Justin Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 Found a truck- From the 80's mags to the custom grill to the custom rearview, this thing just screams "1980's" IMHO. It's a '73 with disc brakes from a '79, L16, headers, weber, E.I. the whole bit. I guess I'm too trusting because there's more wrong than what the guy said. Just saw there's oil in the radiator, drove it two hours home like that. Hoping it's just a head gasket? Idea's and thoughts are welcome. So, the car that was supposed to be a driver may become another d*mned project... Quote Link to comment
Syncro Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 is there radiator fluid in the oil? 1 Quote Link to comment
Justin Posted November 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 Don't see any, it's nice and black, lol But I'm new to this trouble-shooting, what does that mean? Quote Link to comment
converted_to_datsun Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 Probably a head gasket, seen it once or twice where fluids mix one but not the other. Not sure of the cause but a hg should fix it On the bright side you'll be able to tell for sure if you have a closed chamber head when you take the head off 1 Quote Link to comment
Justin Posted November 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Thanks, also just noticed there's oil in the exhaust... Is that another indication of a bad head gasket? Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Yep. Depending on where the gasket is bad it will show fluids in different areas. You can also do a compression test to see if it is blown between cylinders. 1 Quote Link to comment
pharouh Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Nice lookin' truck! I'm surprised they didn't shave the bed hooks. P O's aren't going to tell you everything. 1 Quote Link to comment
Hermistonkilla Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Head gaskets aren't bad on these. Looks like a solid dd after you get it fixed Quote Link to comment
converted_to_datsun Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Gotta love those old school wheels. They give your truck an awesome look Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 I hate to tell you this, but it is not a blown head gasket that is pumping oil into your water, it is an internally cracked head. Dan Hart had a similar issue with a customers engine, in the end he put another head on it and the issue went away, after the issue was fixed, like the guy he is(Dan), he had that head sliced like a loaf of bread till they found out why it was getting oil in the radiator, they found the crack in the oil jacket. This was an issue with the 210 head casting, you have a 210 head, correct? How do I know all this you ask, I had the same problem also, but I had already put a L20b in my truck by the time I found out what the problem was. Quote Link to comment
Justin Posted November 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Yep-o! I'm stoked on it In the meantime, my temp gauge isn't working and I'm guessing it's gone-(is this where it would be located?) Quote Link to comment
Justin Posted November 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Wayno- Ugh, thank you for the bad news, you've saved me some time I think! I have a few heads, is there any way to tell/see if they are cracked? Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 is there any way to tell/see if they are cracked? A visit to a quality machine shop. :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Do you have anything that is not a 210 casting? Preferably a open chamber head like a U67 or an A87? Are you keeping your L16? I personally would not use a 210 cast head, but the one you have now is leaking oil, so another one is better than what you have. I am not sure if there is a way to test the oil jacket on other 210 heads or not, but I suspect that if he pressurized that head and seen air bubbles, that might have been what prompted Dan Hart to slice that head, to see where they were coming from. Quote Link to comment
Justin Posted November 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Well, I have an a87 head that needs some serious cleaning/machining etc. I suppose for now I will be keeping my L16 depending on what machining the a87 will cost, I have a few Datsun blocks but I don't want to build an engine right now in the least- Any idea's on what machining this head would cost? This is my daily so any "fix-it" idea's will be considered- Quote Link to comment
Justin Posted November 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Well, I guess I've answered my own question- Get this head refurbished and install it. But do I use the 210 cam or the a87? (guessing the a87, but I'd like to be sure) Quote Link to comment
Laecaon Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 They are the same Cam 1 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 A87 should be the common L18/L20 cam, which is just a tiny bit bigger, no? Quote Link to comment
Laecaon Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 A87 still got the 210 cam. No one asks for a L18 cam, they ask for a L20 cam. 210/A87 have "210" cast into the cam. The L20 cams have nubs in the center, I think to be able to turn the cam with a wrench. I have always heard, shove a U67 cam into a closed A87 for a good head. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 A87 still got the 210 cam. No one asks for a L18 cam, they ask for a L20 cam. Kooky. Never heard that before... Quote Link to comment
peanutbuttercups Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 That truck does scream 80's, That's for sure :hyper: I Love it!!! I was in Paradise last week, pickin up a Sansui tuner, that view point from that canyon is incredible!!!! :frantics: 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 So what's the CR with an A87 open chamber head on a L16? Is this a closed or open head? First thing that we need to know is if this head in the photo above is open or closed, it's so dirty I can't tell. If it is indeed an open head, then it needs to be rebuilt, and you need a new/good L20b cam, that cam is rusted beyond use. Quote Link to comment
Justin Posted November 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 peanutbuttercups- Dude! next time let me know, we'll get refreshments! wayno- Coming through! How do I tell if it's closed or open? Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 Check out this site, it will tell you the differance, then let us know what it is. early cyl. head ID Quote Link to comment
Justin Posted November 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 It is an open head! Quote Link to comment
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