1961 VG223

[msdm]

latest arrival is a 1961 VG223 2 door wagon. not very common especially here in Australia.

[wayno]

I thought 2 doors were considered Vans, Nissan says this version say was only made one year.

 

[msdm]

my bad "light van" yes made for 1 year

[DARIN 510]

Ok ???? are building or just sharing ?

[Draker]

Amazing! How complete is it? More pics please! You just never see these. @HOGIE

[Motorvated]

Nice one.

 

What's the plan with this one?

[tr8er]

Whoa.  

[wayno]

It is possible that this may have front leaf suspension, the 1960 trucks did as I looked at one for sale a long time ago, but it was too much work and missing too many pieces, they took it apart and hung the parts on a wall in a barn.

[msdm]

It has the same Base as the 320 series which is handy, E1 engine, I hope to get it back on the road sooner or later. its mostly complete just need a rotor button, dizzy cap, generator and tail lamp lenses which may prove difficult. few rust spots to repair and a door pin 

[wayno]

I am curious, what type of freeze plugs does this Datsun vehicle engine have, are they domed or more like traditional soft plugs?

 

This is traditional.

 

 

Or do they look like these disc type freeze plugs?

 

[datzenmike]

Probably the top core plugs because, soft brass and they don't rust out. I've replaced the bottom style in my 318 because they were factory steel ones that were rotten and rusted out. I think either will fit and work.

[wayno]

I asked because my 1962 Datsun U320 had the disc type, and I asked because msdm lives in Australia, same place my U320 came from, my engine had the disc type freeze plugs, and it did not have a traditional rear seal either, rope or otherwise.

 

One of my big regrets is not taking a photo and posting what I seen after I removed the oil pan, it had a tube coming out of the rear main bearing leading to the bottom of the oil pan, I have never seen anything like it in my life.

 

Here is a photo of the hole in the E1 block.

 

Edited April 12 by wayno

[datzenmike]

Maybe the tube was a drain for the rear main bearing to make up for no seal?

[msdm]

I havn't had a good look at the engine yet. have been too busy with work and tinkering with my 320 ute. hopefully have some time over the weekend. ill take some more pics and upload.

[wayno]

OK, someone sent me a photo of an early E block with that weird rear main that has no rear seal, it has this tube connected to a big cavity just before the crank comes out of the rear of the block, mine was a 1962 Datsun U320 truck, this photo did not have the 320 hubcaps installed.

 

 

OK, so here is a photo of the oil pan removed from the early E block engine in a 310 Bluebird, this one is different than my early E block as the tube goes forward while mine went straight down to the bottom rear of the oil pan, these engines have no rear crank seal, the only reason I removed the oil pan on mine was because the rear seal was leaking, what had actually happened was the oil was so old from sitting so long that the oil had jelled and plugged the tube coming out of the rear main cap, I am so happy to have got this photo from this person.