Nissan 1400 Bakkie

[robsartain]

Hi All,

Iam currently living in SA (moved here in May this year) and have just brought myself a 1982 Datsun Bakkie.
From speaking to people everyone always seems to have fond memorys of these little bakkies, anyway I am looking at renovating mine with a few upgrades.

Im hoping someone on here has some knowledge on the best things to do to get bang for your buck.

I am planning on putting Disc brakes on the front (currently drums) - R2650 for second hand disc brake conversion

Now the engine I am planning to put a free flow exhaust + branch (R3400) and a weber 32/36 down draught. (R4500 - For a new one as I can`t find a second hand one currently).

The other things advised are:

Gas FLow head (R3500)
Up rated Cam (685)

I have seen some websites talking about changing the internals from A14 to A15? Can anyone tell me what engine the A15 is? e.g. which cars are they in. Also what the benefit is? Do I need to get the block bored?

What kind of power can I expect? I appreciate they are only giving out about 50 bhp but they are very light 720kg and so I should be able to get good BHP per ton.

Any advice gratefully received and I will put some pictures if anyone is interested. I keep meaning to take my camera out as everyday I see some classic work horse cars.

Thanks
Rob

[DennisTheMenace]

Hi Rob

Cant be of much help, but chuck some pics up. i love these old bakkies i see driving around SA

would nissan 2.0 twin cam drop in?

IIRC the 1400 bakkie as based on the old Datsun 120y

[Pints]

While you're working on it, be sure to check the chassis and body. I've seen those bakkies split in two from rust.

[DennisTheMenace]

Citi Golf's seem to rot rather well, saw one at kalk bay that had pretty much no A pillars

SA really could do with an MOT style system, there are some absolute sheds driving around.

[Pints]

I've heard they'll be introducing an MOT type system quite soon, although it'll be rather lax by UK standards.

4 wheels? Check.
Steering wheel? Check.

Right then, off you go.

[DennisTheMenace]

Will that be every year?

I know you guys have a roadworthy test if you sell a car on, but judging by the state of my FIL bakkie that was given the all clear by stevie wonder, thats beyond lax

[Pints]

It was first mentioned back in 2008. Not sure what the latest is, although I'm sure I saw something earlier this year in a report.

http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/General_News/Two-ye...

[TonyRPH]

robsartain said:

<snip>
Now the engine I am planning to put a free flow exhaust + branch (R3400) and a weber 32/36 down draught. (R4500 - For a new one as I can`t find a second hand one currently).
<snip>

My dad used to have a 1400 bakkie, man it was tail happy!

Rather fit a Weber 36DCD7, as it's a far more tuneable carb, and has a proper choke* (the 32/36 has a choke flap, and it restricts air flow quite badly, even when fully open).

You can change just about everything, including choke tubes.

Many years ago, there was a place in Pretoria called Autospares (IIRC) and they were the SA agents for Weber.

• by proper choke, I mean fuel enrichment, rather than (literally) choking the carb to make the mixture richer.

I found this one for sale in SA for R600.



ETA: just watch out for wear around the butterfly shaft bushes - some people used really poor accelerator linkages which needed super strong return springs which caused premature wear.

Also - a lot of older Chevvys had the 36DCD7 fitted as standard. A trip to a friendly scrap yard may find you a good carb.

ETA: (again!) Here are two downloads for you - these are recommended jetting and choke tube size charts for various cars, including the 1400 bakkie.

Sheet1

Sheet2

Edited by TonyRPH on Tuesday 20th August 09:34