Nissan Bluebird Coupe (JCCA Race Car)

[McShagger510]

That looks like a 2L block. The displacement pad on the block is right by the dip stick. Bring a rag to wipe it off.
Cylinder head ID is on the same side toward the front. If there is anything left - could be milled off. U67??
Use a mirror to check the back of the cam shaft between the firewall.
You have your homework. Proceed.


James

[KiKiIchiBan]

Thanks James, I've done some homework...

Adjustable cam gear looks like the Kameari Engine Works one.

The bores are 88mm so I'm guessing L18. Also the front cover only has 1 bolt at the top where the L20 has 2 from what I've read. Always happy to be proven wrong though, every day is a school day

The ID tags have been removed for some reason: viewtopic.php?f=30&t=27201

The head is stamped W53 but had the other markings, maybe by who built or ported it?





I've measured the valves, they are 1.38 and 1.70 I think. Intake ports are 39mm

The back of the cam:

[KiKiIchiBan]

Looks clean enough in there:

[okayfine]

That's A LOT of bore for an L18!

[KiKiIchiBan]

That's A LOT of bore for an L18!

88mm, the calliper moved .5 when I took it out, uploaded the wrong pic

Any idea on the cam or the markings on the head or is it just a mystery engine?

[okayfine]

None of those markings mean anything to me. They don't look out of place, and they don't really look like the stamped markings I've seen from porters or cam grinders. But, then, your engine would have had Japanese love, and I've only seen some accepted US practices.

88mm is still 3mm over stock.

[KiKiIchiBan]

I thought I read 88mm was stock, but re read:

L18
bore 85mm, stroke 78.0mm
piston deck height: -0.55mm (below block)

So it's an L18 block (because of the deck height) but bored out, possibly 2l?

Mystery machine!

[okayfine]

Easy to change bore, not easy to change stroke...but you might as well measure stroke anyway before calculating capacity. It is theoretically possible to line bore the L18 main bearings to accept the L20B crank...

[MK510]

That looks to be L18 block.
L18 stroke and 88mm bore(3mm over) is 1897cc, i've used 88mm pistons in my L18 race engines without problems.

[Byron510]

As noted above, running an 88mm bore has been done, it just doesn't leave a lot of room for error

The fly cut pistons tell me someone was really trying to get the most from the engine at some time in the past.
The cam marking is stock, as there is an A, B and C cam. I don’t know the markings - maybe someone can help. Is this a SSS cam possibly?
The W53 head came to Canada (and maybe the US) with both open and closed chamber configurations. It started life at 38mm intake size, so it's been massaged mildly - likely to match a twin choke carby manifold at some time in it’s history – didn’t you mention earlier that the carbs were missing?
I have seen various stampings as you noted above the intake ports on the head. I've never made heads or tails of those markings over the years, certainly something to do with production at any rate.
On the line bore question, my opinion as a machinist - I think you’d be better off finding an L20B block and crank. If your pistons are good, you can rebore the stock 87mm L20B block to match your pistons. Seems to me a better way to go, unless you already have an L20B crank kicking around. Actually, thinking about the bearing keys in the block and on the caps, it's likely easier to machine down the L20B crank journals to fit inside the L18 block than vice versa. But I'd still go L20 if it were my choice in your shoes. I machined a Z24 crank to swing in an L20B block. And I’ve seen lots of guys’ machine down L16/18 cranks to fit inside Kent motors….

Cool project, look forward to your updates.

[okayfine]

L20B bore is same as L18 at 85mm. Extra capacity comes from extra stroke.

[KiKiIchiBan]

I've got so much to learn, thanks for your input guys.

[KiKiIchiBan]

A small update, but an important one...

[Byron510]

That's a nice complete looking kit.

I can't tell from the photos which type of carbs these are - They look like Webbers, but I don't recognize the name onthe jet cover.

I can hear them already...here's a photo of my car in simpler days.

Byron

[Colbino]

I can't tell from the photos which type of carbs these are - They look like Webbers, but I don't recognize the name onthe jet cover.

Byron

He's got OER's there. I'm running the same in 45mm.