Hey guys... I keep going back and forth on the whole engine thing. So i figured i'd at least keep my options open about keeping the A13 in my 1974 Datsun B210 in tact. Maybe adding a few performance parts to help boost the HP a little, so i don't feel like i need to Flintstone the thing to keep up with Southern California traffic.

I'd actually am starting to warm up to the idea of keeping this engine, as it's kind of unique, but at the same time it sucks cause i can't find any parts of the stupid thing.

If needed, I could go for a A14 or A15, but even those are a little rare now to come by now. Just curious as to my options.

And yeah I've looked into an L20b, and even a KA24E/DE swap, and to be honest It just seems like so much overkill, and a crap ton of work. I don't need 150ish HP, but somewhere around 90 to 100 would be nice.

What'cha all think?

Hi Tolk - Datsun fact of life is keeping your foot to floor to keep up with traffic. Nothing wrong with that. I'd go up and down the mountains, (even the Grapevine) passing cars right and left, with the engine running a low 4000 to 5000 RPM (redline is 6400)

Sure the A13 can be hot-rodded. Use the same parts as for A14 engine, manifolds, headers, cam etc. All A14 parts fit. Even A14 pistons can be fitted. A13 is factory 75 HP. For $5000 you can get 100 HP out of it. Performance might increase from the stock 0-60 mph in 12 seconds to 0-60 in 10-1/2 seconds

Since a B210 with stock A13 will already do 80 mph cruising (an 90 mph top speed), it might be better to concentrate on acceleration. Changing the final gear ratio from the stock economy gear (3.900) to a performance (4.375) gear will make 0-30 accelerate much faster. And it's cheap if you can find a gear, they are only about $150 on eBay but I only see them rarely (they were sold by Nissan Competition). With the stock 13" tires and a 4.375 gear you could still cruise all day long at 70 mph

Or, for $1200 get 160 hp out of the A13. See Turbo EFI for $1200

lol well, if i'm gonna spend $5k (or even $1200) on upgrades to this engine, might as well just stick with the complete swap.

If you just want to keep up with traffic, & really just want torque then a small cam, a downdraught weber carby, a set of extractors & an electronic ignition system makes a bit of difference. I have nearly the same in my 210 wagon, but it's only an A12 with a stock cam & before it stopped working last Monday, it was quite capable of keeping up with traffic, generally just cracking the throttle to get away from an intersection, & lots of poke for a holeshot up the inside. I'll be replacing the engine with it's original A15, which burnt an exhaust valve a couple of years ago. The A15 will just get the carby, distributor & extractors, with the stock cam. When the head was serviced, I got new valve springs from a VW Beetle engine fitted, they cost $20 for the set & are comparable to the standard single springs.
Any engine swap will need a gearbox & rear end upgrade. Just upgrading the stock engine or swapping to an A14/A15 means you don't have to change these. Hopefully you already have a 5 speed, if not you might be able to get one of those to lower the revs at highway speeds.

* $100 a small cam (and new lifters)
* $400 a downdraught weber carby
* $225 a set of extractors
* $125 an electronic ignition
That's only $850. If you buy them used (except the cam) you can get all that for about $325

Sc14 supercharger $300aud
SU carb 1.75 $90aud
Rowland manifold $180aud
stainless headers $180aud
adaptor plate for mani to supercharger
$150
total for parts 900aud + tuning
depending on A12 or A16 capacity 90-120kws

Okay... so there are simi-inexpensive ways to boost the performance of this engine!! Good stuff!! :)

First off-
B310gx: nope... only got the 4 speed manual on this girl. I would LOOOVEEEE to get a 5 speed, but those are super rare here in the states (rare as in I have been searching for the past year and a half and not seen or heard of one for sale). If anyone knows of someone or is looking to get rid of their 5 speed please send me a message, i'd be more than happy to talk about it :)

next...
D:
So... with this setup
Sc14 supercharger $300aud
SU carb 1.75 $90aud
Rowland manifold $180aud
stainless headers $180aud
adaptor plate for mani to supercharger
$150
total for parts 900aud + tuning
depending on A12 or A16 capacity 90-120kws

I'm lookin at about $675 USD + tuning That's totally reasonable, but... and it's a biggggg but (ask Becky) I have no idea where to get those parts, I did a quick search on a few of them but nothing coming back solid from what I can see.

I have a pretty bad ass mechanic that I can go to, but I'd love to at least have an idea of where/how to get those parts, and make sure they're the correct ones.

Do you have links/part numbers for them? You had prices for all of them so I'm assuming that you know where to get them?


In response to Ddgonzal's post

* $100 a small cam (and new lifters)
* $400 a downdraught weber carby
* $225 a set of extractors
* $125 an electronic ignition
That's only $850. If you buy them used (except the cam) you can get all that for about $325

I actually found a Weber carb around that price that says it's compatible with my engine, so that's a plus.
I've already upgraded to an electronic distrib (i'm assuming that's what you meant by the ignition)
On to the "small cam & lifters" and the "set of extractors" - No idea where/how to find or even search for those items. Any links?


I'd like to bring a part's list of those two setups to my mechanic and see what he thinks. If it's something that's a good idea, then I'll go for it. It'll save me the trouble of having to source out a full drive train and everything else to go with a engine swap.

Thanks for the responses guys! I really appreciate it!!

-Tolk

The Weber carburetor only helps if you rev the engine up. Below 4000 RPM it won't make any difference.

The key is to rev up the engine. That's why a 5-speed won't give you quicker acceleration, nor will it give a higher top speed. It only reduces the revs for quieter more fuel efficient highway driving

Yes, an electronic distributor is an "electronic ignition system". All California B310 had them starting in 1975. They don't make more HP, but they keep the spark in perfect spec year after year (with a points-type ignition you have to check and/or adjust the dwell every 3 months)

"small cam & lifters" -- The stock cam makes maximum power at 6000 RPM, so if you want to make maximum power at a lower RPM obtain an "RV" cam as they call them here in USA. Any time you change the cam, new lifters (or refaced lifters) are required

"set of extractors" means an exhaust header. See our Headers tech article. It won't make your car accelerate faster, but it will sound faster

If you choose a supercharger with stock everything else I wouldn't bother changing the intake or exhaust manifolds. The volume flow rate in the manifolds wont change much, just the density of the air.

With a supercharger you have a positive pressure gradient across the intake and exhaust under full throttle so headers/ extractors won't gain you much if anything (again, assuming everything else is stock).

If you're interested in a turbo option there's a good thread going on at the moment that's worth a read. "http://datsun1200.com/modules/newbb/v ... ype=&mode=0&start=0"

There are many options for more power, my unproven opinion is that a turbo setup is probably the best bang for buck.