New World Datsuns...

Block is done! Estimated 2 week turn around. Yay for being early... except I dont have funds to pick it up til thursday...

Also boss just told me I'm going back to days Monday. So excited. I think I'm getting my weekends back!

Also, just sourced a sedan driveshaft for $30. That means no driveshaft shop needed! Figure if I slide the motor back even half an inch all will be well.

Block is back from the machine shop. $148 for a 1mm bore and hone, and swapping pistons... yay.

Also picked up the sedan drive shaft.

Lots of driving! and a messed up sleep cycle this weekend... wooo...

I've never had any block work done but that sounds cheap.

It's on it's way.

Well I am thinking the core support is more or less done. Just final shaping and of course paint prep type thing, body work..

Here it is with the intercooler mocked up:



About how I need the elbows welded on. Derek is gonna help with that.



Threaded the Radiator clamps. Once I tightened the 2 clamps, the radiator was solidly in the car. I could move the whole car from just grabbing the radiator.



Finally got the engine back on the stand. So I took the opportunity to take a picture of the torque plate on it, as well as paint the block (my favorite, low gloss black, but its still wet in the picture)





Yes I did paint the front of the engine, I figure I am gonna clean the gasket mounting surfaces anyways, and there is no oil there as its a timing belt...

Started on the battery box. Cut out the pieces of 18ga steel, welded it up, grinded the welds down, hurt my finger, cut a hole in the car.

Trying to do things after work. Been fairly successful. Even if its just 30 minutes.

So the battery box is welded in. Though I thought of something after the fact I didnt like. Ill deal with it, and its probably fine...

Also this metal under the seat didnt weld so nicely, not like the metal in the engine bay at least, acted more like fluxcore welding.


And then I went and finished up welding the holes I made in the intercooler piping clearancing.

Grinding welds is getting old.










Also, damn those pictures are sucky quality. I really need to use my camera more.

So you're laying the battery on its side?

Is it ok to do that?

Its an AGM. They are good for just about any angle, including upside down (some manufacturers warn against it though). This is also technically a motorcycle battery, there is no way every single motorcycle/atv mounts their batteries in an upright only position.

OEM waterpump Ordered. Not bad at $50. Goodyear/Continental timing kit $10.12 on Amazon.... ordered.

Now I just need another headgasket... its awesome when the only parts store that even lists it (Napa) has it at a higher price than a complete OEM gasket kit on Ebay...

Standard Napa behavior.

Quick consensus.


Rebuild my current CA transmission or buy a used KA transmission? Cost probably about the same as Ill do all the work myself, and a good transmission still costs a bit.

KA and CA have identical 1st through 4th gearing, KA has a better 5th gear (more overdrive).

Im tempted to just rebuild the CA one as then Ill have a fresh tranny instead of a unknown one.

the C code KA truck trans are pretty damn stout and was told they are the most tough.

I have no way to verify other than going off what was told.

But drift kids, and also the car trannies are c code as well.

Sounds like you already know that you need both.

DRIVEN » Sun Apr 05, 2015 7:25 am wrote:Sounds like you already know that you need both.

You know me too well... maybe I can find some KA tranny a drift kid exploded, Im sure 5th is fine to swap.



Anyways, Not much planned this weekend so Datsun time!

Actually I need to take another picture, as I did something else too, maybe later today...

So I got my intercooler leveled with the openings I made, made a couple of brackets for the underside, and bolted it in. Then started with mocking up what I need to do for the top intercooler mount/core support brace. You can see the start of it in the pictures, its going to extend upwards to where the old brace went, and its going to be bolt in rather than welded.

Just trying to figure out what actually needs to be done to make the car driveable, and where I should start focusing my time. It will be close if it makes it to Canby...

Assemble motor, waiting on a few parts to arrive.

Get intercooler welded and intercooler piping, also radiator hoses.

Exhaust manifold/down tube. Then exhaust (I think I might run it straight piped for a bit, CAs are supposed to sound pretty nasty straight piped, or as some say, makes an SR sound girly).

Transmission needs rebuilt. Clutch need one of those... Also tranny mount.

Fuel delivery, sigh that is like a black hole in my mind. Gonna drain the tank this week (its full...) and probably start putting a gallon a week into the BMW. I know I need some fittings, and new hard line...

Electrical. Um im not too worried. I could probably have the harness working all ghetto fied in super short order. Its just making it look pretty. Maybe I should start on that soon... that is a good quiet project.

Oh and I now have to do the rear brakes.... so get that rockin and rollin.

For the most part the brace is finished. Need to add some speed holes...

Core support feels so solid with everything attached.

Sweet, got my money back on the bad Amplifier I bought on Ebay. So I went and promptly bought a Fel-Pro head gasket. Forums say its supports more than 500hp.

Estimated to be here between Thursday and Monday. Hopefully this week, then I could have the motor together.

Already got the timing kit, water pump will be here Thursday.

Timing kit and headgasket are a go. Still waiting on waterpump.

Got the crank installed. Plastigauged the new bearings, and everything is well within spec. I am happy.

And then I put the the motor in the engine bay So I can start figuring out my motor mounts and tranny mount.