I've done a search and not really come up with the info I was after.
A mate of mine has a built datsun 12a engine, just the head and the block, that could be mine for $50 to get it out of his shed.

I know the head will not bolt onto an mini A series before people start that topic, but what I'd like to know is whether bolting an a12 into a mini engine bay is worth my time and effort seeing as I'm getting the motor cheap.

Cheers

If you want to put it on a Mini gearbox it won't fit without lots of re-engineering.
eg the back of the Nissan crank is wrong design for a Mini flywheel.
It would be just as easy to fit a Lotus Ford (which has been done years ago, but not easily)

BTW the Nissan A12 has very little in common with BMC's A series... a lot that is written is BS.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Get yourself a morris minor, and now you're talking. The datsun engines are based on the a series, but not the mini with it's gearbox/sump design. So putting them in a morris is very common. In fact, you can buy conversion kits:

http://www.morrisgarages.net/morris_min ... tions.html

If you're going to put something in a mini, you might as well put in something more modern, since you'll get more power and better fuel economy for the same amount of work.

They are actually more so a redesign of the Austin A40 1200cc engine (physically between the A and B series). I believe...

_________________

They are supposedly similar, but look where the cam is (LH side), and look where the pushrods go- (in tubes between the spark plugs) it's nothing like either the old A40, or the A series....

I think people are confusing the relatively modern A12 with the motor in the old Nissan Bluebird (1st edition) of the 60s, which ain't the same animal. That one did bear a resemblance to the old A40.
Which was common back then, The Isuzu Bellett motor was based on the Hillman Minx 1600. Their head gaskets were practically interchangeable.

I can recall all this coz I wuz here then.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

just a quick bump, but i suppose that means one of those nice crossflow head floating around for mini's would certainly not fit onto my mates A12?

Nope, the pushrods are all on the wrong side for a start.
Nissan motor's head is already an 8 port anyway.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

cheers, i figured as much, but he was looking at motorbike head conversions and wondered if it could have been a cheaper alternative.
i told him just to swap engines altogether

Years ago one of the car mags used to run various engines up do red line to see how long they lasted. The little Dato sat there no problem, so they dumped the water. No problem. SO they dumped the oil....15-20 mins later, still no problem....

Been looking for that article ever since

Mind you, we did a similar thing with an A series at our Nationals a few years ago. One of the guys had a Pork Pie car he thought he'd kill. SO basically took it out and sat at valve bounce (or 'mechanical rev limiter' as I call it doing donuts. Wouldn't die. Dumped the water....still wouldn't die....