'Mighty Mouse' 320 Pickup Gets a New Motor & Upgrades

[difrangia]

Truckie,
I haven't checked Ebay for alternators, but I've bought two from RockAuto.com . The alteranator went out right after I got the valve job done on the 620 about a year and a half ago. I ordered one from RA and got a Hitachi. When I decided to see if I could mount the 620 alternator on the 320 so as to keep spares that would service both pickups I ordered another. This time I got a Mitsubishi. I'm sure they are totally interchangable. These are internal regulator alternators, so wiring should be fairly simple and clean. I'll soon find out. On RA they run about $35-$60 + shipping.

If you haven't used RA, check them out. They still have a lot of parts for the 520 pickup of which some are interchangeable with the 320. Prices are fair and shipment is usually lightning fast. I believe that you can tell which warehouse the parts that you order are shipping from on the order form before you finalize the order. If you do and can choose parts that come from the same warehouse, you'll save a fair amount of shipping. Check it out. Here's a screen shot of the 620 alternators Rockauto currently lists.

I'll get some good shots of the alternator bracket when I have it off the engine.



steve

[difrangia]

Forgot to add in last post about the RockAuto alternators that my 620 is a 1978. some of the earlier ones may have had external regulators??

Steve

[difrangia]

Had a good Easter weekend here. Got the E-1 assembly off the table to it's new home for the next month or two. It's nailed down on the roll-around cart that I intend to start and tune it on prior to installation back into the 320:



Celebrate:



& to top the day off:



Rabbit noodle soup; best I've had. Happy Easter, Y'all.

Steve

[Li'l Truckie]

Steve,

Looks great! I think your rabbit noodle soup looks better than my green beans with ham.

Andy

[Conner]

Steve--

Looks like you replaced the solenoid on your starter. Any idea what part you used?

Rockauto lists a couple of options:
Airtex/Wells 1M1206 listed for a 1964 320.
Standard SS583 listed for a 1965 410 1.2 liter (the above Airtex part number also is not listed for the 65 410, a slightly different one is which makes me doubt the accuracy of the catalog).

Did you use one of these. I'm wondering if they do in fact work with the E-1 starter.
There's also a different solenoid available for the J13 starter which is a possibility, and of course Moss/VB probably have a part.

Any ideas anyone?

[difrangia]

Conner,
I believe it was a Niehoff solenoid. I'll look it up when I get home this afternoon and post. Replaced the starter drive & brushes also; I'll get that # also. Got all the stuff on Ebay. I believe there's more available on there.

Steve

[difrangia]

Steve--

Looks like you replaced the solenoid on your starter. Any idea what part you used?

Rockauto lists a couple of options:
Airtex/Wells 1M1206 listed for a 1964 320.
Standard SS583 listed for a 1965 410 1.2 liter (the above Airtex part number also is not listed for the 65 410, a slightly different one is which makes me doubt the accuracy of the catalog).

Did you use one of these. I'm wondering if they do in fact work with the E-1 starter.
There's also a different solenoid available for the J13 starter which is a possibility, and of course Moss/VB probably have a part.

Any ideas anyone?

------------------------

Conner,
I used Niehoff solenoid WA-657 (Echlin ST-201) and this is link to the Ebay listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350987979523

Starter drive is Niehoff SD-122 & listing link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231475702972?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Brushes are Lucas 36521011 which actually cross reference on the box as Datsun #'s 23380-10600 and 23379-09900. These came from Kuwait for $7.00 total and I believe that a couple ore still available. Also could get from any Britt supply house. Listing here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301055157601?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

All these parts went in with no problems and fit right up and work like a champ.

Steve

[Li'l Truckie]

Conner,

This might be a less expensive alternative if you are looking for a complete generator with solenoid. I just came across this on last week -

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genco-16206-Reb ... e4&vxp=mtr

From the initial look, I think it would work. I can help you with measurement if needed. I have one of these (look alike) in my crate-o-parts.

Andy

[difrangia]

Conner,

This might be a less expensive alternative if you are looking for a complete generator with solenoid. I just came across this on last week -

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genco-16206-Reb ... e4&vxp=mtr

From the initial look, I think it would work. I can help you with measurement if needed. I have one of these (look alike) in my crate-o-parts.

Andy

Andy, I may be looking at it wrong, but the Ebay starter looks like it mounts on the left side of the engine ?? Am I just seeing it wrong ??
Steve

[Li'l Truckie]

Oops, I did not catch that. Yes, left side for sure. I wonder if you could rotate the gear cover?
Thanks for that catch Steve, glad I did hit "buy it now" on an impulse purchase.
Andy

[Conner]

This is great. Thanks for the info guys.

[difrangia]

The 620 & 320 are the only Datsuns that I've had contact with but I do recall seeing in a post at one time that there are some Datsun/Nissan vehicles with starter on the left side. a roadster or maybe even a forklift ??

[difrangia]

I went back and re-visited the Ebay listing. The seller does mention that it may possibly be for a forklift. It does have the Hitachi logo and looks like an exact mirror image of my starter. If someone had the opposite aluminum adapter housing, It could be swapped with the rest of this starter and make a right side starter.

[difrangia]

Had a day off from work today and hammered down and got the head tourqued down, the valve gear installed and clearences set. Gave her a good christening with Rotella-T oil. Love progress.





Light at the end of the tunnel, down there, I think.

Steve

[whosdatsun]

Great job Steve. Engine color seems to be same as I did on my j13. Found it online called al's Datsun blue. Some guy in southern cal does a few datsuns. Also by chance any pics of rear engine before flywheel and with clutch on

[difrangia]

Here are photos with and without the Transmission plate installed:

[difrangia]

Oh yeah, forgot to add, the block is upside down.

Steve

[difrangia]

It's been a couple weeks since an update. Things have been going on in the background getting the intake system lined out. A couple hours yesterday and another today went into operations with the die-grinder, hand water-sanding, and polishing on the intake manifold. Not what you'd expect from a top-shelf restoration house, It'll suit the little Sport Truk just fine.

This is the manifold with all casting flash blended, surfaces buzzed down, and sanded with 220 grit paper:



Next step was water sanding with 320 then 400 then 600 papers, polishing with cotton wheel and buffing compound, and hand polishing in places the wheel wouldn't reach:



Care was taken to preserve the little Hitachi logo cast into the front intake runner just forward of the carb mount. This photo shows the stack-up of carb, manifold, gaskets, adapter, and phenolic insulator:



Here's photo of the manifolds with carb adapter fitted up to engine with gaskets:



More to come on the final bolt-up and PCV system.

Steve

[whosdatsun]

Thanks for update. Wasn't sure if I pulled freeze plug from rear camshaft hole. Was there one original? Don't seem to see one available on mgb 1600. Also is the rear plate gasket paper like material or cork

[difrangia]

Whosdatsun,
The cam rear plug is a standard size. I can't get to mine to measure it, but 'Lil Truckie' probably has the size. If you can get the size you, should be able to get at most parts stores or online (Dorman ??). There are five stamped plugs in the block, one larger at rear cam bore and four in the water jackets. The set is available on Ebay for bout $12.

The rear gasket was paper, bout .010 thick (from memory).

[Li'l Truckie]

whosdatsun,

Rear freeze plug is a Doorman 555-059

Rear gasket from Victoria British (1-782) or Moss Motors (297-500).

If you need lots of part numbers go ahead and start a new thread and I'm sure we will all chime in where we can and let you know where we picked up our parts.

Andy

[whosdatsun]

I've install all new freeze. Just wasn't sure if I removed a plug from the rear of camshaft

[Li'l Truckie]

No problem.

[dat320syd]

difrangia,

Just read through this entire thread, very nice work, very inspiring! Keep the updates coming, I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Xavier.

[difrangia]

Well I've been boring you folks for half a year or so with this rebuild, so here is a small reward for you'all and me in particular.

1964 Datsun E-1 Engine First Start

More coming. Gotta see if this video paste-on works.

Steve

[difrangia]

HooKay, didn't work. Try again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlkXa0-nv2Q

[difrangia]

Alright. Got us a winner, folks.

That YouTube video was of the first breaths of the rebuilt E-1. I worked last Sunday & Mon finishing up the wiring and plumbing of the engine on the run-in stand. Worked till after supper on Monday and gave her a spin. All I could get was the motore trying to hit but belching flames from the carb and exhaust manifold. Shut down and retired for the nite. I woke up in middle of nite thinking: What way did I figure the distributor rotated when I plugged in the plug wires? I woke up a half hour early (2:30 am) and went out and checked the rotate. Had it backwards. Switched two wires and it caught hold on the first rev. that was the video in the last post. That was without coolant. So I added coolant and here's the second start:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8DWsvHUnQM

Added a lead-out pipe and muffler next day and here is where we are now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqpSfhki16k

OK. Now I'll be fitting the air filter housing, rest of the PCV system, tuning, listening for noises, and looking for leaks. Plan to get a number of hours on the E-1 while I get the pickup ready for re-install.

More posts coming on getting the truck ready. All new brake lines, dual circut MC, and front discs are on the agenda.

Steve

[deerio]

Congrats Steve! It sounds great, and so smooth! Are you running a J13 distributor?

[difrangia]

Distributor is an electronic from a 78 Datsun. It's the one with remote electronic module as opposed to the 'Matchbox' distributor which has the module mounted on the distributor body. I'm using a 76 Camaro module that will be remotely mounted inside the cab and under the dash to get it out of the heat. I've replaced the original module location on our 78 pickup with the Camaro unit. The original Datsun module is like $100+ and the GM module can be had for about $13. I liked to have never found the module location on the 78 as it is located next to the glovebox on the right kickpanel, inside the cab. Here is a good thread on RATSUN on changing to the EI distributor on the E1 motor.

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/393-m ... ?hl=mklotz

And wiring the remote module distributor to the GM module.

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/11981 ... odule-mod/

Mike used the more common and a little later 'matchbox' distributor which is easier to find. I used the 'remote module' dizy, as it is what our 78 pickup has. I'm using as many items as I can that are common to the 78 so as to keep common spares on the shelf.

Steve

[difrangia]

Decent photo of the EI distributor on the E1