New World Datsuns...

And to just make things obvious.

The M54 head bolt hole spacing is 88mm across, 91mm length wise.

Nice that you have access to jig making equipment.

JIG!

Here is the plate, locates using 3 M10 bolts into other head bolt holes. The holes were drilled with a 10MM drill, so there is hardly any slop for the bolts, since they all threaded in easily, the holes are pretty much dead on.



The drill/tap bushings/guides fit into the plate fairly well.



And here it is standing on its own. Also notice I made some drill stops.




I wish I had a little more time. I would have made the fit of the bushings to the plate better. But this will do.

Very nice. Good piece of mind knowing they're all good now.

The real work is tomorrow.

Drive it to work on Monday?

That will not happen. Trip permit is gone now. I need a new one. But I will wait until I have it running.

I will probably just drive it on my typical brake job shake down run, my neighborhood.

Time Serts went in last night. I took pictures, but that is boring. The jig worked well. All the inserts went in dead center.

Head is being torqued. Just did the first 90. Waiting 20 minutes, then the second 90.

Also I may be getting sick... boo.

Well was having a good time.

POIASHNDFAGP[;OIJNHAWSERB ASDFGVBA SDFG;OLKIJUH K

Well I did it. Stupid mistake cost me another $100.

I snapped a head bolt. It was on the final torque run. It was skipping like 10-15 degrees at a time. I don't know what I was thinking, but I kept tightening it...

Pulled the head back off and the bolt unthreaded fine.

Quick trip to Baxters and then to the warehouse and I was back in business.

Ran a tap down the time serts, blew it all out. well oiled the threads.

Head finally torqued. So yay. And I timed the cams/chains, and installed the Vanos unit.


Blurry picture...



Still need to scrape the RTV off this...

Made decent progress yesterday.

Water pump and thermostat on.



Cleaned out the oil pan.







Exhaust is on. These are my old catalytic converters. I think I cleaned them out. The front one was always fine ish. The rear was ultra clogged. I soaked them in Purple Cleaner for 2 weeks. Some basic air flow tests say they are flowing about the same (rear actually better...).



Blurry picture of the engine on the hoist



Rear Main seal time!



Flex Plate (I forgot the engine plate... I was able to get it on without removing the flex plate)



And because this is an Auto, it was one of the easiest motor installs I have done...

No pictures. But for tonight, I installed the AC compressor and bracket/tensioner. I also installed the starter, a new coolant pipe, connected the heater core hoses, and reattached the steering shaft. And I torqued the crank pulley bolt.

Not sure when it happened (when I was driving the car) but the windshield washer bottle has sprung a leak. Also having the power steering reservoir laying on its side has made it leak. Gotta remember to top that off.

Pretty good progress.

Bleh, not enough sleep, a little bit sick.

Got the intake manifold mounted, and then forgot a piece... so it had to come back off. Half of the wiring is reconnected (the other half is waiting for things to be installed).

The intake manifold is a different length on the 3.0 vs the 2.5. As well as the Injectors, and the Throttle body, and the MAF. I was trying to figure out why I had 2 throttle body gaskets, oh one for each size.

I also started cleaning the oil filter housing for install.

Like always, looking good.

Got stuff done. I actually think the engine will fire today.


Cleaned out the oil filter housing. SO CLEAN!



Oil filter housing installed, as well as the power steering pump. (I didnt clean the pump, or the ac compressor because they never came off the car)



Size difference of the 3.0 vs 2.5 intake hose. (3.0 on top)



But sadly there is a hole in the hose that I didn't see. I have a replacement hose coming tomorrow. I used some rubber cement to glue it back together for now.



MMM snot!



I did install the radiator and all the Coolant lines/hoses. Today is connect exhaust/intake. Fill fluids. Valve cover and coils/spark plugs...

Ran out of time today. Its so close though.

Need to deal with the wiring of the rear O2 sensors. Need to finish putting oil in. Need to put the coils/ plugs in (will probably due after turning the motor over a few times). I also need to bleed the coolant system.

I will install the new intake hoses to make sure I have no air leaks.

Um my year old battery may have died while the car was sitting... Ill see about getting it replaced if the charger doesnt recover it.

Went to bump it over to get oil everywhere before starting.

Starter is just spinning...

It's always something.

I have a second starter that came with the 3 liter... Put it in and same thing...

I have one on order, lets see what happens.

Kinda annoying since today was actually going super smooth.