My VG30-Powered Samurai

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iniazy
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by iniazy »

Ok, here's a short video as promised:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoSWQM7OhYc
iniazy
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by iniazy »

Well I solved one problem, the intermittent timing light. Turns out the switched power I used for the ignition coil was only 10.5V, so I changed it to a more reliable 11.7 volts source and now the timing light is constant.
iniazy
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by iniazy »

I would like to get some expert advice on this:

Image

This is a massive gap between the bell housing and the VG30 engine. This will be a huge source for dust to enter the bell housing and contaminate everything in there.

Is there a dust cover for it? Or else how is this supposed to be closed off? I can't imagine this was like that from the factory.

Any help will be appreciated.
iniazy
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by iniazy »

Guys, any help with this question?
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okayfine
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by okayfine »

Most all Datsun trans seem to have this sort of thing. Generally there is either a cover piece that bolts over it, or a full, fitted sheet that is sandwiched between the block and the transmission case.

Below shows the cover plate setup. This is for an L16 engine. The L20B came with a full, sandwiched sheet.

#16
Engine Plate.jpg
Engine Plate.jpg (103.23 KiB) Viewed 4884 times
#51
Trans Plate.jpg
Trans Plate.jpg (78.76 KiB) Viewed 4884 times
I'm not familiar with the VG series to know which setup it would have.
Because when you spend a silly amount of money on a silly, trivial thing that will help you not one jot, you are demonstrating that you have a soul and a heart and that you are the sort of person who has no time for Which? magazine. – Jeremy Clarkson
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two_68_510s
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by two_68_510s »

Looks like you have some fab in your future! 8)
Joel

2 '68 510 2 door sedans
'95 240SX


“We will either find a way, or make one.” – Hannibal
iniazy
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Joined: 21 Jun 2012 03:19
Location: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by iniazy »

okayfine wrote:Most all Datsun trans seem to have this sort of thing. Generally there is either a cover piece that bolts over it, or a full, fitted sheet that is sandwiched between the block and the transmission case.

Below shows the cover plate setup. This is for an L16 engine. The L20B came with a full, sandwiched sheet.

#16
Engine Plate.jpg
#51
Trans Plate.jpg
I'm not familiar with the VG series to know which setup it would have.

Interesting. Thanks for the hint. I guess I will try to search for that piece. Otherwise I'll just fabricate a small piece of sheet metal and bolt it up there.
two_68_510s wrote:Looks like you have some fab in your future! 8)
Fab? You mean fabrication?
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okayfine
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by okayfine »

From the FSM:
vg plate.jpg
vg plate.jpg (119.26 KiB) Viewed 4866 times
Because when you spend a silly amount of money on a silly, trivial thing that will help you not one jot, you are demonstrating that you have a soul and a heart and that you are the sort of person who has no time for Which? magazine. – Jeremy Clarkson
iniazy
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by iniazy »

Interesting. There's a plate cover that I'm missing.
iniazy
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by iniazy »

Well there's good news and there's bad news.

The good news: the new harness works well and all my electronics are back to normal.

The bad news: I don't know what happened to my engine. It stopped for almost a week until I got the new harness installed, but when I ran it yesterday, it was running very rough with very poor throttle response. I have no idea why it's doing that, last time I ran it it seemed perfect, very smooth.

The engine seems to be running extremely rich, I can smell unburnt fuel from the exhaust. I checked the ignition timing, not changed, I checked all spark plug wires, all are giving good signal. I haven't checked my spark plugs, by my guess is I'll find a few that are wet.

It feels like a carburetor problem, but I haven't touched that since my last time at all, everything is exactly the way it was.

I need advice on where to look. I'll go and buy some new spark plugs, but I got a feeling it is not a spark plug problem. I'll replace them because so far I've been running old ones.
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okayfine
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by okayfine »

Plug condition may tell you something. Pull 'em and post a picture. Note if they're all the same condition, or if one or more are different.
Because when you spend a silly amount of money on a silly, trivial thing that will help you not one jot, you are demonstrating that you have a soul and a heart and that you are the sort of person who has no time for Which? magazine. – Jeremy Clarkson
iniazy
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by iniazy »

okayfine wrote:Plug condition may tell you something. Pull 'em and post a picture. Note if they're all the same condition, or if one or more are different.
Yeah, that's what I just did.

Too bad, seems I must have made a serious mistake in my engine rebuild.

Two of the plugs, #3 and #5, were completely wet with engine oil. One, #4, was dry but completely fouled. The other three were good.

Here's a picture of one of the wet ones:
Image

I'm going to do compression testing to see where the problem is. But most likely I am not going to rebuild it again. I'll just get a JDM engine and bolt it on. I'm disappointed with myself.
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okayfine
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by okayfine »

Compression and then a leak-down test will likely isolate the cause (rings, valve seals, HG). Something to learn, and potentially not an engine killer.
Because when you spend a silly amount of money on a silly, trivial thing that will help you not one jot, you are demonstrating that you have a soul and a heart and that you are the sort of person who has no time for Which? magazine. – Jeremy Clarkson
iniazy
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Joined: 21 Jun 2012 03:19
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by iniazy »

What's a leak down test?

I am very frustrated because I really didn't want to tear my engine apart again! And the most difficult part is removing and dropping it back in.

But thanks for your help, I appreciate it.
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okayfine
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Re: My VG30-Powered Samurai

Post by okayfine »

Compression tester just tests compression. Leak-down pressurizes the cylinder and measures the amount escaping. From there you can hear if it's coming out of the exhaust, through the valve cover, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leak-down_tester
Because when you spend a silly amount of money on a silly, trivial thing that will help you not one jot, you are demonstrating that you have a soul and a heart and that you are the sort of person who has no time for Which? magazine. – Jeremy Clarkson
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