Conner Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Last month I spent some time cleaning up and painting my 1964's valve cover. The Datsun 1200 badge was in really rough shape, so I peeled it off and looked into having a new one made. I found a vendor and had a small run done, which got the unit price down to a reasonable level, but now I have enough of these for probably every surviving 320 in the world. Anyhow, they came out nice and I'm selling the extras (you can find them on ebay or for cheaper in the Ratsun classifieds if anyone is interested). I think they came out really nice. My valve cover looks 100% better. 2 Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Fantastic! Have you swapped engines in your 320? The valve cover looks unlike E1 cover. 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Yea, it looks like a J block valve cover to me. 1 Quote Link to comment
Conner Posted March 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Wow, this is news to me. It's definitely an E-1 engine. I thought this was the original valve cover. It had a 1200 badge on it. I know there were four versions of the E-1 and I thought the earlier ones had bolts through the valve cover to attach it to the head and the later ones (64 and 65) had the six screws. But honestly mine is the only one I've seen up close and in person, so anything's possible! I am going to get to the bottom of this. 1 Quote Link to comment
Conner Posted March 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Here's some information I found from earlydatsun.com: All 1962 models have the E-1 "Mark 2" engines, which are stamped with engine numbers from 152700 to 280169. These use a bypass type lubrication system, the oil filter housing is cast into the engine block and the filter faces downwards. Camshaft oil pump/distributor drive cog has 10 teeth. The tappet/valve cover is held down by two large nuts on the to of the cover. The oil cap has a wire conecting it to the tappet/valve cover. (Earlier E-1 Mark 1 engines from 000001 to 152699 have offset connecting rods with bearings are 1 inch wide.) Most 1963 model 320s have the E-1 "Mark 2" engines, which are stamped with engine numbers from 152700 to 280169. These use a bypass type lubrication system, the oil filter housing is cast into the engine block and the filter faces downwards. Camshaft oil pump/distributor drive cog has 10 teeth. The tappet/valve cover is held down by two large nuts on the to of the cover. The oil cap has a wire conecting it to the tappet/valve cover. Later 1963 models have the E-1 Mark 3 engines with engine numbers from 280170 to 547143. 1964 models have the E-1 Mark 3 engines with engine numbers from 280170 to 547143. These use a full-flow type lubrication system with a detachable alloy oil filter housing. The oil filter now faces upwards. Camshaft oil pump/distributor drive cog has 13 teeth. 6 Philips head screws hold down the tappet/valve cover. Most 1965 models have the E-1 Mark 3 engines with engine numbers from 280170 to 547143. These use a full-flow type lubrication system with a detachable alloy oil filter housing. The oil filter now faces upwards. Camshaft oil pump/distributor drive cog has 13 teeth. 6 Philips head screws hold down the tappet/valve cover. Some late 1965 models have the E-1 Mark 4 engines stamped from 547144 onwards. These have the oil pressure relief valve located on the oil filter housing. The other significant change was that for the 1965 model an optional 4 speed floor change gearbox was also available as well as the column change box. 2 Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Great info. Thanks. 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 I just went out to my 1964 NL320 with an E1 engine from the 1980 era possibly out of a forklift, it has the valve cover like the one on your photo, except it has "DATSUN" stamped into it. 1 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 For some reason, I thought the originals were riveted-on aluminum plates. 1 Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 For some reason, I thought the originals were riveted-on aluminum plates. My 1963 has a plate riveted on. While my 1964 NL320 has it stamped into the valve cover like the later stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment
Conner Posted March 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Yeah I've seen that in other pictures too. I think the earlier E-1s had the valve cover badge riveted on and on the later ones it was a decal because the ones I've seen with the rivets also tend to have the nuts that hold the valve cover on. Also if you look closely the 1963 badge has the black graphics squared off, where mine were radius-ed like the badge itself. The 1963 badge Wayno pictured may or may not be the same size as the 64 badge. 1 Quote Link to comment
zed1 Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Connor, Did you receive my email? Keith 1 Quote Link to comment
22350 Posted February 3, 2022 Report Share Posted February 3, 2022 Connor. I am restoring one of these trucks and missed your eBay auction by two days. Do you have any left? Quote Link to comment
Big Al Posted February 24, 2022 Report Share Posted February 24, 2022 Ya, looking for one also? I know this post was long ago. Worth a shot. Quote Link to comment
320 Newb Posted February 24, 2022 Report Share Posted February 24, 2022 I'd also be interested Quote Link to comment
Conner Posted February 26, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2022 Of the original 50 of these badges that I had manufactured way back in 2015, I now have only five left! If you need one, send me a PM. When these are gone, that's it. Quote Link to comment
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