It's interesting that Jim Tyler should be so offended about the fact that the J
series engine
engine is based on the design of a BMC (Austin, Morris, MG, etc.) engine, yet
the fact that the R
and G series engines were also based on a BMC design seems to have passed his
attention. The U20
is based on the R series engine and is therefore also based on a BMC design.
The thing that should
be noted is the fact that these engines are not COPIES of BMC engines, but they
are BASED on thier
design. Nissan built Austin cars under licence in the mid to late 1950s and the
first cars of
their own design after they ceased their alliance with Austin had engines that
were little more
than copies. But by 1960 these engines were significantly better than the BMC
designs. Vast
improvements were made to all the engines, particularly in the design of the
cylinder heads and
manifolds. All the problems that were inherit in the BMC engines (fragile
crankshafts, oil leaks
from every orifice, poor idle, etc.) are totally absent in the Nissan engines,
these problems are
things that BMC were never able to solve in their own designs but that the
Japanese engineers were
able to overcome in only a short amount of time. To see what Nissan were able
to achieve you only
have to compare the MGB and the SP311. These cars have very similar engines but
MG were only able
to wring 95hp out of 1800cc compared to the 96hp Nissan got from 1600cc. The
same applies when you
compare the J engine with other smaller BMC engines.
And no, Nissan isn't a deity, and I don't regard them as one. Many of the
cars they built after
1970 are woeful, underengineered, plastic filled, mobile monuments to bad
taste. Like just about
every other car maker Nissan totally lost the plot in the 1970s, any company
that would replace
the truely wonderful SR311 with the very ordinary 240Z is not a company that
deserves to be
treated with anything but contempt. But regardless of what all our engines are
all originally
based on, what does matter is that in the 1960s Nissan were able to do what the
did to these
designs and completely change the way they perform and also make them reliable
at the same time.
Perhaps a car maker that can get 150hp out of a production car engine that has
a block based on a
BMC design should be treated as a god. I can't think of too many other car
makers that could get
anywhere near 150hp out of a 2 litre 4 cyl.
BTW, having owned cars with L28 and VG30 engines I can safely that they are
great engines. As an
engine the L28 makes a great boat anchor! And the VG30 is a great engine if you
think it is great
fun having to constantly fix the damn thing. (still love you though Jim :-)
Alan Bent "Koala Boy"- Queensland , Australia
Still rather be "Koala Boy" than "Plastic Dash"
1966 Fairlady SP311 - 1965 Silvia CSP311
1966 Fairlady SP311 - 1964 Fairlady 3 seater SP310
1964 Fairlady 3 seater SP310 - 1964 Cedric Wagon WP31
1963 Bluebird P312 - 1963 Bluebird P312
1963 Cedric P31 - 1964 Cedric Wagon 1964
1969 Super Six G130
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Pit/3823/index.html
Jim Tyler wrote:
> Why not? Grind off the MG letters and you wouldn't know it from the J!!!!
>
> I knew we would would hear from Koala boy on this one.
>
> ......but I am sorry.......Nissan isn't a deity.
>
> They shouldn't be regarded as one. The are capable of mistakes and they
> make them.
>
> The F10, many of the horrible plastic 80's Z's. MANY of the utterly
>forgetable sedans,
> the new 4 cylinder Z concept, the poor planning that got them in the current
>Z situation
> while all the competition is selling or introducing cool cars,
>
> and yes..... the J-unk series engines.
>
> Like I said before if you want Leyland junk just buy Leyland junk. If it
>weren't for the
> NIssan lettering, you wouldn't know a J13 from a Leyland. That engine is
>crap whether
> it has Nissan on it or not. Not worth it's weight in sand.
>
> And don't tell me I just don't understand it. That is what Jag and Triumph
>owners like to
> profess. A sad excuse for bad engineering!
>
> L-series, VG30DE's, SR's, FJ's, KA's even R's and U's. Nissan has made alot
>of great engines,
> the J simply isn't one of them! sad, sad, sad.
>
> Jim Tyler
> (Currently building a custom Solex'ed R20, an L28 and VG30DE.) Real engines,
>for real cars.
> No time to waste with J -unk.
>
> (If you recall, I said the 66 style was the prettiest, I still profess that)
>
> ----------
> From: Alan Bent[SMTP:ajb@squirrel.com.au]
> Sent: Sunday, October 03, 1999 7:46 AM
> To: jdg1
> Cc: datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Searching for a J15 motor
>
> I'm trying to decide whether I'm more upset at the thought putting an MG
>engine
> in a quality vehicle like a Datsun, or whether I'm more upset by the comments
>of
> Jim Tyler. I've decided I'm more upset at "Plastic Dash" Tyler, he is the type
> of tratorous person that would actually think there was nothing wrong with
> having an MG engine in his Datsun. Has anyone looked under his bonnet (hood)?
> Speaking of MGs, I recently saw a movie called I.Q., in that movie someone
> goes to a mechanic because he is having trouble with his MG. The mechanic
> explains to him that the car has Lucas electrics and that the problem is that
> the English are more interested in glueing wood onto dash boards than
>designing
> electrical systems.
> "The only thing worse than MGs are MG owners."
> Alan Bent - Queensland , Australia
> 1966 Fairlady SP311 - 1965 Silvia CSP311
> 1966 Fairlady SP311 - 1964 Fairlady 3 seater SP310
> 1964 Fairlady 3 seater SP310 - 1964 Cedric Wagon WP31
> 1963 Bluebird P312 - 1963 Bluebird P312
> 1963 Cedric P31 - 1964 Cedric Wagon 1964
> 1969 Super Six G130
> http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Pit/3823/index.html
> p.s. My next door neighbour had a cat that used to hang around my house. I
> didn't know it's name so I decided to give it a name, I called it MG. My
> neighbour thought it was cute that I had named the cat after a car, I didn't
> have the heart to tell her that it was actually short for Mongrel Guts.
>
> jdg1 wrote:
>
> > Well, I'm probably going to get flamed for this but remember the following
> > is not a recommendation for a roadster -- I'm just trying to respond to a
> > question posted to the roadster list.
> >
> > Way back in high school days (early '70's) I had a L-520 pickup with the
> > J-13 motor. I rebuilt the engine in auto shop and it ran quite well --
> > except it was gutless. I needed more power! Of course it had more power
> > than my "other" car a '60 Peugeot SW.
> >
> > I was working after school at a wrecking yard and was trying to decide how
> > to resolve the power question. A local MG mechanic showed me that an MGB
> > motor would replace a J-13 -- almost a direct bolt in. Perhaps this could
> > be a solution for your friend's 320 pickup. I'm not sure but I think later
> > MGB engines were either 1800 or 2000 cc's -- remember there is no substitute
> > for cubic inches (centimeters just doesn't sound quite right).
> >
> > I resolved my pickup's lack of power the true American way -- Buick V6/three
> > speed automatic and the datsun PU's stock 4.88 rear end (welded the spider
> > gears together). I never had much money for beer -- needed the money for
> > rear tires -- they just seemed to melt away.
> >
> > Jerry
> >
> > '69 SRL 311
> > '86 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (not crying yet -- plenty of smiles though)
> > '98 Ford F150 SC 4x4
> > '99 Cannondale Raven w/disc brakes
> > '99 Colnago Master X-Light
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: John F Sandhoff <sandhoff@compctr.ccs.csus.edu>
> > To: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Friday, October 01, 1999 5:02 AM
> > Subject: Searching for a J15 motor
> >
> > > I got a call from a nearby fellow that's working on his '65 320 truck.
> > > He wants a little more pep, and asked if I knew of a source of a
> > > J15 engine. My notes aren't real clear, he may also entertain a J13
> > > or J16 engine.
> > >
> > > Alan apparently has offered to help, but shipping from Australia to
> > > California is kinda expensive :-)
> > >
> > > Anyways, if you have any leads please let the guy know.
> > > Ray Empi, lives in the Sacramento Valley area, raempi@jps.net,
> > > (530) 823-5541. Thanks!
> > >
> > > Roadster content: I blew my 4 speed tranny last night :-(
> > >
> > > -- John
> > > John F Sandhoff sandhoff@csus.edu Sacramento, CA
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