ok im close to having some money to start work on my 1200 sedan which i want to build up for hill climbs, now i just need suggestions on what engine and mods to do. i have an A12, A14 & L16. which engine would use all suggest to use and with what mods. ie heads, bore, supercharge or turbo, webers, Please help as its my first time at building up a worked engine and i only really know the basics. Thanks

A14 with:
- twin Webers/Dellortos (some are for sale right now in the Classifieds forum)
- extractors and 2" exhaust pipe/muffler
- stock engine
- stock 4-speed
- good wheels and tires appropriate to hillclimbing

ok, are there any special rules for the hill climbs? Do you need a cage? Use the money saved by *not* remanufacturing the engine on the good stuff that will help you get out and run races (safety equipment, required equipment, tires, travel to the races, unexpected repair costs, etc).

This is just an idea ... any hillclimbers out there ready to share the *secret formula*?

All safety equipment will be fitted later in the yaer after a nice tax return. im not looking at racing till early next year so i got pleanty of time for mods. Ill have around $1500-$2000 to spend on engine mods and carbies.

okay,if it's improved production,use the a14,bore it to 1508 cc (79mm),use the twin sidedrafts,an appropriate cam,mandrel bent extractors,at least 2 inch exhaust,balance the bottom end,a rollmaster timing chain,an a14 4 speed,a 1200 ute diff housing with a 4.889:1 centre from a c20 van,biggest brakes you can fit in your wheels,probably 200b struts,with adjustable strut tops,bigger front swaybar,springs,reverse eye rear springs,200b steering arms,180b outer tie rod ends,sunny/stanza lower control arms.etc.should go well at collingrove.the australian championships are there in about a months time,& a friend is running his 1200 coupe,that's if it survived this weekend.go & have a chat to grant,he'll talk to anyone,tell him paul fitz said to talk to him.

Many years ago I ran a 1200 sedan hillclimb car. It ran a very strong A12, CR 120y 4 speed and ford LSD with 4.7:1 ratio.
The chassis was dead basic. It ran 120y struts and swaybars, the front springs were avenger I think. The shocks were just KYBs. The front suspension arms were rose jointed, the rear ran 2 full length leafs, with upper tramp rods and panhard. Ride height was only slightly lower than stock.
The brakes were stock, with metalking pads. The strut tops were stock, the steering was stock
the wheels were 13x9 steels, with formula atlantic front slicks.
All the money went into the motor, box, diff and cage. I dont see that there's any point in buying big brakes, adjustable struts, flash alloys and a momo steering wheel for a hillclimber...The 1200 chassis is more than up to the job as long as you dont go crazy lowering it and stuff up the geometry.!!
This car was an outright contender in the late 80's
I've seen too many keen guys get hung up on creating a 'BTCC' datsun 1200, and never get out racing.
Throw it together, and get out there having fun man!

Don't forget the 12" engine set back Timbo... Though it's not really necessary. Keep it simple and like Tim says get out there and enjoy yourself. Hillclimbs tend to have drop offs ( funny that) so don't stray too far away from standard parts to keep the invitable repairs cheap and easy.

ah yeah, the engine setback.... didnt make it go any faster but....

Thankx guys thats been very helpfull. now i just hae to get my arse into gear and get started on it. Itll be good having someone with a 1200 already on the curcuit (grant). Ill be trying my hardest to get out to collingrove just depends on work so ill try and catch up with him. once again thanks for the info.

how did I miss this one?!!!

I reckon the L series is the go if you can do the conversion yourself. You will get HEAPS more bang for your buck working the L series motor. My L18 engine owes me less than your engine budget, and is very competitive in the class. And you won't break gearboxes every 6 months either...

then again, I may be a little biased...

How big a job is involed with fitting the L series engine? A friend of mine reckons he can get hold of a 1200 crossmember converted for the L20 and there was a turbo setup for the L20 in the trader for $500 or do you think thats a bit of overkill? But any more suggestions would be great.