpg (106.44 KB)


  80 PS (79 hp).jpg (104.16 KB)

they been trying to sell that engine/gearbox combo since last year...

The gearbox is not at all what I thought from the above photos. Here more photos tell the story

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  A12 transaxle.jpg (111.98 KB)


  diff.jpg (106.72 KB)


  clutch housing.jpg (80.72 KB)


  gearbox.jpg (97.11 KB)


  release lever.jpg (95.21 KB)


  lever.jpg (96.47 KB)


  trans.jpg (88.07 KB)

Thats the one I found on Yahoo Auction and put it on your other thread to get your interest

Glad you posted the pics because it is datsun history for no other time we know of Nissan
using such a transmission. Its a shame they didnt keep using it, instead going for the
conventional fwd side mounted transmission everyone else uses.

However I did pull on out from the wreckers a long time ago thinking I would do a rwd
datsun 1000 ute with it but the weight was ridiculous. Easily the weight of an A15
therefore why Nissan gave up on it for the E series donks yet handling was sweet and
Clutch changes in 15-30 minutes quite possible, a real shame about the weight.

Thanks for posting the KPE10 pix! That clutch/gearbox design looks very much to be inspired by the original Mini Cooper driveline where the gearbox was integrated within the engine oil sump.
Quite clever packaging.
I had assumed that all Nissan FWD drivelines were like the second version.

Screw the rare gearbox; I want the oil pan so I can move the motor back even further than it is in my car now. Of course Stan will remind me I've got a dry sump set up that would allow me to do that.

Tom, Don't you have a quite rare A12 dry sump system that would allow you to do that?