super74 Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 Hello all: I searched, but nothing I found answers the question I have, so here goes. I'm just putting the finishing touches on my rebuild project. I opened the new spray bar I got several months ago to find that it is slightly bent. When I install it, it bolts right up, but the two end sections (for the lobes on cylinders 1 & 6) bend slightly: one inward (6) and one outward 1. The oil jets for their respective lobes are only slightly off-center and since they're so close to the lobes anyway, I'm not sure if I should get another one or use the old one. My questions are: (1) has anyone ever run into a QC issue like this with a new Nissan part?? I haven't. (2) Will this compromise the spray bar's ability to do its job (oil the lobes)?? I'm near the end of this project and I want to get it running, but I don't want to destroy all of my hard work. Last but not least, (3) Am I better off using a "used" (the one that came with the head) spray bar that is dead-on straight even if there is no way to tell if there is any accumulated sludge inside of it that could plug an oil jet?? Any information would be greatly appreciated, as always. Thanks in advance to all who respond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezzzzzzz Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 First, the old bar could get a good soaking and cleaning to ensure there is no oiling issues. Worst case might mean drilling both ends open for a good rodding then welding or brazing shut again. Second, the new bar can probably be straightened with no measurable problem to correct the spray pattern. This is just one man's opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theghosttanker Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I have experienced the same slight bending more than once when I have opened up heads to do valve lash. The 240 I'm driving right now has had the slight bend in it at the rear and I have driven it more than 20k miles that way. I suspect that it has been that way for the entire life of the car. The last two motors I've worked with also had it.Personally I would use the new spray bar because it's clean, straighten it gently if you like but my experience has shown that a little bend at the end doesn't hurt anything, and it doesn't have to be perfectly "dead on" straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super74 Posted June 25, 2009 Author Share Posted June 25, 2009 Thanks to both of you for the responses. I think I answered my own question late yesterday evening. The bends in the hollow parts of the spray bar probably wouldn't ever cause any serious problems, but I thought of something else that would...bends in the mounting plates. When I got home yesterday, I checked to see if the bends might cause the mounting tabs not to "seat" against the cam towers and the small oil jets that feed the bar. Sure enough, the rearmost mounting tab won't engage the oil hole in the cam tower, which would have starved the lobes for cylinder #6 of oil. I wish I'd removed it from the packaging when I initially got it. I would've seen it and returned it, but now, that's not possible. I like leaving the anti-corrosion paper in place on parts like these. All things considered, it's far better to figure this out now than lose the engine after all the work. I guess the lesson learned is to always check these things right after purchase no matter what. Thanks to Theghosttanker and ezzzzzzz for the input. The old bar is actually in good shape and has cleaned up really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.