Betty White, the now not so neglected race car

[HRH]

Good news is on further examination of the head gasket, I think I see where it may have been just barely leaching into the coolant passages. Hopefully it was just a head issue and possible lift off of the head from old head bolts. Either way, it has studs now, shouldn't have any issues. It also has 8000 rpm valve springs now, so shouldn't have to worry about overrevs.

[HRH]

Soooooooo I went to put on the exhaust manifold today and found a problem. The turbo shaft on the original turbo is not anywhere near tight. Didn't notice it before, apparently I didn't check well enough. Lots of play. So I thought, what about that Volvo turbo I had squirreled away for the last 8-10 years that was good? I go downstairs and check it and the shaft is super tight! In fact, it's SO tight, I can't turn it. Not with a screwdriver, lol. I've been thinking that thing is good for the longest time, I swear it turned originally, but I'm thinking not.

Either way, looks like I'm shopping for a new turbo. Maybe I'll even do a hater pipe out the top like the Rotsun, lol.

[HRH]

THIS SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY!!!! TURBO TURBO TURBO!!!! Came in today.

[HRH]

Well I'll be! I thought I updated this, but I didn't! Maybe I posted it in Insomniacs? Anyway, the manifold had warped and the rear runner had raised 1/4" up. I talked to the Datsun guru and the trick for cast iron because it's so porous is to cut it with a sawzall or band saw and chamfer the edges with a carbide burr. If you use a shiny death wheel, the abrasive from it embeds in the cast iron and makes it a bitch to weld. Dropped it off at the Datsun guru's shop Wednesday and it's now done! Here are the warpage pictures, more to come of finished welded manifold.










Good news is the manifold is all welded up! Didn't have time to pick it up today and already have a busy weekend so I'll pick it up next week, but that saves a lot of cash! Finally can get started putting the turbo car back together!

[Laecaon]

I saw those pictures, definitely not the way I expected it to warp.

When I put the Stainless headers on my BMW, of course it was a Chinese special and was severely warped. Spent some time on my belt sander with a 50 grit belt and made them flat. Never had a leak issue, or had to retighten them

[HRH]

I have a smaller belt sander, I need a longer one for the 6 cylinder manifolds. I can almost do it on mine, but it's just a little too small. Problem is the size I need is like industrial wood working stuff, super expensive unless you find an old used one.

[Laecaon]

Mine has 18" of actual flat bed on it, takes a 48" belt. I figured out its a 1962 Craftsman. Its a beast.

[HRH]

That's what I need! I have a harbor freight version, it's okay, but probably one 12" long of actual flat surface. Have to do a 2 step to plan a 6 cylinder manifold. Works fine for 4 cyl.

[HRH]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bai- ... gIhMvD_BwE

That's what I want, but it's a bit much for occasional use.

[HRH]

Oh yeah, some of you already saw this on facebook, but in case you didn't:

Got my turbo z car manifold back from being welded straight again. The rear runner had moved up a 1/4" due to heat and age. Got it cut off and welded back up, my Datsun guru made some trick little aluminum bits to take the place of the intake manifold so it would stay even on the head during welding. Going to put it on here in a bit.

I did put it on, and it fit great, not that I was surprised. I need to put the intake manifold on too, then re-clock the turbo. Lots to do, but I got a lot of other things on my list done today.

[Laecaon]

Yay for flatness!

[HRH]

Totally! And guess what I got today?!

[Laecaon]

A trailer which can load way more than your truck can tow? lol.

Sorry, I want a trailer, but have no where to put one.

[HRH]

Oh you silly fellow.....

1. It's a Datsun. It'll haul it, even if it doesn't like it.
2. You missed the update. I bought the old '87 G30 shop box van with a 350 and a one ton full floater dually rear. I have a tow rig.

[HRH]

So the turbo doesn't fit. Baaaahhh! Always something! I should have realized with how small the oe turbo was, a larger China whooshie-boi special might be a problem. It looks like with a 3/8 or 10mm spacer I should be able to fit it with a smidge longer studs. But I also haven't checked the intake manifold. Going to do that in a minute. If that's in the way, then I'm going to have to move the location of the turbo entirely, and that won't be the best for spooling if it's way far away from the exhaust manifold.

Also, the bolts on the turbo for re-clocking on these Chinese turbos are 1/2". I think they were supposed to be 13mm, but they're super shitty for size. I fear a 13mm would have rounded them. The 10 mm bolts on the intake side are really correct either. 10mm is too sloppy, 3/8" doesn't fit. I realized I didn't have to fiddle with those after knocking them loose. Re-clocked the turbo and wastegate after I figured that out, pretty easy really.

[wayno]

The one thing I learned about turbochargers on my diesel engines is that if it is too small I would drive on the freeway with 20psi of boost all the time, and if it is too big it is hard to build up any boost, somewhere in the middle is just right.

[HRH]

Yeah, this one should be just right, it's not really that big. It's just the original turbo was dinky and pretty much crap.

[HRH]

Alright, got my spacer flange and have some bolts to cut into studs or use as is. If it warms up above 16 degrees this weekend I might get it attached.

[HRH]

So interestingly enough the studs are not 10x1.25 on the inside. They're 10x1.5. Also interesting is using fine thread on the outer portion of the stud is a Nissan thing apparently. Trying to find longer studs in that thread pitch is a pain in the ass which is why I was using the bolts. However if you go with a 10x1.5 stud you'll find the right length is easily attainable.

I actually had my Datsun guru dig the studs out while I was at work because I figured it would piss me off a lot more on the weekend and it pissed him off and only cost me a little bit. If you need to remove those studs, get the manifold just about red hot before you try and get them out. They don't come out easily from that manifold. anyway now I have two studs of different length which looks like both will actually work. I don't have the gaskets on in the pictures below but there's more than enough room for gaskets.

Either way the spacer gets me the clearance I need.
About a nuts width. if all goes well I'll actually put this on this weekend and finally have the stupid turbo mounted.

[HRH]

Alright, today is the day. Going to walk the dogs, then start getting the manifold sorted and putting the engine back together. Need to adjust the valves too since I put in all the new hardware.