Guys can anyone share their experiences .I dont want to run a modern engine(yes i know they are better)I still have the stocko 1200 engine in my sedan and i was going to find an A15 somewhere and improve it but from the threads i see a lot have used the L series engines and i am wondering how hard they are to make fit in the little datto.They are cheaper to rebuild(look at the $250 short block on ebay)and 5 speeds are easy to find.Do you use an L16,18 or go the whole hog and L20 the beast?I always ran modded L18's in my 1600 sedans and they were just about unbreakable..Any suggestions?

Any L is better than an A, they weigh more, so there is that consideration.

L18 or L20 :) those will be fun and aren't very hard to fit.

If legalities are good for LPG Id recommend a CA18DE or GA16DE.

Weren't the GA16 the best 4 cylinder engine of some claim in the mid 90's?

if there were an easy way to swap one into a 120y I think it would make a good engine, still small and light but pretty powerful and still small enough to be mostly economical.

A-series is better than L-series
* weighs less
* bolts in, no crossmember mods needed

L or A, Go L and go BIG!. Nothing beats displacement!

I don't care what anyone says BIGGER is better.

makes everyone happy, 1608cc A series?

That sort of questins would open up a can of worms I would think.

I am in the A-series camp, but it really depends on what is most critical to you.

Is it outright ponies,
handling,
power to weight ratio
status
exhaust note etc

the a series will do all the stuff that an l series will do. More cubes should equal more ponies, but at the expense of weight and difficulty fitting.

Go the a15. Easy to fit, lighter, and not that much smaller than the L16/18. If you go L series then i reckon its L20 or nothing.

just my 2 cents...

Several of the guys here in the States take the Z22 engine, bore it 2mm over and swap on the L head. Same block height as the L20B and makes 2289cc.

I forgot about the Z22 and Z24... so: Z-series is best!