[JonnyB]

Well I did it.
Took me a total of about 30 hours(the whole long weekend).
I installed an engine in my 88 E16I sentra. What a job. I sure have a newfound respect for mechanics . Before this the hardest work I've ever done on a car was change the shocks.
So with 296000km on the odo I'm ready to go for another 100k or more.
My old engine died so I phoned around and the best deal I could find was a used low mile engine from Japan. Turns out it was off an 87 sentra classic from Japan. Had to do some funky modifying. Had to swap the exhaust manifold, intake(new engine was a carb), and distributor and plug the fuel pump hole on the block. Thought they sent me the wrong engine but I phoned back and double checked and they said it would work. So I managed to get all that hooked and then I was going to install the block heater. My dad was helping me and so he started trying to get the frost plug out. Not thinking, he started to drill a hole in the middle of it. That didn't work so he did it the way the book says and tapped it out properly. Get the plug off and... gasp.. he drilled a hole through the cylinder wall and partly into the piston.. well out came the welding rods. we managed to patch it up and tested it several times to make sure it wasn't leaking. So with that disaster possibly averted we carried on and eventually got it all back together, new CV axles, clutch and timing belt too. Then we go to start it up. turns over and over but no go. eventually found the wires that weren't plugged in (distributor, and the main ground to the tranny). Finally got it running. So far its running good. The exhaust and suspension is in bad shape though. Alot quieter and smoother than the old one for sure. All I can hear now is the rattling rusted out exhaust :thumbup:
Anyways just had to tell someone my story. Maybe I'll set a new mileage record for this car. Whats the highest anyone has gone in the sentra? Anyone beat 300k? 400k?
So, looks like I'm either in for a long painfree life with this car or a short sudden death. Only time will tell now what that hole in the piston will do....

 

[BII]

yeah, I've done JDM e-series swaps in my dad's shop, ah memories.

So you drilled into the piston and put the motor in anyways? That can't be good at all.

 

[Sixways]

well I hope that you at least drilled the hole into the piston while it was at BDC. then it shouldn't affect your compression. let me know more.

 

[Lazarus_023]

Anyways just had to tell someone my story. Maybe I'll set a new mileage record for this car. Whats the highest anyone has gone in the sentra? Anyone beat 300k? 400k?

bwah ha ha. i have B11 with 230k MILES. does that count?

 

[Sixways]

A B11? there's something older then a b12, it may be time to trade up soon

 

[Biscuit]

I got a B12 with 258k miles.

 

[Lazarus_023]

A B11? there's something older then a b12, it may be time to trade up soon

pshaw! i have all the parts necessary to completely rebuild it (minus glass and body/chassis).

 

[JonnyB]

well I hope that you at least drilled the hole into the piston while it was at BDC. then it shouldn't affect your compression. let me know more.

actually I managed to drill dead centre into the piston ring. drilled into just sllightly. Didn't drill right through the ring. We welded the hole shut. Was kind of in a hurry so I had to do whatever I could to get it done and out of the shop. Didn't think it would take quite as long as it did.

But so far after 2 days of driving the only problem i've had is a coolant problem. My coolant keeps blowing out the overflow. I filled the coolant up 2 days ago but since then every morning when I take the rad cap off I have to top it up, but the overflow is full. Its not sucking back into the rad. When I got home today after a drive, the coolant was streaming out of the overflow tube and the system was air locked cause it was overheating randomly and I was getting cold air blowing from the heater. My guess is the rad cap. Or could it be related to my cylinder possibly leaking?

 

[Popkorn]

Well I did it.
Whats the highest anyone has gone in the sentra? Anyone beat 300k? 400k?

289,000 miles. 2nd motor. I dunno what's wrong with the old one. The previous owner said it stalled at a stop sign. Then he replaced the timing belt and it would not start. Went and bought a pickup. So I towed it home and dropped in a 16i with 140k on it. That was 16k ago and it runs strong.

 

[Crazy-Mart]

actually I managed to drill dead centre into the piston ring. drilled into just sllightly. Didn't drill right through the ring. We welded the hole shut. Was kind of in a hurry so I had to do whatever I could to get it done and out of the shop. Didn't think it would take quite as long as it did.

But so far after 2 days of driving the only problem i've had is a coolant problem. My coolant keeps blowing out the overflow. I filled the coolant up 2 days ago but since then every morning when I take the rad cap off I have to top it up, but the overflow is full. Its not sucking back into the rad. When I got home today after a drive, the coolant was streaming out of the overflow tube and the system was air locked cause it was overheating randomly and I was getting cold air blowing from the heater. My guess is the rad cap. Or could it be related to my cylinder possibly leaking?

Now you just founded out the hard way that your engine already needs replacement.... the hole you made make the cylinder compress into the prestone... block is scraped now... im pretty sure even if you changed the cap, pump and thermostat it wont help till you blow the headgasket.... the exhaust blows blue smoke huh ??

268k km for me !! now with a 83 engine :thumbup: with original internals (changed everything else about 15k km ago)

 

[NissanMuscle]

the engine I replaced in my b12 had 254k miles on it. They really outlive what you pay for them. the guy who bought it paid 7000 dollars brand new, base model. not many cars can you buy for that much brand new and run that high in mileage.