Where are all of the A15s?

[58Custom]

I have decided to use an A15 in my MkIII and I have been searching CL and Ebay for some time now but I never see any. Are they uncommon?

 

[nomad]

A15 Datsuns are fairly uncommon. Far more A14's. I think they were mainly in station wagons with auto trans. Mid 70's B210's with A14's are rated higher power than smog A15s from the early 80's when they seem to have been most common. Get on the Ratsun forum and see what those guys have to say about them. I got one from a 310 but they were front drive so I have to modify the pan and pickup plus exhaust and intake to use it.
Good luck, Kurt.

 

[mightymidget]

I saw a Datsun 210 for sale the other day and it was a wagon, late 70's I believe, and I thought the same thing, I assume rivergate parts will handle transmission mounting but what about the engine. Does it fit ok with out clearance problems for exhaust steering shaft, linkage issues etc..

 

[mrsprite]

I saw a Datsun 210 for sale the other day and it was a wagon, late 70's I believe, and I thought the same thing, I assume rivergate parts will handle transmission mounting but what about the engine. Does it fit ok with out clearance problems for exhaust steering shaft, linkage issues etc..

The Datsun A series engines are essentially modified versions of the BMC A series engines, so they fit surprisingly well inside a Spridget. That said, there are a few issues that need to be addressed. The biggest one is the oil pan will hit the front crossmember, so one or the other will need to be modified. My Bugeye's A15 has a modified oil pan and only a slight notch in the crossmember where the steering rack bolts to. New motor mounts will have to be fabricated as well, but that's not too tough.

Exhaust is only slightly different.....mine has a header built from both a Datsun & a Spridget (cut and welded). It empties out in the stock location and I even run a stock Spridget tailpipe & muffler.

That said......I come across A15's frequently so if anyone wants or needs one then LMK and I will grab one for you.

 

[58Custom]

Mrsprite, can you give some tips on identifying them in the junk yard? I don't wanna goof up and come home with an A12 or A14.

 

[mrsprite]

Next to the distrubutor base is a boss that will have the engine # stamped into it.....it will also say A15 (or A14, etc.), so it makes it easy to make sure what engine you have. Also, on the inside of the hood is a sticker that shows vacuum hose routes, etc. that also says A15, A14, etc. in the corner. That is the first place I would look, but that also assumes that the engine hasn't been swapped out at some point, so I would still double check the engine code stamp before I pulled out any engine.


BTW (as an FYI).....A14 & A15 blocks are the same. The A15 has a 5mm longer stroke, so if you found an A15 crank somewhere you could put it in an A14 block and be good to go.

 

[58Custom]

Thanks, that's some useful info! I always look for the 210 when I search the yards for an A15 but what other vehicles used them?

 

[nomad]

If you're looking at a A15 from the bottom look for ridges in the oil pan as well as what Mr Sprite said. Needed to give clearance for the longer crank throw.
I had a heck of a time finding one but I'm not close to any big city's. Most yards here in the midwest have crushed all Datsun's (sigh!).
Early 80's 310's had them as well. By 83 I believe the push rod A engine was dropped for the E series.
B 210 from the mid 70's with a A14 was rated at 80 hp which is more than a stock A15 but A15 has low end torque due to larger dispacement of course.
Mr Sprite, if you could find me one that needs a rebuild for cheap, I'd be interested. The one I've got is low miles and will be best used as is.
KA.

 

[RickB]

Also note that the real big difference is the cylinder head.
You can get the econo head with the small round intake ports, or a head with larger oval ports. If you happen across a GX head you've struck gold.
If you happen across two send one to me!!