The more I look through the forums there seem to be very few people running the A13 in their cars. Why is this?
Given that they are a larger bore, smaller stroke motor, I thought more people would use them.
Anyone running an A13?
What combinations of parts are you using?

how often do u see a a13 for sale?? just a guess but i dont think we got many of em in aus..

I dont think we got any in AUS in a aus complianced car! I think its like a europian thing!

There were two different A13's The first was the 1974 small bore [73mm] long stroke [77mm] version that was used in that one year only in US model B210's It was bored to 76mm from 1975 & it became the A14. This A13 displaced 1289cc

The second seems to have been an Asian-only model that was basically an A12 with a 76mm bore. It was used in the B310 Sunny from perhaps as early as 1979. This one was good for 1270cc.

Neither was ever sold in an Aussie spec car & the only examples here are imports, most likely brought in back in the late 70's & 80's when some wreckers & other importers were bringing this stuff in by the container load. The Jap suppliers were basically hacking up Jap models & stuffing them in containers as fast as they could to satisfy Australia's high demand [at the time] for used Jap parts.

This is where so many Jap spec emblems came from, still attached to grilles & 'guards.

I can positively identify two A13's in this country so far & when we know which version yours it we can add it to the list.

Yes, I will be running one in my KB10 but the list of parts that are to be used in it is pretty long. If you would like a full breakdown I can send you an e-mail.

Thanks Dodgeman, I'll pull the head off and measure it up and take some piccies soon.
I would appreciate that email, as it will probably be the engine going in the p312

No need to pull the head, unless it was coming off anyway. If the engine number has an A13 prefix, then the block will either be essentially the same as an A12 [1974 & later version] or an A14/15
Personally I would have suggested the larger engines simply because they develop more torque which will handle the heavier body of your car a bit better.
The short stroke engines perform better in the lighter chassis, but should still be acceptable in the Bluebird.

The first pic illustrates the short deck block while the second is of an A15. Hopefully you can see the difference as I foolishly didn't use anything to provide a scale comparison.

I'm inclined to believe it's the later, with the 76mm bore. The gentleman I purchased it off rebuilt it several years ago and said he couldn't find any part info for it but the pistons measured up as A14 items. I'm of two minds at the moment whether to use this motor or an A15. I've just finished making a sump and oil pickup for my A15 which is reversed to put the large oil pan area at the rear of the engine(earlier thread about sump compatibility). Haven't bothered to weigh the car yet, but if it comes in over a tonne, I might go the A15, if its under A13.

Heres the motor, top two show the numbers, Dodgeman you were right about the A after the engine number, and the last one shows the block height. Definately the shorter block. This engine runs good too

That's a rare 'un, only made 1980-1982.

It has pistons smaller diameter (75mm) than A14 (76mm).

I think you'll like the A15 better in any car, but the A13 is nice for a smaller engine.

Sorry David, but the 75mm bore was used in the A12A [1237cc]. The A13 did in fact use the A14 pistons & I have a set of 78mm flat tops on their way from Japan for use in my A13.

Pendles, my good fellow, what you have there is just what you say, a wonderfull short stroke A13 engine. This is the first stock example I have seen as all I got was a bare block & caps.

Back in the early 80's I bored my 1200 block out to 76mm & used A14 pistons. When I wore it out & bored it again to the first oversize of 76.5mm & again, A14 pistons were used. [naturally]
In the engines that came with the 73mm bore [1200 & A12] the pin size in the rods was 17.5mm while the A14 pistons used a 19mm pin which necessitated rod mods which was done in my engine.

The A12A & short A13 with their 75 & 76mm bores used the larger pin, so the rods from these will take the A14 piston without difficulty.

The big bore job on my 1200 engine effectively made it an A13 in all but name, particularly after the second bore job [1287cc] & in a light car like my B10 sedan it was wonderfull but it was in fact, to all intents & purposes an A13 GX. These would be the best starting point for a short stroke A series, & in fact, for a stroker engine too as the right rods for the stroker conversion are already in it.

Thanks mate for the pictures, I will continue this conversation via e-mail. Long live the wonderfull A13.

P.S. The second factory oversize for the A12A is 76mm making it too an A13 by specification