Middle man Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 Stapped on my generator to my sunrader,went for along drive. Camping on my mind.Water started to come out the hood,pulled over and water is blowing out the air hole on recovery tank. also temp gauge was pegged.let it cool down pulled thermostat and made it back home after refilling with distilled water.Checked the dip stick,it looks like milk. Drained the oil all nite,I have a kit to test for blown head, I'll test it today,but I'am sure its the head gasket.The guys at auto parts store recomend Blue head gasket sealer,they swear by it.Your opinion pls. Also I always wanted to know how do you guys get the manifold bolts out without breaking them? They are rusted to the point that they look like there part of the head. I'am really not gonna go to close to this thing until I can calm down and make an informed decision. The only other head gasket I ever did was better off than when I finished with It. Got cocky thought I had this f/er nailed.Wrong! Quote Link to comment
arizonajones Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 yeah. you have a blown head gasket. If you have oil that looks like milk, I don't think a sealer is going to help you much. You have an L-20B? All I can say about rust is use lots of PB Blaster and order yourself a set of replacement head bolts before you get started. Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 Also I always wanted to know how do you guys get the manifold bolts out without breaking them? is this in the alum head the manifold bolts? Most wont break its hard to get at if anything. use antiseize compound next time and will be fine. Or you have the exhaust manifold bolted to the intake manifold typoe set up? Pain in the ass I had my front cover go bad cause of bad old antifreeze which caused the cover to cavitate and made it llook like termites went thru the front cover. When motor got hot it pressured wate thru the front cover in to the oil. also the water passage could be bad also where the gasket mates with. Then of coarse the head gasket. olddatsuns.com the tech section The guys at auto parts store recomend Blue head gasket sealer??????? dont thrust them must be Chevy guys 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 Hit those bolts with PB blaster. Let it sit over night.. Then do it again. The more you spray it and wait, the better results you will have. 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 Get that head off.... have it checked. Almost 100% sure it will need surfaced. 2 Quote Link to comment
Middle man Posted August 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 Yes its the l20b and the exhaust is bolted to the friggin intake.And Banzai how the hell did u know they were chevy guys! And thank you all pb blaster is a great tip. If these things are blowing head gaskets as I've been reading,makes me wonder about the poor cooling? Also is it true,it seems to me when the head gets rebuilt [not just resurfaced] the bottom end goes and starts suckin oil. If I touch this thing today,I'll take my framing hammer to it. It has only 34k miles on it but sat for 30 + yrs. I read in another thread the thermostat Should be 180 degrees,2 wks. ago I flushed the system and changed the thermostat,it had a 160 in it and I put in a 180.Seemed to run better,but was that a mistake on my part.Today I'am not fit for human consumption,think I'll weed eat and pickup dog shit. Thanks Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 Izzo is local to you. He could help answer questions if needed. 1 Quote Link to comment
KoHeartsGPA Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 Banzai how the hell did u know they were chevy guys! Most are!....stereotypes dawg! :rofl: Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 Don't take the manifolds off!!! Take the carb off though. Get help lifting the head with manifolds attached. Then and only then remove them to be resurfaced, and then only if the head is warped. For one the bolts are much easier to get at. You should be able to easily get at and clean the head surface and check for warpage with the manifolds on. Never ever use a sealant on a head gasket. If done right a head gasket is all you need. Those auto shop guys are total idiots, you know more than they do. Only a chevy owner needs sealers on their rigs. It's passed down from father to son from the 40s that they need that shit. 1 Quote Link to comment
Middle man Posted August 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Thanks be the king chimes in, great manifold Idea. You guys probably already knew that but this is new to me.Mike pls. comment on the head rebuild idea [total or just resurface] and the proper thermostat.Is lack of cooling causing these gaskets to blow? Just change my handle from newbie to student!!! Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Head gaskets on the L series usually blow from the head being warped. The heads warp from over heating... usually. There is nothing to be gained from resurfacing a head that does not need it. Easy enough to get a straight edge and place diagonally in an X pattern across it and try to slip a 0.004" feeler gauge under it in any place. If you take it to a shop you run the risk of them just wanting the work and telling you 'yeah it was really warped'. I had an L20B blow a gasket a few years ago, no warning. I couldn't find anything wrong and replaced the gasket and it was fine. Total cost? $23 for cheap NAPA Quote Link to comment
Middle man Posted August 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 So any advise on how to better cool these engines, I want to do something good for the old girl. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 There's nothing wrong with the design. Always use a good quality antifreeze/coolant to protect the system from corrosion and rust. Overheating can often be from lack of maintenance. All cooling system hoses rot from the inside out so not always noticeable. A worn belt can fly off and you over heat before you notice the gauge. A small leak, rad gets low. Always run with the fan shroud on, it increases fan efficiency at low speeds Check that the clutch fan is firm/stiff to move by hand. If loose and easy to spin it will slip too much when revved up Keep rad fins clear of dirt and bugs. Use only soft water or distilled water when topping up to avoid mineral scale build up. A soft lower rad hose will collapse from pump suction when revved up. Never by pass the heater by looping the block or head hose back to the lower rad hose inlet. Seal off both ends. Block any openings in the rad support and seal around and under rad and check the rubber dam on the underside of the hood that seals and prevents air from spilling over the top of the rad when closed. Painting the rad matte or flat black will radiate more heat than glossy black. Quote Link to comment
Middle man Posted August 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Well ok then, Thank you for your time and experience.Want to apologize for no pics. my daughter is going to show me how to set it up this wk. end. I just need another day of thought to cool down and consider my plan of attack...I really just don't want to fuck this up,and when I rush when learning that's what happens. Quote Link to comment
Middle man Posted August 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 The little girl next door says the little boy on the other of my house goes in my house when were not home and he washed my motor last wk.So I ask his Dad and we talked to him,after awhile he says he's never in the house,but he did wash and insert hose into the hole where the oil bottle was,cause i was gone and it was empty.He also filled recovery tank,it was open i was topping off with anti-freeze.Just thought someone might need a belly laugh this morning.I always unplug my power tools when i leave,think i'll close my hood to.wtf 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 28, 2015 Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 lol Shows aptitude for working on and owning a Datsun 1 Quote Link to comment
Middle man Posted August 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 When does school start.I gotta do a better job of making sure there safe!!! Thats the real message I want to get out there. Quote Link to comment
that-son Posted August 28, 2015 Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 that's funny. shake your head kinda funny. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 The little girl next door says the little boy on the other of my house goes in my house when were not home and he washed my motor last wk.So I ask his Dad and we talked to him,after awhile he says he's never in the house,but he did wash and insert hose into the hole where the oil bottle was,cause i was gone and it was empty.He also filled recovery tank,it was open i was topping off with anti-freeze.Just thought someone might need a belly laugh this morning.I always unplug my power tools when i leave,think i'll close my hood to.wtf Depending on age maybe work with him and explain things. He sounds like he just wants to help you. Maybe encourage it with some direction. Quote Link to comment
Middle man Posted August 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 On it mike,he changed my oil and filter today. That's 3 o/f changes in 2 wks. And he even told me he'd been goin in the house for cokes. IDK... Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 How old? Lock up your house. When I was young I idolized my next door neighbor. He was always puttering around with his old '61 Pontiac. He encouraged me to do stuff on it with him and I respected him. Because of this I would never have done anything to jeopardize this. Quote Link to comment
Middle man Posted August 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 He is 9 yrs.old.He helped with the interior install.He's a good kid livin in a screamin,drug abuse house.Playin this one by ear.He is welcome only if he mans up and tells the truth,he did so we can move forward.Very angry young man,and he is justified. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 Yeah I was about 10 when we moved into town. My dad was a great guy but not a car tinkerer. My neighbor was and I ran over there every chance I got. He put me to washing parts and fetching tools from his basement. Good times. Quote Link to comment
Middle man Posted August 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Me and my helper changed the oil yesterday,and put in new anti freeze. No water in the oil! Sorry out of topic,can anyone direct me to latest thread on how to post pictures.The one I found was 2012yr. very confusing [at least for me] you guys still using photo bucket...idk? And can it come from phone camera or through computer,I would think both options are availabe.I want the dumbass version pls. Quote Link to comment
Middle man Posted September 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2015 Found easy picture post in "how to section" by blue using flickr.Well at least it looks easy. Quote Link to comment
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