Retainers are the spring caps as you call them.

Don't get too violent when giving them a tap either, they don't need much.

Copy that!

Dinner time now...so will likely continue again tomorrow.

I appreciate the advice too!

For all interested...here is a website I've made documenting the process to strip an A12 from start to finish...hope it helps someone like this website has helped me.

Mildmans A12 strip

Email sent Mildman

yep Im glad i didnt get mocked for that ,putting it back together well use a spring compressor or get the mechanic who rebuilds the head 4 you to do it .another hint is use gemini valve stem seals heaps better than the old datto one

Mildman
I just went through your website & i gotta say that i am ULTRA IMPRESSED.
You have the right tools, starting with a manual, & you aint frightened to make that digital camera earn its keep.

Something i haven't done before, but i'm going to try, is to get a garbage bin & fill it about 2/3ds with a 30 to 40% mixture of molasses & water. This is supposed to dissolve ALL the rust from the block, which means inside the coolant passages, & they tell me that the whole thing comes out so clean that it almost sterile.

The downside? [There's always a downside.] It takes time, as much as a month, depending on how bad the whole thing is, but several friends swear by it & molasses is cheap [from your local horsey supply store] so i will give it a go with my engine. Make sure that the welch plugs are out first & i do not know how it affects bearing metal, so i will keep an eye on the cam bearings when i do it [I'll replace them anyway.]

Keep those pictures coming, you're doing a great job.

Just to get our teminology right....here's a pic of what I call everything in a valve assembly.










Is your valve stem seal the same as a seat washer or a spring cap? (in my terminoloy of course)

ohhh, ok, I see where you are going wrong.

Get a big black texta and make some changes.

Cotters -> Collets
Spring Caps -> Retainers
Inlet Valve Seal -> Valve Stem Seal

Very few engines now have o-rings above the collets so don't be too concerned if you can't fing them on yours.

The valve stem seal are usually on both valves now as well, not just the inlet.

The "Seat Washers" have 2 purposes.
1. They protect the aluminium head from being gouged by the spring,
2. They "shim" the spring to the required spring seating pressure.

Just another couple of useless pieces of trivia for you.

Hey Dodgeman thanks for the compliments...well recieved here - gives me that extra bit of motivation to not drop my standards.

I've been putting the bottom end back together recently...surprising how easy it is when you have dillengently documented the disassembly.

Ahh

I think my workshop manual might be a little dated then.....here is what it looks like.

There's nothing wrong with your manual. It might be old, but so is the engine, so it's all good. Some of the terminology may differ from common usage words, but as long as you know what fits where, it'll be fine.

These books must be the best value item that you can buy for your Datsun. At somewhere between $5 & $20 on ebay, you will save much more than that on the first screw-up that you DON'T make because you have it.
These Gregories books are very much directed at the home mechanic which makes tham doubly good.

I'm looking foward to the next chapter in your engine job.

P.S. Gregories bought Scientific Publications some years back & just kept on printing the books with a new corporate name.