New Zealand Datsun Club

I'm rebuilding the engine as stock basically. The car is all stock probably one of the few left in the country that hasn't been modified. So I don't want to ruin it by putting in a modern engine, or even an L20B for that matter (I have a W block but will keep it for another 1600).

Where would I get some flat-top pistons like the OE ones?

The stock compression is 9.5:1, which could probably go up to 10.0:1 on 98. That will be gained by planing the head assuming enough valve clearance with the standard cam.

Any recommendations in Christchurch for a good engine reconditioner for the short block? I heard a while ago that Cylinder Head Specialists is good for the head, is that still the case?

Once I get it back on the road hopefully I will make some of the club runs.

gidday, and welcome to the site,there is a guy on here called hspwr, he has his own parts business in napier and owns a 1600 as well, i think he has a thread in the parts and services thread. try him for the pistons,and then cliff bond on ferry road for the machineing etc, treated me very well when I delt with them, and a friend had great service from them too. if you need a machanic to put it all together datto devil is an a grade mechanic, and there are other very handy people on here who could put their hands up for such a task.
start a build thread and post some pics please.

CHS do good quality work.
Last motor I built, I used Dirk Stobbe at precision engineer in southbridge. (Just as you go into goon)
But apparently the some guy out at greta valley is the man for building hot motors.

I brought in some keith black pistons from the states for my L series which were really poor quality so sent them back and ended up getting a set mahle's which were gret quality so would recommend getting a set of them. i could look into a set for you as mine was a L18 and yours L16.
When you say flat tops i take it you mean they still have the 2.5mm small dish in the top and not dead flat.

hsepwr wrote:I brought in some keith black pistons from the states for my L series which were really poor quality so sent them back and ended up getting a set mahle's which were gret quality so would recommend getting a set of them. i could look into a set for you as mine was a L18 and yours L16.
When you say flat tops i take it you mean they still have the 2.5mm small dish in the top and not dead flat.

The L16SSS does have dead flat pistons. There is no dish and no valve cutaway either. I just need a set of cast flat-tops of good quality.

Update - the head has been planed excessively, so it's marginal to use. Goodness knows what is going on as I can see marks in the top of the bore where the exhaust valves have touched the bore edge. Been having second thoughts about modding the car. A big capacity L20B would still look fairly original, with a pair of Z SU's. But it would go a lot harder and pull like a train in the higher gears which is what I want.

Well after a few minutes research I can get a L23 off Troy Ermish in the US for $US2600, plus sea freight $NZ250 approx. That is 89mm bore and 92mm stroke, rebuilt and assembled long block and balanced too.

Almost 200hp and 200ft/lbs of torque with a pair of twin-chokes. Allowing 22% drivetrain loss that would be 156hp at the wheels, say 150hp. Probably around 140hp with the Z carbs or 94kw.

That isn't much more than the L16 will cost to rebuild.

He has a very good name as a Datsun man.

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