Dear All,

Im glad I have found this club as I own two Datsun 1200 Coupes one of which I am currently
restoring and modifying.
At the moment it is getting resprayed in Nissan Dark Grey Metallic (Charcoal Grey).
I am running the standard A12 at the moment, and it will stay that way until I have more
money!

Got to go

Good on ya' tazzy - let me know if you need any advice re: the coupes.

The one i am doing up at the moment runs sweetly, although I have only driven it once on the road (To the spray painters) as it is unregistered. It is a dirt road, and i have a question:
Is my car suposed to handle like a wet fish?? It felt so touchy. One guy i know said that its because they are so light and thats why i like them (he has owned numerous 1600's and 1200
utes)!
After I have paid the spray painter (i will post some pics) and have got rego i am looking at engine mods. At the moment I just want extractors, 2inch system and weber carb (using adaptor
plate).
But later on i was thinking about either an A15 or maybe a rotary, does anyone know anything about putting these engines in my coupe?

A well set up coupe should feel quite precise to drive. Chances are your trip on the dirt road showed up worn shocks. Do the old shock test - push down on each corner of the car and see if
it bounces up and down more than once or twice. If it bounces like an excited puppy then they're stuffed. If you're short on money replace the backs first. Might pay to check your
alignment as well.
Now as to your engine plans. The cool thing about the A Series motors is that they go soooo much better than they should. Build up a strong A15 and you'll be grinning - I haven't put one
in but I believe they'll bolt in with minor mount modifications. Don't ever, ever put a rotory in your car unless you like engines that last for a weekend and make you poor!! Stick with a
Nissan like the CA18DET. Like to see your photos when they're up.

The suspension doesnt jump up and down, it doesnt really have MUCH body roll either. Giving the suspension a look over would be a good idea.
The rotary was just an idea, and i dont think i will do it. I have got some quotes from a place called Four Plus Performance (if you read HOT4s or Fast Fours you might know) in
Victoria or Sydney about doing up an A12 or A15 and they do everything from oil systems to exhaust, but from advice from mates it seems pointless spending money on an A15 and the
advice is save and spend money on a wild A15, so I will do that.
I have just bought new tyres (165 cheese cutters) and i just took the rims in as the car has no reg so a wheel alignment would be a good idea aswell.
Can you get genuine NISMO parts for 1200's?

Simon

If your after a wild A14-15 Im thinking of selling my old race engine it is A14 out 120 thou with forged pistons full race prepared head big cam twin 45mm webbers, mandrel
extractors, electric dizzy, Toyota 5 speed heavy duty clutch & pressure plate between 150-160hp $3000 Aus the lot would cost over $5000 Aus to build up to current spec. this price
includes a freshen up. Anytest welcome.

You make me wish i had that kind of money!!!!
that'll would be a bit of all right in a rally 1200....

damn u
cya
Ben

Thats just what Im after but unfortunatly I am emptying my bank account to afford the paint job, reg, and also this afternoon I have to try and find door pins, new bumpers, new
uncracked dash, and new grill. I am hoping I can get these things in near perfect condition (likely?) from wreckers here in Tassie.
I am getting brand new bumpers from Melbounre that will cost around $300-350 for front and back without chrome (as I am going to paint them).
After that I can look at working on an engine.
I bought my 2 coupes for $150 in sad condition, and I also scored 3 A12's and suposedly 1 A14 engine. But after looking the engine over I dont think its an A14, does anyone know how to
tell an A14 from an A12.

Cheers, Simon

The right(?) hand side of the block has an engine number starting with
A12 etc

I'm building an A-14 for my 1200. I'm on a budget, so it was my first choice. An A-15 has a longer stroke & thus a higher piston speed per given RPM.(The piston has a greater distance to
travel from one end of the stoke to the other) With a stock bottom end (rods crank etc) an A-14 can sustain over 6,000 RPM's without too much strain. You are asking for trouble doing
over 6,000 for any amount of time with a stock A-15, the piston speeds are to great for the stock components.
If you have the funds, a properly built A-15 is the way to go. If you're on a budget like me I think the A-14 is the better choice, after all what's the fun of building a Datsun 1200
that you can't rev like crazy without blowing up.