After a very nice Saturday at the Vintage Races at Sears Point with ZONC
(Z Owners of Northern California) and BADROC, I had another mishap with
my Fairlady.
I was driving over the bridge from Mill Valley to Sausilito when I felt
the power drop off. I hit the gas and heard a "pinking" noise, then the
power really dropped off. I coasted to the exit and when I stopped a huge
plume of white smoke came out from under the car. Popped the hood and
there was smoke coming out of the oil filler breather, the side of the
valve cover, and from the overflow tube on the radiator, even from the
dipstick tube. I ran it dry and fried the oil.
I filled the radiator back up and added some oil, then turned the motor
over a few times to try to get some coolant into the block. After it
cooled a bit, I was able to get it started again (very roughly) and was
able to move about 500 yards to a parking lot. I had the car towed back
home.
Even if the head is not warped, did the burnt oil do damage to the
internals, the main bearings? I'm thinking of rebuilding the motor, as
this is not the first time it has overheated, the water passages are
pretty rusty, and G-series parts won't be any easier to find in the
future. It also has quite a thirst for oil and is generally tired. Might
have also lost a valve guide.
The engine did have low, but consistant compression (as recently as
Solvang). I'll check it again.
Suggested books or other referece? I have the Factory 1500 service
manual, as well as the 1600/2000 manual. Also have the "HotRod Your
Datsun OHC" book (is there one for pushrod engines?)
Is the G-series close enough to any more "popular" engine, that I could
use for general engine rebuilding theory? Perhaps the BMC "A" series?
Any info for the "newbie" engine rebuilder would be appreciated!
One question right off the bat: better to pull the whole engine and
tranny as one piece now or remove intake and exhaust manifolds, and head
to investigate further?
Thanks,
Leigh Brooks
San Francisco
(should be rebuilding my 2 liter instead of the 1500!)
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