I am open to all suggestions

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[izzo]

If you want to just get it going and drive it, find another L series motor and drop it in.  Can be done in 2 hours and back on the road.

 

If you want a project, do the KA swap. many people are doing it, theres lots of documentation on it. And redeye sells the motor mounts.... 

[datzenmike]

Whoa whoa whoa..... L motors do NOT throw rods through the block. To do that it has to have no oil lubrication. The heat welds the rod to the crank and it has no option but to snap off below the piston, it goes around and the rod top end hits the side of the block. It can't do that without making a lot of noise, a LOT of noise, before that. I don't doubt that it was hot enough for a fire. 

[Guest Rick-rat]

I would suggest finding another L-motor if you are happy with how they perform, will be up and going faster that way

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[metalmonkey47]

Wonder if the fuel pump diaphragm leaked gasoline into the oil, enough to thin out the oil to the point that it's not properly lubricating. Would explain the fire. 

[datsunaholic]

I'd love to see an autopsy on this.  I'd actually like to DO the autopsy on it, but it's too far away.  L-series just don't do that unless something was seriously wrong to begin with.

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[metalmonkey47]

So this doesn't happen to a L-series, or it's very rare ... okay then, lucky me!

 

 

Back to my question for you guys, what should I do next?

I see izzo and Rick-rat have weighed in, and so far - no one has suggested I give up on the girl.

 

Very rare, it only happens when something else fails or on a poor rebuild. From what I've gathered on Ratsun, bearings generally only spin when there's an oiling problem. Like gasoline thinning down the oil??? Would explain all of it IMO, from the break to the fire. 

 

 

I say find another L20B and get her going with another reliable motor  :thumbup:

[yello620]

I say swap a VG into it.. :w00t:

[wayno]

I say swap a VG into it.. :w00t:

 

Of course you would, but would you do it again to another one?  :lol:

[datzenmike]

Find another L series motor. Complete. The head on this one may be compromised if there was an oiling problem. Manifolds, alt, water pump, dizzy should be fine and could be swapped onto a long block. An L20B would be a nice up grade.

 

Did you check the oil level yet? 

[Dawa]

i suggest anal ♥♥♥

[yello620]

Of course you would, but would you do it again to another one?  :lol:

 

Absolutely. But I would skip the VG30 and use a VG33 block.

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[darrel]

You bought the truck for the engine? I don't know what your plans are, but I would get it running in its current truck first. 

[Juan Valdez]

I like darrel's idea.  I would get the new truck running reliably for daily driver/commuter use, and use this as an opportunity to swap out the toasted motor for a KA or something, unless you absolutely need a running truck now.

[sick620]

get them both running gets my vote 2 :)

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[izzo]

You know you own a Datsun when ...

 

... your daily driver Datsun dies, and somehow that becomes a good reason to buy another project Datsun - one that can't be driven either :angel:

 

 

 

lolwut?

 

[K_trip]

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