----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, August 04, 2002 9:55
PM
Subject: A Datsun Weekend
Just finished what could only be described a
Datsun Weekend.
Saturday afternoon, casually started to
repair a simple blown head gasket on my sons partner's car. Removed the
head to find no apparent breaks in the gasket but water gallery corrosion
in the head is close to the gasket metal surrounding the cylinder
bore, suggesting may be water could be getting past the gasket. Discard the
head.
Fortunately we have a recently acquired A87 L20B
head which is sitting on the bench. So lets clean it up and drop it on
temporarily, despite the 7.5 to 1 compression.
Install head and, guess what, the timing
chain wedge has come loose!
Out with radiator, off with the front pulley,
water pump, oil pump, front timing cover, and reinstall the cam chain
tensioner. Reverse all removals, with new gaskets of course, and
tension the head. Replace oil pump and set it at 11.25, drop in the
dizzy, connect the battery and crank, and crank, and crank. It has spark, fuel
in the bowl but no fire!
Its 9.30 pm, we're outside working with a small
flouro light, its mid winter. Off to bed.
Today. Assume compression is too low
to get the fire started, so replace A87 head with a W 53 head
currently on a recently acquired Stanza motor. Off with the A87
head, chocking the chain very tightly this time. Off with the Stanza head,
what a beauty, it looks like it's brand new! The gaskets haven't even
stuck to it. Bolt it on to the 1600 block, bolt up everything else
and, *&%$#, the original hardened heater hoses are splitting
along their length as I try to install them. Fit new heater
hoses and clamps.
Check all bolts are tightened. Whats
this? A stripped thread in the thermostat housing and water is pissing
out!. Replace housing by canibalising spare car in shed.
Finally ready!
Crank, and Crank, and Crank.
Silence. Sounds of spanners hitting ground hard and loud
swearing. Short think break.
Check timing, spark, fuel. Fuel? Yep the bowl is full, but hang on, is fuel is
flowing down carb throat! No. Place hand over carb while son cranks
again. A few coughs, then action! At
last, engine settles to it usual very
smooth idle.
Ask son what made him think he'd blown a head
gasket.
Answer, car wouldnt start
and he figured as the head was "sus" and the engine was loosing
water, the head gasket had blown! He also thought there was water
on no 3 plug.
Did I just do two head jobs for a blocked
jet in the carb and a leaking heater hose?
Who knows, but the car is purring again like a
good datsun should.
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