DISASSEMBLE JOHNNY 5 !!!!

Totally taking the engine apart to both learn it and make sure it is good to go for thrashing about the tracks. Found out that is NOT good to go, so it was very good I went through this exercise.

Although the Aluminum head is in great shape (just needs some passage cleaning), I will take out the valves to make sure the seats are good. I'll check the spring rates at work while they are out.

Unfortunately, 3 very bad things have been discovered in my work.

First, this #$$^!@# crank end bolt will not come off...yet. I broke a socket and a crescent wrench trying. Off to Sears for another 28mm socket. Tomorrow I'll put the torch to it and see if it'll help release. Maybe I won't tell them about hammering on it?!?

Next, I discovered 2 cam lobes pitted. Severely pitted. This, to my unexperienced eye, screams engine death if worked hard in a race. It's gotta come out, but @&$^$^ bolt has to budge first. I'm now ondering wha tthe hell caused such carnage. No bits were found in the draining stage. Perhaps more experienced folks will chime in.

3-Main looks OK from this point.....

And then it appeared....

In 2 places....

So next task is to get out the Crank-end bolt and remove the timing chain/cam.

Some other pics of the process. Clutch/Flywheel

Couldn't tell what these bits are sticking out from the block near the "A". But they helped the oil pan seal leak.
I'm thinking that these will be "before" shots for the pending paint job.

ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION

This is a pic of the car when it was first ran in the Northwest by its original driver, Dan Garrison in the early '90s. I'm lucky to have found this pic as it shows the car pretty much as it was when I acquired it in late 2006. However, it now sports an improved roll cage and all the stickers have been removed. Other than that, same beast. I'm working to bring her back as close to this pic as possible.

Engine and Tranny Removed

Nothing much to add here. Took the engine and tranny out to work on them. This also lets me get to the exhaust manifold, rear diff and roll the car out for steam cleaning. I'll evaluate the need for a media blast and repaint afterward.

Cooling Cavities

Seems that my 1600 may have gotten some crud build-up during its wait to run again. Two years worth of "drained coolant" or improper use of fluids in a race car. The radiator is going in for cleaning/pressure check this weekend.





Till then....got any pipe cleaners?

Included are first pics from my Datsun SPL311 Racecar. I bought the car on Craigslist because my better half didn't want me spending the time converting my recently acquired 1969 MGB GT into a racer. Now we are a 5 car family of 3 and my 4-year-old has chosen the 1991 Track/Street Miata as hers (wise kid since it's at 58k miles). In this blog, I hope to show some of the "progress" of getting the car, which sat for 3 years, up to race ready condition.

My hope is to gain some understanding of the car and gain some long-term friends in the group. I have been a solo cat for too long and my wife is very understanding in my mid-life need to find speed and camaraderie. I hope this blog can serve to show some pics to generate ideas as well as constructive feedback.

I was VERY lucky in that this car came with LOTS of extras. For example:
6 cranks
3 blocks
6 rocker arms with rockers
2 CI heads
3 Aluminum heads
5 cams
1 full race engine w/7.5 qt aluminum pan
1 extra full front suspension
guages galore
extra pit wheels
3 trannys
3 sets springs and rods
countless extras
New HP exhaust Comps

I have 2 Momo Start Searts
G-Force 6-Pt Cam-lok Harnesses
8 Gal RCI Fuel cell

I realize I am a luckey SOB and do not take any of this for granted.

Now...let's build this damn thing into a track monster. Thanks for your feedback.