a320inMaine Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Hi all, So I bought this 'engine and trans' to put in my '65 L320 (purchased with neither). I was told it was an A14 motor with a 5 speed, which I was ok with because of the condition and mileage (<21,000) on the motor. I've got it home and trying to decode it, but there is so much info on the drivetrain AND the Internet, I'm still confused as to WHAT it really IS! The VIN # on the Title the Seller gave me is: PLB310-542588 which seems to indicate an A15 motor, although the motor itself is stamped "14"! Also stamped on the motor is "G34" & "D225". The transmission is stamped "#11" on one side, and "#4" on the other side. I haven't pulled the Head to see what # is there. The Title describes the car as a: 1980 Datsun 210, Model #PLB310, 2 DR SEDAN I'm hoping for those that know more than I can get to the REAL identity of what I've bought! Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 The motor will be stamped A14 or A15 but the location I'm not sure of untill I get home. Passenger side just below the head is my guess. The traansmission #11 and #4 are almost certainly a casting revision number. Again look on the passenger side roughly in the middle for a 56 or 60 and possibly a 63A. I can be more precice when I get home to my computer. Quote Link to comment
RedBanner Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Pretty shure it came stock with a J 15, A series swap is common Oops thought you ment stock for your 65 Quote Link to comment
RedBanner Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 The engine stamp is back passenger side, just below the head and cast low in some drivers side low front Quote Link to comment
Dguy210 Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Please post pics! There may be a casting mark saying A14 on the left (distributor side) of the block identifying it, also it may be stamped on the right side towards the front of the engine. There have been a couple of threads on identifying A series engines on here, so do a search. Post side pics of the trans and Datzenmike can give you the lowdown. Quote Link to comment
a320inMaine Posted November 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Sorry DatzenMike!!!!!! The "60" is cast on the transmission........ I failed to say that in the first post. Quote Link to comment
a320inMaine Posted November 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Hi Red, The Tag on my '65 says "E1"......... no way I'll EVER find one of those near Maine, so I bought this A series drivetrain. Quote Link to comment
Radiant-Designer Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 I know Clark had 2 B210s, those are the only Datsun's he ever had. He pulled that engine many years ago but he did find the title and everything (I believe he gave that info to you when you came by). He told me it was a 5 speed but I honestly never even looked at the engine, I assumed it was since when I bought my 620 he said i could grab the 5-speed if it would work (but Datzenmike said t wouldnt) so I was on the hunt for a 280ZX 5 speed. can you post pics of the engine and trans, especially the casting #'s you can call clark, PM me for his contact info if you need it. I dont know if he will know since its been so many years since he actually pulled it, but may be worth it, he remembers all his old 32 fords from when he was 12... Quote Link to comment
a320inMaine Posted November 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Hi DGuy, "A14" is on the engine block, BUT, through searching, I've read that SOME A15s actually had the A14 casting marks. That is what is so DAMN confusing! Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 A14 and A15 castings might have been identical (spec says no, but being the block itself is identical...), but the ENGRAVED number will be the actual engine. The only difference is stroke, which means a different crankshaft and rods. Quote Link to comment
RedBanner Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 If it where a b210 five speed it would be a dogleg and marked 63a on the passenger side and the speedo would connect on the rear driver side and the clutch slave front passenger, if marked 60 its a 210/b310 trans. 63a has a different output spline count I believe, Quote Link to comment
a320inMaine Posted November 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 I'm headed to take pix of the #s tomorrow. The trans is marked "60" and I'll make sure to see what the engraved number says. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment
RedBanner Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 trans id numbers are cast, the etched ones around the bell are sn# Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Identification marks are always on the distributor side (right side)of Datsun A-series engines OR It will be stamped A12, A12A, A13, A14 or A15. A15 uses the second A14 block casting * 11010-H9700 A14/A15 BARE BLOCK 76mm/2.99" bore size * Bore: 76 mm Earlier A14 blocks were slightly different. The A15 oil pan has slight bumps in the side to allow the larger crank to swing without touch the pan sides. The earlier A14 block is different. Quote Link to comment
a320inMaine Posted November 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Here's a FEW pix - some ok, some real bad...... More tomorrow........ http://s1088.photobucket.com/albums/i336/lylesphotobucket/My%201965%20Datsun%20L320/ Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 None of those show the engine type/serial number. You're looking for a flat machined spot with numbers stamped/engraved on them. Quote Link to comment
a320inMaine Posted November 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 Yup........ gonna find em & shoot em tomorrow. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 There were two 60 series 5 speeds, the FS5W60L and the FS5W60A but the case will only say 60 on it. The FS5W60L is a dogleg shift pattern with reverse above 1st... R 2 4 1 3 5 The FS5W60A is the normal H pattern with reverse below 5th... 1 3 5 2 4 R Very hard to tell apart by looking. The top one below is the FS5W60A. Below it is the dogleg FS5W60L. See the white arrow marked 'right side'? It's pointing to a large nut which is only on dogleg transmissions. The yellow arrows point to oil drain bungs but you can't go wrong with the large nut on the right underside to identify the dogleg. The FS5W60L dogleg was only used on the 210 for about half a year until July of '79 or until the start of the '80 model year when the regular pattern shift FS5W60A was used for the remainder of the 210 run. Take note that the 60 series 4 speeds look very similar to the FS5W60A 5 speed. Best to place in 5th gear and confirm that the output turns about 5 turns for every 4 input turns. . Quote Link to comment
Zfighter76 Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 we have 20 plus a12 motors at my schools auto shop and it seems somewhat sketchy on how they were numbered. half of them have no identification numbers, some have one, and some have two. i dont know if datsun just didnt have their shit together back then or what but maybe if the vin says one thing and the block says another, it might be a screw up... not sure just a suggestion. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 The VIN doesn't list the engine number. The only A-series w/o the stamped number I've heard of some commercial units. Quote Link to comment
Radiant-Designer Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 looks to be a A15, hes checking the trans tonight. Quote Link to comment
a320inMaine Posted November 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 OK!...................... more lousy pics........................... @#$%^&*()(*&^%$#$%^&*( camera, gonna ask Santa for a good one :blink: http://s1088.photobucket.com/albums/i336/lylesphotobucket/My%201965%20Datsun%20L320/ This IS an A15 motor; I know the pic doesn't show it well, but I saw it. The trans is a '60' series and I dunno what a 4 spd looks like. The trans is 27" long overall, if that helps. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 So it is an A15, that's the superior one. Best wishes on your project. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 PBL310 The first letter denotes: K.... coupe W... wagon No letter indicates a sedan The second letter denotes: P.... A15 H... A14 No letter indicates an A12 Third letter: L... left hand drive B310... model The forth letter denotes: R... 2 door No letter indicates 4 door The 5th letter denotes: S... standard trim No letter indicates deluxe trim The 6th letter denotes: F.... 5 speed A.... automatic No letter indicates 4 speed The 7th letter denotes: U... federal V... California N... Canada The rest are build numbers, like 0000542588 or the 542588th one built that year. Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 PLB310. B310 is the model identifier. A "310" model was a Bluebird from the 1960s. A B310 was a Sunny from 1979-82, AKA the 210 in the US. Mike, I'm curious- do Canadian Datsuns have that alphabet soup AFTER the Model number in the "serial number" (like PL620TUV)? Because American ones don't. The only place you'd find the additional letters was in the factory manual or on ones built in 1981+ marked as the "Model Number" on the Dataplate, I suppose. The dataplates from 1980 or older don't say diddly about trim or number of doors. The serial number on my '76 is KHL620######, and my '79 is HLG620######. Or my '78 Wagon, WHLA10######. The "Type" on the dataplates for the KC is KHL620. Nothing more. On the '79, it's HLG620. My Mom's '73, it's PL620. But that one I have the window sticker Quote Link to comment
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