240sx cylinder head replacement problems

[240 Old Dog]

I have a '96 Nissan 240sx ka24de and in process of replacing warped cylinder head with a remanufactured one. Engine was not set to tdc of compression stroke before it was disassembled and lower timing chain slipped down and may have moved on lower sprocket. New head and cams installed so far. What should I do next to get back on track and realign the pistons, cams, etc. ?

Do I need to open up the front lower timing chain cover? It looks like timing is close to 40 btdc now. Friend suggests I can adust with camshafts off and cyclinder head still bolted on- ? I thought i would need to take off head again(and replace new gasket?) and take off lower timing chain cover to get ready to realign.

Any experts out there that could advise? Thanks...

[liquid_cool]

greating....its easy to get her back to time..dont bother with the timing marks..they will just drive you insane.....all you need to do is get the #1.piston back to top dead center..once that is done...you just alighn your cams acording to the sticky thread at the top of the page..once all the timing chains and cams are installed..then rotate everything from the crank to 20 before top dead center and set up your dizzy...its really simple to do..you will actually kik your self later after doing it this way..let us know if ya need any more help..good luck

[240 Old Dog]

Thanks for the help L-C. I Can't find the sticky thread that mentions cam alignments? I was thinking I would be at TDC when a fasten down the cam sprockets and distributor? What do you mean by dizzy? Thanks, SLOW Old Dog

[youngun21a]

mine is close to ur problem too..and once i have it at tdc and the cams alingne as the jimwolf says..and i install the chains...and try to do a free turn it lock like i hiting the piston..and don't want to force it might bent a valve..

[youngun21a]

Still having problems..cams set as jimwolf setup,,but can't do a free turn it locks up,,and only and closes i can get a free turn if i rotate the intake cam is to rotate the notch to 4 o'clock..the and the exh to 12 o'clock and i do have it at TDC..the briancrower timing tag say the same thing or reading it wrong...

[moso]

Old Dog,altho im sure you can align your cam gears with the timing cover on its always best to take the front cover off just to make shure your not a tooth off, yea i know its not fun. another thing to keep in mind is that the exhaust cam will run on the intake side with a little adjustment but i dont believe you can rotate the motor with the intake cam on the exhaust side.

Youngun same to you are you sure you have the cams on the right side? are you running stock cams or BC? adjustable gears? seems like you have alot of cam timing going on. definitely dont force it you will be sorry. when in doubt call the manufacturer thay made it thay better know how to install it.

[youngun21a]

There the BC cams,and they are in the right place as before the only thing that change was the head,the only reasone i change the head was a small crack on the exh side replace the head install it the same way i took it off with the same marks and now cant rotate..on the exh side where my int cam is have no problem, on the intake side where i have my exh cam cant rotate once the chain is lined up,i have to have it at lease in the 4 o'clock position to even rotate..so thats where im stuck