May have blown motor - A15 in Midget

[RickB]

Yesterday on the way home it started running "choppy" like a helicopter sound or a lawn mower sound.
Thought maybe vacuum leak or something, could not find anything.
Today coming home going uphill it started heating up badly and losing power.
Chopper noise got worse then started a tick along with the chopper noise.
Just parked it outside at home, I am afraid that motor may be toast.
No steam out the tail and the oil is not watery and the water is not oily.

I have a perfectly peachy 1275 in a 1973 Midget in my shed
Can I fit the top from my 78 onto the 73?
I'd need new radiator hoses, anyone know if those can be had from any local dealers?
Napa, Oreilleys, anyone like that?
If I could put a top on it and new hoses I am confident it would run.
Then I''d have some time to figure out the A15 situation.

 

[JPSmit]

'78 would be a 1500 would it not? Not a 1275.

 

[RickB]

My A15 is in a 78.
My 1275 is in a 73.

 

[RickB]

My A15 is in a 78.
My 1275 is in a 73.

I most likely have everything I need X3.
The complications are:

1. I'm going in for surgery on my right shoulder Monday at 6AM.

I know I saw a lower hose somewhere in my mountain of stuff.
Yes I have two (presumably) good Datsun engines in my shed, they were running when pulled.
I have at least 3 cars worth of parts back there, however - see #1 above.

What I feel I can do at this point:
Take the top with the frame off the 78 and somehow bolt it onto the 73.
Replace the rad hoses and put in a battery and fire her up.
She drove beautifully here and has been in the shed ever since.

Anything more strenuous than that I don't believe I am able to tackle it at this point.

 

[SaxMan]

Your symptoms sound exactly like the same issues I had when the head gasket blew on my 1275. Run a compression test and/or a leak down test. Chances are you will see a significant loss of compression in your #2 and #3 cylinders, which is a blanking plug issue. Even though the head gasket blew, there was no steam present in the exhaust.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

SaxMan he's got a Datsun 210 engine in the Spridget he's having issues but could indeed be a bad head gasket.

 

[Blueghost]

Regarding top replacement from a '78 to a '73, per Moss catalog, page 73 (old catalog), the top frame assembly is P/N 400-680, and is applicable from 1967 through 1980. The vinyl top P/N changes with color and quality, but they too are the same from '67 through '80. Based on that I wouldn't anticipate a problem.

Regarding hoses, thermostats, bearings, belts, alternators, etc., most good parts stores can get all that stuff, but you will do best if you find a counter man 50 and older (60 is better). They should all have catalogs under the counter that they pull out when the computer draws a blank. If you can find a counterman named Leo or Max you have a chance. If they are name Jason or Britney, you may have problems. Gray is my favorite color.

Blueghost

 

[RickB]

Thanks Blue, all gray hairs at my local NAPA so I will try there first thing!

 

[RickB]

Yay for NAPA!!

Two lower hoses in stock at the Kent warehouse. $7.90 each. I ordered both.
They will be in North Bend on Monday for me.
No uppers, but I will try Oreilley's and see if they can get an upper.
My existing upper will get me going if I can't get a new one quickly.
Now I just need to get a top on it and get it running, it was running when I drove it into the shop so I don't think there will be too much trouble, it wasn't that long ago.
Sure it's a rust bucket, but I'll bet I still get compliments when I start driving it around.
Have to call the insurance company and of course register it, I transferred title but didn't register it.
Need to pick out which of my classic plates to put on it too, registering as a classic of course.

 

[RickB]

Local guys don't carry the drivers side lower hose.
Gotta get one as the one on the car perished, developed a big old hole.