Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

You mentioned on another thread that your block is scratched. How scratched is scratched? If it's just the cylinders, can you get away w/ just honing it and throwing in a new set of rings? That's way cheaper and quicker than doing a U20. At least everyone sez rebuilding a U20 is more expensive than the R16.

Now, if you have to rebore your existing R16, then you have to add pistons. However, the total rebuild cost of an R16 should be cheaper than for a U20, or at least that's the impression I get from others (yo, others, this is your cue to chime in).

...and gets the car on the road sooner. Best to have the car waiting for you to have your license than you waiting on the car.

Just a thought....

The original motor is rebuilt and already in the car. I had a spare R16 (3 main) and wanted to rebuild it and have a spare(always good to have spares for roadsters). about 2 or 3 of the cylinders have about 2 or 3 scratches in each one. I am going to take it to get bored, and see if the scratches can be take out, if not, O well.

Joaquin

Ahhhh, kewl. I didn't realize the car was running....or is it?

It is not running yet. But 2 months or so, it should! .

Joaquin

What do you still need to do to fire it up?

I need lots of time, and to bolt the gas tank in.

Joaquin

You may want to let the machine shop deterime if you actually need a bore or a good hone. If you tell them to bore it, they will no matter what. A quick reminder about boring; always have the cylinders bored to the pistons. So have your new pistons in hand to give the shop, so they can custom match them to each hole. Scratches are usually caused by normal wear over time, but single heavy scratches going down the walls are caused by heavy carbon deposits and or broken / seized piston rings. It is always peferable to leave cylinders with as much material as possible, so if your holes are round, and can get a good cross hatch without boring, you should get new pistons and rings only. A round cylinder sounds stupid, but wear causes then to oval, and creat problems such as scratches and gouging of piston rings.

JC

Im guessing it was caused due to piston rings that were totally gone! When I disasembled the engine, the first thing I checked was to see if the head was straight, it was not, second thing i checked was the block. I took out 1 piston, and the rings where literally in pieces! That might have been the cause? Or maybe the motor was overheated???

Joaquin

Yeah, warped head and broken rings are not good, but, like JC said, ya still wanna get that block cleaned up and the cylinders checked to see whether you can get away w/ just a honing.

No sense spending money if you don't need to, right?

I guess, its better to spend it on other stuff that i might really need for the car.

Joaquin