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Nissan L16 specs: 1.6L (97 ci) 4-cylinder, 83 x 73.7 mm (3.2677 x 2.9016 in) bore and stroke, 9.5:1 compression. Rated 96 hp, 1968–1973.
The Nissan 97ci (L16) is oversquare — the 3.2677" bore exceeds the 2.9016" stroke by 12.6% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 2.9016" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 8,250 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. Each of the 4 cylinders displaces 24.3 ci (397 cc).
9.5:1 is in the range that usually runs on pump premium.
It is one of 4 engines in the Nissan 97ci family, all of them 97 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement. 10 factory variants share these dimensions, rated at 96 hp across 1968–1973.
| Displacement | 97 ci / 1.6 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.2677" |
| Stroke | 2.9016" |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Configuration | I4 |
| Compression ratio | 9.5:1 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.126 |
| Fuel type | gas |
|---|---|
| Advertised HP | 96 hp |
| Years | 1968–1973 |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.126 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 2,902 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Displacement per cylinder | 24.3 ci |
| Static compression | 9.5:1 — in the range that usually runs on pump premium |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 96 hp | L16 |
| 1969 | 96 hp | L16 |
| 1970 | — | L16 |
| 1970 | 96 hp | L16 |
| 1971 | — | L16 |
| 1971 | 96 hp | L16 |
| 1972 | — | L16 |
| 1972 | 96 hp | L16 |
| 1973 | — | L16 |
| 1973 | 96 hp | L16 |
2 factory vehicles, 1968–1973. Each year opens that model's engine table.