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The old G motor ain't what she used to be

To: "Datsun Roadsters" <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Subject: The old G motor ain't what she used to be
From: shifty <shifty@well.com>
Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 14:51:52 -0700
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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