So I'm about to start my timing chain/etc on the KA24DE

[AutoKA24DE]

I've done many searches (with mixed results) and have printouts from the Nissan service manual, ALLDataPro updates, and all the parts. Now i just have to get at it.

Any extra advice or any links to any writeups (i couldnt find any)?

Thanks!

[aznpoopy]

what exactly are you doing?

timing chain guide removal?

timing chain overhaul?

[AutoKA24DE]

well one or the other. i'm gonna be in there because of the guides and tensioner, since you can hear them flopping around. i bought a complete overhaul kit with chains, so i might as well.

two big questions though.

1. do i really need to drop the oil pan?

2. do i really need to pull the head?

thanks!

[aznpoopy]

for the chain overhaul job, i really don't know. i have never done one before (luckily). iirc you don't need to remove the head though. not sure about the oil pan. i think you need to take out the cams, however. the FSM should have the right procedure, at any rate.

my only advice is to mark the distributor so you don't have to reset timing just to get it started. and make sure you have a timing light, because you're going to need one.

[AutoKA24DE]

actually i just did another search for safe keeping and i found a nice write up...http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=105618

hopefully thats all i have to do, but since i have the whole kit, i might as well do the whole thing...

[MELLO*SOS]

Welcome to the club. Timing chain job isn't really fun but it will teach you a few things about how your motor is assembled.

You don't need to remove the head. You don't need to remove the cams, either.

If you plan on doing a full replacement (upper and lower chains, guides, tensioners) you will need to tear off the whole face of the motor... Valve cover, Radiator, Thermostat, water pump, upper timing cover, oil pump/lower timing cover, pull the crank pulley (borrow puller from autozone), drop the oil pan (jack the motor). During this proceedure is a good time to upgrade to poly motor mounts (drift_freaq) and/or an underdrive crank pulley!

If you go this route (full replacement), you'll probably come to the same conclusion that I did: the upper chain/guides/tensioner is the noisy culprit and the lower parts don't even need replacing (no cracks in chain, guides look perfect, etc). If I had to do it again I would just do the upper components and be done with it in 1/4 the time it takes to do the whole (upper+lower) job.

If you have specific questions go ahead and PM me or post in this thread...

And now for a few "inspirational" images I took while doing my timing chain...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/mello88/chipped.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/mello88/DSC06486.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/mello88/DSC06680.jpg

[AutoKA24DE]

well luckily the top guides were still intact and in good condition, but the tensioner was pretty stuck, and the chain was pretty stretched. so i replaced the upper tensioner and the upper chain, as well as the valve cover gaskets.

i'm a happy guy now.

[aznpoopy]

congratulations! :)