Nissan A engine
Nissan A engine | |
---|---|
Carburettor | |
Fuel type | Gasoline |
Cooling system | Water-cooled |
Output | |
Power output | From 59 PS (43 kW; 58 hp) to 92 PS (68 kW; 91 hp) |
Torque output | From 8.3 kg⋅m (81 N⋅m; 60 lb⋅ft) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Nissan C engine / Nissan E engine (OHV) |
Successor | Nissan E engine (OHC) |
The
The Nissan A engine design is a refined, quiet and durable gasoline engine. It appears to be a modern replacement of the earlier iron-headed
A10: the first A-series engine
The A10 is a 1.0-liter (988 cc) engine, released in September 1966 in the 1967
A belt-driven
- Applications
- 1967–1970 Nissan Sunny (B10, B20; Datsun 1000)
- 1971–1976 Nissan Cherry (E10; Datsun 100A)
- 1974–1978 Nissan Cherry F-II (F10)
- 1978–1981 Nissan Pulsar/Cherry (N10)
A12 (1200): further refinements
The A12 is a 1,171 cc (1.2 L; 71 cu in) engine with a 73 mm (2.9 in) bore, like the previous A10 engine, but with its stroke increased to 70 mm (2.8 in). With five main bearings on a forged steel crankshaft, the engine is extremely smooth and durable. The two-barrel (twin-choke) Hitachi
A special version of the A12 called the "A12 GX" engine, was available (A12GX or A12T for front-wheel drive applications). With twin

An overbored version of the A12 was used in period race cars, including Nissan factory (works) racing Sunnys. Many were overbored from the original 73 mm (2.9 in) to 76.76 mm (3.022 in) using Tomei forged pistons for a displacement of 1,296 cc (79.1 cu in), while others used 76 mm (3.0 in) Datsun Competition forged pistons, for a displacement of 1,270 cc (78 cu in). These legendary engines competed in Japan's Touring Sedan (TS) class races against the 1200s archrival Toyota Starlet.[3]
Perhaps the most interesting variety of A series engines was the AY12 engine. This was a special race-only Nissan factory (works) racing version with a crossflow cylinder head.[4]
The AY12 was used in an under 1,300 cc (79 cu in)-class with a 76–76.8 mm (2.99–3.02 in) bore diameter. The intake valve was 40–41 mm (1.57–1.61 in) and exhaust valves were 33–34 mm (1.30–1.34 in). The pistons were also a special design and the valve rocker system was different from the standard A12 due to the use of a crossflow layout for the racing engine.
- Applications
- 1970–1973 Nissan Sunny B110, and B120 (Nissan Sunny Truck)
- 1971–1973 Nissan Cherry E10 (Datsun 120A)
- 1970 Nissan 270X concept
- 1985-2001 Premier 118NE (Fiat 124)
1974 redesign
For the 1974 model year, the A engine was modified, and all subsequent A engines use the new block style. Since there was increasing need for accessories like air conditioning, anti-pollution air pumps and the like, the distributor was moved from the front side of the engine to the middle of the block to make room for these accessories. Additionally, the motor mount positions were moved slightly. Nissan introduced its emission control technology, called NAPS (Nissan NAPS) with the redesign.
This "new" A12 retained the same bore, stroke and most other specifications of the previous A12.
- Applications
- 1974–1978 Nissan Sunny B210 (Datsun 120Y) (not used in the US model B-210)
- 1974–1976 Nissan Cherry E10 (Datsun 120A)
- 1977.11-1982 Nissan Sunny B310 (Datsun 120Y) (not used in the US model 210)
- 1974–1995 Nissan Sunny Truck
- 1978–1982 Nissan Pulsar N10 / Nissan Cherry N10 (Datsun 120A)
- 1978–1988 Nissan Vanette (C120) – 64 PS (47 kW; 63 hp) at 5,400 rpm[5] (called Datsun Vanette/Nissan Sunny Vanette/Nissan Cherry Vanette, depending on dealership channel)
- Premier 118NE sedan, made by Premier Automobiles Limited in India
A12A
The A12A is a 1.2-liter (1,237 cc) engine. It used a casting similar to the A12 and same stroke, but used a 75 mm bore (up from 73 mm), for an increase of 66 cc capacity. It too was of an overhead valve design. The A12A also uses a different (stronger) conrod with a larger diameter gudgeon pin.
The A12A shared a common block and crankshaft with the redesigned A12 and A13 engines.
- Applications
- 1977.11–1980.11 Datsun Sunny B310 – 70 PS (51 kW; 69 hp) at 6000 rpm[6]
- 1979–1982 "Datsun 210", USA and Canada version of Sunny B310.
- 1974–1979 Nissan Cherry Second generation (F10, F-II)
- 1978–1982 Datsun Cherry Third generation (N10)[7]
A13 (1974): the first tall-deck A engine
The 1974 A13 is a 1.3-liter (1288 cc) engine with 73 mm bore like the A10 and A12 above, but stroke increased to 77 mm, and compression ratio reduced to 8.5:1. This engine features a "tall-block" with a deck height 15 mm (0.59 in) higher than previous A-series engines.
Applications
- 1974 Nissan Sunny Datsun B-210 (USA and Canada)
Making this engine a 75 hp (56 kW). An important fact is that this model only existed in the 1974 model year.
A13 (1979–1982) – short-deck engine
The redesigned A13 is a 1.3-liter engine. It used the same basic block casting as the A12 and same stroke of 70 mm, but used a 76 mm bore for a displacement of 1,270 cc. This engine was also used as the basis for a number of Formula Pacific and Formula 3 race engines.
- Applications
- 1980–1982 Nissan Sunny B310
A14
The A14 is a 1.4-liter (1397 cc) engine produced from the 1975 Model year through 2008. The bore was increased to 76 mm, up from 73 mm of previous A-series engines. Like the previous A13 engine, the A14 is a "tall-block" variant. It was produced in various ratings from 50 to 92 PS (37 to 68 kW).
A twin-carburetor "GX" version of this engine (A14T) was available in some markets.
- Applications
- 1975–1978 Nissan Sunny B210 (140Y or B-210)
- 1976–1978 Nissan/Datsun F-10
- 1977.11–1982 Datsun Sunny HB310 (aka Datsun 140Y or Datsun 210)
- 1977–1982 Nissan Pulsar N10 (aka Datsun/Nissan Cherry, Datsun 310) 92 PS (JDM)
- 1977–1981 Nissan Stanza/Auster/Violet, 80 PS (JDM)[8]
- 1978–1988 Nissan Vanette (PC120) – 75 PS (55 kW) at 5400 rpm[5] (originally only in 'Coach' passenger versions)
- 1982–2008 Nissan 1400 LDV (model B140. Only sold in South Africa).
- Datsun Forklift models (including turbocharged variant). Replaced the A15 normally aspirated engine due to emission controls implemented in the Asian markets.
A
A15 – Stroker motor

The A15 is a 1.5-liter (1,487 cc) engine produced from 1979 till 2009 where it was used in the Malaysian Vanette C22. The stroke was increased by 5 mm from the A14 engine to now measure 82 mm, while the bore remained 76 mm. It produces 80 PS (59 kW; 79 hp). It used only a different block casting number, but retained the same "tall-block" deck height, measurements and BMEP as the A14. In the Nissan B120 Sunny "RoadStar" truck it is capable of 49 mpg (17,3 km/L).[9]
A
- Applications
- Nissan Sunny PB310 ("Datsun 210")
- Nissan Cherry F10 ("Datsun F10")
- Nissan B120 Pickup ("RoadStar" and "SportStar") in New Zealand[9]
- 1985-2009 Nissan Vanette C22
- Datsun 310N10 in United States
- Nissan forklift: Replaced the commercial J15 engine from 1974 to 1978
- 1988-2000 Grove-Manlift AMZ66 and AMZ56 (31kW, 42.5hp)
See also
References
- ^ Datsun 100A (brochure) (in Greek), Japan: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., 1972, p. 15, H03B
- ^ Datsun 1200.com
- ^ Datsun 1200.com
- ^ lid=2521 Datsun 1200.com (photo)
- ^ a b Nissan Sunny Vanette (catalog), Nissan Motor Co, p. 19, 8101D
- ^ Datsun Sunny (catalog), Nissan Motor Co, p. 29, 8053T711
- ^ Costa, André & Georges-Michel Fraichard, ed. (September 1979). "Datsun Cherry". Salon 1979: Toutes les Voitures du Monde (in French) (14 & 15). Paris: l'Auto Journal: 176.
- ISBN 0-910714-12-6.
- ^ a b Datsun RoadStar/SportStar Options, Nissan New Zealand, retrieved 2011-02-13
- SP Workshop Manual Series No. 111: Datsun 120Y, Sunny, B210, ISBN 0-85566-177-1.
- Service Manual Model A10 and A12 Engine, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd, June 1971
- Datsun Sunny B310 Japan Domestic Market parts catalog, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd, October 1983