didnt know diesel was more exxy in the US as here in japan its sometimes 30% cheaper

An A15 is a good engine for a daily, a small supercharger and small su would easily
get 100hp and torque from idle and be bullet proof.

Here its hilly like crazy and yet most people suffice with 660ccs and auto like
my neighbor with auto 660cc 900kg subaru sambar mini van carries his family and
their needs but although same as my beach subey kei truck engine his is supercharged.
The thing can out accelerate almost anything from the lights when his family is not
with him but instead a hoon head passenger as a catalyst :)

yeah gasoline is $2.50/gallon (61 cent/litre) diesel is $3.21 -- today in California. It is $2.79/gallon here in Hawaii. With fuel prices this low now you know why we don't have many diesel engines, and also why the best selling vehicle for regular families is the 2200kg Ford F-150

I'd love to have a 1200 automatic. But not a stocky... 0-60 acceleration even with the manual is slower than any minivan sold today. Even a Geo Metro 3-cylinder was quicker

WoW . . 61c/liter was 30 yrs ago in Australia

that would be 85cents usd to aud? but still very cheap
you can see how criminal oz gov is in so many ways!
Electricity is also prob more than double in oz vs usa

If you can get an A15 that needs a rebuild you could
also consider an L or Z series with a ka24de head conversion
or even a qr20de if easily available there?
Not sure what you pollution laws or personal needs are
for the retro look as it is a classic car.

A15 would prob suit your crossflow head one day:)

Wife says “modern engine-trans, safe brakes, and cozy interior.” So that’s the things I have to achieve.

Oh and she wants the good tunes. So I pulled out the vintage audio deck with Precision Power components. She will have some nice audio.

Holy hairy schmitt balls thats some good requirements then!

just as a note if available....

The MR20DE gets the same torque at lower rpm and same power as qr20de
140hp and 148lbs of torque are strong figures will rocket any light datto
Smaller engine than qr20 due to smaller bores and rwd config in serena
and other 4wd cars as far as it shows.

Otherwise post 2008 qr25de is a beast and flies even in big cars.

I was looking at these options for stereos, bloody cheap!
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/BEESCL ... t&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10065_10068_319_10059_10884_317_10887_10696_321_322_10084_453_10083_454_10103_10618_10307_537_536_10902,searchweb201603_57,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=c24cbb86-cf0d-43de-98bf-73d9ba8d6d6e-19&algo_pvid=c24cbb86-cf0d-43de-98bf-73d9ba8d6d6e

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Car-PM ... t&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10065_10068_319_10059_10884_317_10887_10696_321_322_10084_453_10083_454_10103_10618_10307_537_536_10902,searchweb201603_57,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=0551a93d-e105-41f5-845c-e857d7c401b1-0&algo_pvid=0551a93d-e105-41f5-845c-e857d7c401b1

Word of warning beware of bluetooth just like wifi cooks gonads,
ovaries & disrupts melatonin levels..tobacco is safer!

Modern but retro interior would be sweet or whats the overall genre you going for?

I want to use as much vintage style cues as possible.

Wife came out and looked over the car last night, and saw my A12 EFI supercharged motor on the engine stand, and yelled that she wanted that in her car.....
So now I just have to source a Frontier Auto trans now. I was hoping she would have stayed with the QR.


Guess I will have a perfect test bed for a crossflow cylinder head once I am back on that.

Do we have a decent supplier of ZG flares for the 1200 here in the states?

the JATCO 4 [elec overdrive] speed auto is an easy swap. The 1200 3sp auto bellhousing is a straight swap. In OZ they were typically in a Nissan Pintara. Not sure what the model designation is in other markets.

There has been talk of the beefie Nissan 4speed auto
Nickmitty had one sitting around for his 1200 and I looked
at it and thought what a massive thing to try and fit into
a small tunnel but if it can fit easily definitely a good choice.
Not sure on the gearing but overdrive is great for the freeway
if the 3 speed is only 1:1 on 3rd.

Great to hear vintage look is on the cards, hard to beat a little
A series for fitment and upgrades to keep up with ugly looking late motors.

Russians love this 1200 and its vintage looks are off the scales
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ac/bb/e ... f033b29deb607a1b40852.jpg

4-speed auto is same size as 3-speed auto, just a little longer

* 1984-1989 Chrysler, Dodge Plymouth (Mitsubishi)
* 1983-1989 Mitsubishi
* 1984-1989 Nissan Cars
* 1986-1989 Nissan Pick-ups, Vans
* 1984-1993 Mazda Cars
* 1988-1995 Mazda Trucks
* 1986-1988 AUS GM VL with Nissan RB six-cylinder

Frontier auto requires a TCM I think. The ones above do not, not even the elect. overdrive versions require a TCM

http://www.thezstore.com (California) sells ZG flares