There’s something special about a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive pickup that doesn’t need a huge engine or complicated electronics to be exciting. This 2002 Nissan 1400 / Sunny-based pickup is a perfect example.
Instead of throwing away the original A-series character and replacing it with a completely different powerplant, this build takes the A14 and develops it into a high-revving, naturally aspirated setup that stays true to the truck’s roots.
It’s low, simple, mechanical and purposeful — exactly the kind of build that reminds you why lightweight RWD cars and pickups have such a strong following.
Building the A14
At the heart of the build is an A14S block, paired with a GX cylinder head that has received extensive porting work.
The GX head is an important part of the recipe. Rather than simply bolting on bigger components and calling it a performance build, the head has been opened up to improve airflow and make the most of the naturally aspirated combination.
Inside the head are performance valve springs rated at around 7,500 RPM, allowing the engine to safely operate in the higher rev range where this setup is designed to live.
The camshaft is a 282° performance camshaft with a 108° LSA, giving the engine a much more aggressive character than a standard A14. The cam is designed to move the powerband higher into the rev range, making the engine feel increasingly alive as the RPM climbs.
Interestingly, the bottom end remains relatively conventional.
The engine uses:
- Standard A14 crankshaft
- Standard A14 connecting rods
- Standard A14 pistons
- 282° performance camshaft
- 108° LSA
- Ported GX cylinder head
- Performance valve springs
- Naturally aspirated configuration
That combination is part of what makes the build interesting. It isn’t about throwing every expensive component available at the engine. It’s about getting the most out of the A-series platform while maintaining the character of the original motor.
Weber Carburetion
Fuel delivery is handled by a Weber 36 carburettor, mounted using a custom adapter plate.
The current setup is fully carbureted, keeping the engine bay mechanical and relatively uncomplicated. There’s no need for a complicated EFI conversion to enjoy this kind of build.
And for now, the plan is simple:
No Weber — back to the stock carburettor.
The Weber setup may return down the line, but for the moment the truck is being taken back to its standard carbureted configuration.
That’s part of the charm of an A-series build like this. There’s something incredibly satisfying about tuning an engine with a carburettor, hearing the intake roar as the throttle opens and feeling the engine climb through the rev range.
Keeping the Ignition Simple
Ignition duties are handled by an electronic distributor, with the current setup running approximately 12° of initial timing.
Again, simplicity is a major theme throughout this build.
The goal isn’t to turn the 1400 into an electronics-heavy project. It’s about creating a responsive, high-revving little pickup that retains the mechanical character that makes older performance builds so enjoyable.
12A Gearbox & Rear-Wheel Drive
Power is sent through a 12A gearbox before making its way to the rear wheels.
The truck remains rear-wheel drive, which is arguably one of the most important parts of the entire formula.
Lightweight chassis + naturally aspirated A-series + manual gearbox + rear-wheel drive is a combination that doesn’t need much explanation.
The differential ratio is currently unknown, but depending on what is fitted, this could have a significant influence on how the truck behaves — particularly with a high-revving engine and performance camshaft.
A shorter final drive would help keep the engine in its powerband and make the truck feel even more lively, while a taller ratio would make it more relaxed at cruising speeds.
Low, Simple & Purposeful
Visually, the truck has been given a subtle but unmistakable lowered stance.
At the rear, the leaf-spring suspension has been lowered using 50 mm lowering blocks, together with extended reinforced U-bolts.
Up front, the truck runs approximately 20 mm lowered front springs.
The result is a noticeably lower stance without completely abandoning the traditional leaf-spring setup at the rear.
It’s still fundamentally a simple, lightweight pickup — just sitting closer to the ground and looking considerably more purposeful.
The truck rides on 14-inch wheels, completing the period-inspired performance look.
Braking Upgrades
Stopping power has also received attention, with slotted front brake rotors fitted to the truck.
It’s an important part of any performance build. Adding power and increasing the engine's usable RPM range is only part of the equation — being able to confidently slow the vehicle down is just as important.
The Philosophy Behind the Build
What makes this Nissan 1400 interesting isn’t necessarily the individual parts.
It’s the philosophy behind the combination.
This isn’t a build where the original A-series was simply discarded in favour of a completely different engine. Instead, the A14 has been developed into something much more performance-focused while retaining its original identity.
The result is a lightweight, naturally aspirated, rear-wheel-drive pickup with:
A14S block. GX head. Ported head. 282° cam. 108° LSA. 7,500 RPM valve springs. Weber 36. 12A gearbox. Leaf springs. 14-inch wheels. And plenty of old-school mechanical character.
It’s the kind of setup that rewards actually driving the truck — working the gearbox, keeping the revs up and listening to the engine come alive.
Built By Hand
And then there’s the detail that really adds personality to the truck:
All the vinyl was done by hand.
That might sound like a small detail, but it represents the attitude behind the entire build.
This isn’t a factory-fresh showpiece assembled from a catalogue. It’s a personal build, developed piece by piece, with hands-on work and a clear vision of what the truck should be.
That’s what makes cars like this special.
They have imperfections. They have personality. They have stories.
And every modification says something about the person who built them.
The End Result
The finished recipe is a classic lightweight RWD Nissan 1400 with a high-revving A-series GX-inspired setup.
It sits low, keeps things simple and puts the emphasis firmly on the driving experience.
No oversized engine swap.
No unnecessary complexity.
Just a small-capacity A14, a performance-focused cylinder head and camshaft, a manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive and a lightweight pickup body.
Sometimes you don’t need more engine.
You just need to make the engine you have better.
And that’s exactly what this 2002 Nissan 1400 is all about.
Small engine. High revs. Rear-wheel drive. Old-school attitude.
