Its been 3 months since my last update... been busy with family & all. After dis-assembling my engine & finally cleaning all the cr@p off it, i was able to inspect the parts a little closer...(all with the help of Datster)

-The head is quite corroded - must ran without coolant from even before it was handed to me.
-Valves (esp no.4 cylinder) look worn & have black stuff caked all over them.
-Lower mounting hole in the head for the thermo housing is messed up.
-Timing chain cover also corroded.

Once I get a bit of cash, Im sending in block, a-14 (76mm) pistons, con-rods, crankshaft, flywheel & camshaft for machining at ophie howard(apparently they have the most experience at modding 1200's).
I will be looking for a a-14 head when I go to South Africa to get rims & tyres within a few months. hoping to have the head flowed but doubt it will be necessary seeing as it has bigger ports.
Hoping to have my cam ground to equiv of stage 2...

Still dont have updated pics on the PC, but soon soon.

Ideas? advice?

So my datsun1200 came back from the panel beater - 300% better than it was, but im not 100% happy with it. Some of the trim was left on (but covered) when he put on body filler & sprayed it, so on close inspection it doesnt look good around some of the trim. anyway, once ive got the egine in & upholstry sorted, i'll get him to neaten it up.

I may get another shell which i want ot work on my self (with help of course) but that shell i want to strip naked & rebuild it proper!

My engine is in pieces now, rings fell to bits as the pistons came out. bore seems kind of ok, but we fitting a14 pistons & rings in there anyway.
This is going to be my daily driver & i'm planning on doing this:

-Bore out block to take a14 pistons
-machine conrods to match pistons if necessary
-lighten flywheel
-grind/lighten crank(seems as if it may have been lightened before though - bearings were on .25 as well)
-port & polish head (if i can afford - gas flow the head)
-fit a15 carb (better breathability yet trying to maintain fuel economy)
-fit exhaust extractors with freeflow exhaust.
-change cam profile to roadrace or simillar.

anything else you may bea ble to suggest that wont break the bank?

(pics coming soon of up-to-date body work)