Hey guys,

I bought a sweet 99 Altima SE Limited (5spd manual, moon roof spoiler, 4 wheel disc brakes ect) the other day. I knew it had a blown head gasket from the start. I was told it had a broken timing chain, but the motor turned over free by hand and even sounded like it may start off the key. I started working on it and yep the timing chain did break. But it didn't mash any valves, valve marks on #2/#3 pistons are not even into the carbon deposit on the pistons.

I decided to pull the head alone and left the intake manfold in place. I have a bruised cut up right arm as a result. Has anyone done a head gasked on one of these motors and assembled the intake manifold and head prior to head gasket reassembly? I don't think I have it in me to mess with those impossible 4 bottom intake manifold bolts again.

I don't see why you couldn't do that,but without a lift anything is going to be a PITA on an Altima.If i was doing that job i would have pulled the engine and transmission since you are having to do the chain also.

Even with a lift next to impossible I'm using my cherry picker to hold the head up high neigh I can fit my hand between it and the block and bolting it back together now. Once I had the head off pulling the drive train stopped being faster/easier if only just but if I had to do it again I would pull the drive train in a second

Timing chains are a pain in the car. I've never done one in an Altima though.

good greif I should have pulled the motor.....I just got the timing chain cover off it is a bear!

Oil pump got taken out




Timing chain guides are toast these came in my timing chain kit

Yeah I typically tell people that have a snapped chain on a KA to just replace the whole engine. More often than not a whole bunch of stuff gets f*** up when the chain snaps (eats through a cover, or pump, bends valves, etc).
After you tally up the parts, you could have bought a pretty decent salvage engine.

I'm in it for $183 in head/timing parts I'm hoping the dealership sells just the back cover of the oil pump otherwise it's off to the wrecker for a $65 cover/pump off a wrecked car.

The labor is a killer I did the same job on my 2000 accord last month in half the time.

Not many good used Ka's in Phoenix they go for $500-$1000 here and will not have a new chain and head gasket. I'm building this car for a buddy he is going to owe me big time!

I got the car for $600 off craigslist it is perfect otherwise interior is flawless exterior is close.