Datsun is treated to a lightened Flywheel and bigger Clutch
p?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=557&g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT” alt=”LFlyFront” width=”384″ height=”288″ />Last week I found an old Datsun A12 flywheel in my garage
that my brother used a few years ago on A12 and A14 motors. This particular flywheel was lightened a bit, but the two of us thought that as the years went by, we can greatly improve what was done to it previously. In a moment of superior thought, I remembered I have a few pictures of lightened flywheels from
“Datsun B110 Competition Tune-Up Manual, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Tokyo Japan 1974″ that I have sourced from http://datsun1200.com site.
And so it began. I sourced a 190mm LUK clutch kit (had an idea the current clutch is only 180mm), found a a guy that does machining and dynamic balancing, made a appointment with him. I showed and explained the drawing to him, the next day I picked the super light flywheel up and was very pleased with the end results.
Here is a table comparison of the A12, A14 and Lightened A12 Flywheels
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| A12 | 9.0kg |
| A14 | 11.5kg |
| A12 Lightened | 5.78kg |
| Old 180mm A-Series Pressure Plate | 3.1kg |
| New 190mm A-Series Pressure Plate | 3.1kg |
| Old 180mm A-Series Clutch | 0.8kg |
| New 190mm A-Series Clutch | 0.825kg |
| New Flywheel, Pressure Plate & Clutch | 9.0kg |
On dissembling, my thoughts where cast in stone, indeed the old clutch and pressure plate was only 180mm units. This meant that the clutch and pressure plate was still the original units. I need to give credit for Datsun, wow, that says a lot for quality.
After the gearbox was put back in it’s place and all the other nuts and bolts tightened up, my father and realized there was no clutch. And then it hit us, the A12 flywheel is much thinner than the A14 unit. This meant that the release bearing was unable to travel enough to get to the fingers on the pressure plate. This meant double work, one thing that really ticks me off. Work started dissembling everything again. After some serious measurements, we decided to increase the length of the pivot point that the fork pushes against. The original unit was replaced with a alancap with a shank and a nut to lock it in place, added some locktight and it is in place to stay.
Assembly started again, after all was done, clutch was good and we just double checked everything to make sure that the release bearing retainer does not move off, of the slide if the clutch is operated, that could lead to a locked clutch. Almost like trying to drive with the gearbox in neutral. What a lot of fun this could be.
Have a look at the pictures of the old and new Flywheels.
Please can you email me the guy who balanced your flywheel for you and his contact number as well.
Adam, please see our info section, all information is listed their and we are constant adding new information
As Jan said, in the info section is the contact details of people that did a good job on our machines. Warren Lotter 021 559 2086 or 082 725 1429 . He is located in Bothasig
Hope this helps, otherwise ask again.
Howsit.. for interest sake, the flywheel can still be lightened alot more. it has been safely lightened to 3.0kg there are other metods as well.
i am looking for a flywheel for a datsun truck ed30. if any one can help it will be a pleasure, contact me at 082 467 2844
Talintha-Lee the best advice I can give is to start phoning the scrapyards, I really do not know of any body that would be able to help with this one, maybe try places like Commercial Bakkie and truck. I hope that is correct.