Hi Leigh,
Awfully sorry to hear she's ailing, although you're lucky it didn't happen
during your LA/SF runs. CalSpeed, Todd and I got caught in that
bumper-to-bumper traffic on the uphill bridge approach. Miserable! You're
going to want to drop the oil pan so you can check the bearings. A lot
easier to inspect with the engine out of the car, but then you'll need an
engine stand to make the job easier. You can go ahead and remove the intake
and exhaust manifolds. But if you pull the head, you'll need to remount it
if you want to yank the engine later on (no big deal).
What I'd do, is drain the oil (what's left of it), and check for metal
particles. On my blown U20, I swept the oil with a magnet and found lots of
metal. Then I opened up the oil filter and found more. So I knew I had bearing
damage. That was confirmed when I found the piston rod had slack in it, and that
bearing was completely gone. The metal particles damaged the other bearings. So
do check the bottom end!
Maybe you can find a engine transplant candidate while you're rebuilding the
1500.
Fred - So.SF
__________________________ Reply Separator ____________________________
>Subject: The old G motor ain't what she used to be
>Author: shifty <shifty@well.com>
>Date: 5/24/99 2:51 PM
>
>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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