Do you have to use the plate between the motor and transmission on an A12 and a 4 speed??
Some say yes and some say no,A friend says he was looking at one and it did not have the plate. I really would like to know so I can do this right.

No, you don't have to use it. Most Datsun 1200s from the factory did not use it. The later ones with A revision gearbox did.

If you do use it, you must use a different length throwout bearing.

Thanks Very Much...Mahalo:)

The thick and thin plates are there as a register for the starter motor. Without the plate the starter location is a bit hit and miss. Maybe why Datto starters and ring and pinion gears last a long time?

Actually they are there because 56A transmission is shorter than original 56 by exactly the thickness of the plate.

So yes, it will be hit and miss if you use the wrong combination.

I do have the 56A trans.So that means I have to use it?
The problem is I don't have one!
Can anyone help with that?

See Post 2 - no, you don't have to use it.

I wonder why it was put there in the first place dd?

In the first place, Nissan put the Engine Plate in when they started fitting the shorter 56A transmission in cars (late 1972).

CH, if your clutch works fine, it's no problem whether you have the plate or not.

But let's say if a guy has an early 1200 and the transmission goes bad, then he buys a 56A and puts it in, then finds the clutch won't adjust correctly. Because 56A needs the matching Engine Plate, or a matching release bearing sleeve.

Good: 56L, no plate, standard bearing sleeve
Good: 56A with plate, standard bearing sleeve
BAD: 56L with plate, standard bearing sleeve

The 1200 ute came with the heavy-duty 56A from day one (1971 introduction), and didn't use a Plate. Instead it had a short bearing sleeve. After a few years they started using the Plate along with the standard bearing sleeve.

Good: 56A no plate, short bearing sleeve

When you mix and match, some combos don't work. Flywheels come in two different thickness, so that's another consideration.

so if on my conversion with a plate installed and the clutch seems to slip and appear burned out pretty early, I should probably remove the plate?