After reading this forum for some time, I've read the advice and experiences from many dato fans about engine transplants for the 1200. But I've never seen a transplant from the rear wheel drive Pintara CA20 motor and 5 speed. Dato fans out there, is this a viable project? Do you know anyone who has done this? If so is there any major hiccups involved with this? Surely the injected late eighties technology would be better than the L series transplants.I've just picked up a rusty Pintara for $200 complete. At this price the power to dollar ratio is fantastic. Experts please advise.

For $200, even the most ardent anti CA20 commentator would say "why not".

The CA20 bellhousing is the same as the CA18DE/DET, accept the gearbox is more like the L series boxes. So bellhousing clearance in the manual tunnel will be a tight fit.

If you are up to the wiring, clutch and fuel mods, you could get this going for a good price.

Nobody has done this that I've ever seen.

You'll need an engineers cert, bigger brakes.

I would still think $1500 would be about the budget required.

Any hydraulic clutch gearbox transplant into a RHD (right hand drive) 1200 means a few weeks of thought and trouble.

Good Luck.

for the cost of the car and if you can do most of the work your self it would be a cheap and reliable package for a na transplant.... not much of a power upgrade but more than a mild a series in the tourque stakes. would go ok too.
How a bout a diff transplant from tthe pintara to the coupe too

Quote:
I would have thought the Pintara rear axle assembly was a bit too wide to be of any use.
If you mean the diff, as in third member, he would need the 1200 ute rear axle housing to make it work.

Here's my take on a hydrolic clutch conversion.

for $200 you really can't go wrong, can you?

the rods aren't up to a thrashing though, but in stock form they'll survive.

Thanks guys for the input. I'm not after a huge power increase, it's for my son on his L plates. Being a mechanic for twenty years, and working in a wrecking yard has its advantages. Will keep you posted for the outcome.