how hard on a scale of 1-10 is it to change timing belt? I have done timing belts before but not on a 300zx but i'm 32.000kms overdue!!! i think its time. Payment if someone wants to do it for me?
mate its harder than nothing the potential to get it wrong is high, so you have to line up the cams marks and the crank mark then count teeth to the first mark and then the exhaust cam usually wants to rotate to the wrong spot so you have to clamp it or get someone to wwiggle it then put the tensioner on and adjust that. But if you get it wrong valves can go through pistons
The first time is a worry more than any thing. Really not that hard a job , say a 3 on a scale to ten. There are a. Few tricks to it especially counting the teeth between the gears (the manual explains it all). Once you do one you will wonder why you did not do it earlier. If some one can give you a hand that has done it before it would be so much easier. Oh the gates belt I bought didn't have a crank mark so it made things hard (I had to count the old belts teeth and put my own mark on). Belt should only cost around $60 and use a new idler stud and tensioner. To get the correct tension I used a drill bit for the gap adjustment. There a few tricks to make it easier. Cheers Dave
My 300zx was the first ever timing belt I did. I was surprised at how easy it was. Just take your time and follow the tech instructions. Make sure you have 30 hours set aside too.
First Zed one took me ~5 days with a bit of blinging and whatnot. Wasn't my first timing belt either. Now I can get one done in a day drive in drive out. Trickiest bit is getting the crank sprocket off, generally needs to be cut off. Only need to do that if you are changing the crank oil seal
5 DAYS! i cant have my car off the road for that long lol i think i'll probs end up getting it into the mechanics. A day would be hard without my car i'll miss it to much
I did go over the top though, front bar and headlights off, changed some suspension bushes and bled the clutch and brakes.
I left my timing covers off so now i could do a belt in about 3 hours max at a guess. There is a fair bit of time getting covers off and on if you have them. Remember to put the breaker bar on the left chassis rail to undo the crank bolt. I have made up a crank pulley puller to get both genuine and after market overdrive off so that makes things easier also.
Talk to Sean Bridge who has a work shop [ Sean Bridge Racing ]up past the Nissan Service & parts centre in Nowra He drives a black ZX.
Bridgy rebuilt my engine and did other work on my car. he knows his stuff when it comes to zeds but sometimes im not sure if he really puts in much of an effort. after he did a supposed total rebuild on my engine, most or all of the hoses i've checked i had to replace because they looked 20 years old. i also got him to do my timing belt and asked to get a full 100k service done. he did the belt, coolant and oil and that was it. 2 months later the idler pulley bearings started screaming because they are rooted, water pump died and all the hoses were perishing. these are things that are part of the 100k service and should've been done. he does know zeds inside and out and my engine has been going strong for years but these days i do the work myself or go to someone else who i can trust.
yes i heard he is a great mechanic but doesnt put the effort in from quite a few different people. Might stick to my main mechanic atleast he's honest
i've started taking my XR6 to Speary in town behind Rivers. he is an old school racer and Summernats guy and he is really good, for a Commodore guy. he may charge a little more but he always rings to let you know little details and you can tell he's honest. i think i'll take my zed there too for major jobs.
Get a gates racing belt, much more durable and it has the crank markings to make it slightly easier - yes you still need to count the teeth - especially the last sprocket where its likely to be out. getting the clamps back on the coolant hoses can be tedious as well as getting the key off the crank. As stated - replace all components as per the full service, its a waste of time just to do the belt mark the bolts on the timing covers so you know where they have to go back as they are different lengths, you might need some new rubber washers since there likely to be cracked after 20 years. If you have a good idea what your doing and ready with all the tools, you can do it in about 6 hours, but otherwise it can take a couple of days if not, worse is if you dont have the parts to replace when you start and then find you have to wait for them. goodluck
I bought the blue Gates racing tuff belt, GMB water pump with gasket, ITM tensioner set, a few water seals. (Spare timing belt in the kit) I spent $310 P&M in Capalaba, Brisbane just quoted me $550 to put the parts on my car. They will replace tensioner bolts if they were overtightened. They said they will also check the heavy clunk that occurs as the car slows to a stop. Diff, bearing or auto trans.?
good idea but not necisary, i got a kit of blue bolts made up for the engine bay , timing covers, throttle cover etc which dont seem to use the washers (incorporated in length) .. look great too offset on black . BUT DEFINATELY get the full kit dont skimp on timing parts.
Also consider Tailshaft unijoint and center bearing. Mine had rotational knocking when rolling and clunk when engaging in reverse turned out to be that.
Z-alot, yes the centre bearing, but thanks for suggesting the uni joint, I will put that on the list to check off with the mechanic
