93 - 240SX KA24DE-AT - To build or not to build?

[ElbonUW]

My timing chain is clicking and my enigine is leaking oil from valve cover gasket, head gasket, oil pan gasket, front timing cover gasket. I am a decent mechanic and have been thinking about rebuilding my engine but I have no idea what the options are(?). What steps are necessary in this process and where are the best places to go for parts? So much unknown would love to hear from everyone about what I should do. My 240 has been ill treated and needs alot of love.

Please send me your thoughts or post a reply: [email protected]
Modified by ElbonUW at 5:39 PM 12/30/2005

[s13sr20chris]

i would check out some of our sponsors for factory parts. thats how you keep a nissan going strong. the t-chain job is a big job but its doable if you have a good assortment of hand tools and knoledge. as a rule of thumb i reccomend having a backup car to drive.

[ElbonUW]

Thanks for the link! I am thinking now that I may have to -pull the engine to replace all the gaskets-(true?) and I figured that while the engine is out I should do some other things like replace the piston rings (what else?). The problem is that while I love my 240 I dont know if I should do these repairs or just sell it and find another 240 with fewer problems. Shop estimates this work at $3000 which is more than my nissan is currently worth. I can do the work for around $600 but my engine has 193k miles on it already. What would you do?

[ElbonUW]

Well, looks like the best thing to to is buy a japanese import engine, any modifications that would be easy and help out?

[s13sr20chris]

which jap import motor are you looking at. all the swaps will run you some cash($2000 at the minimum).

[ElbonUW]

It is a long block from a place about 45 miles from my hometown and is selling used engines for $795+tax. This one has compression of 175, no oil leakage, and 38k miles. Too good to be true?

[95S14TNR]

The clicking coming from the timing chain is not the timing chain at all. Its the tentioner of the chain. Its fairly common in the 240s same thing as the rear subframe bushings they go on most of them.

[rogoman]

My timing chain is clicking and my enigine is leaking oil from valve cover gasket, head gasket, oil pan gasket, front timing cover gasket. I am a decent mechanic and have been thinking about rebuilding my engine but I have no idea what the options are(?). What steps are necessary in this process and where are the best places to go for parts? So much unknown would love to hear from everyone about what I should do. My 240 has been ill treated and needs alot of love.

Oil leaks are fairly easy to fix without taking the motor out of the car. The first thing you should probably do is clean the motor with detergent and power washer, just make sure to protect the harness connectors from from water. Now you can determine more accurately where the oil leaks are coming from.

To check the condition of the motor, perform a compression test on all cylinders and check the oil pressure.

Are you getting a clicking or rattling sound from the front of the motor; if it's clicking, it's most likely excessive valve lifter clearance or it may be the injectors clicking. If it's rattling, then the timing chain guides may be excessively worn or the tensioner is not working properly. Poor oil pressure would prevent the chain tensioner from working properly.

[thomasjamal]

You could always look for a lower mileage engine from somebody doing a swap. KAs don't sell for much. If you can find a low mileage one you could probably get it for 200-300 and do some maintenance before you put it in.

[12Ounce]

One of my favorite cars is my '83 Escort wagon. I probably have spent more than a few thousand on it in maintenance and refurbs over the years. Worth it? I think so, as it has given me and family perhaps a million miles of service. But "market value"? ... it has none ... so for it's "worth", I should stopped expenditures years ago.

My point is: If you want to drive the vehicle, the money you put into it should be for the "ride", not for it's so-called "value".

I currently rebuilding a KA24E for a '93 pick-up. (This repair being another "bad" investment!) I used a specialty shop for the head refurb and another for the block bores and crank regrind. New timing chain and wheels, new chain guides, new oil pump and drive gears, new rings, new crank bushings, etc. I used OEM gasket set ... which means the original Nissan RTV seals (oilpan, front cover, etc.) will have to be replaced ... whereas some aftermarket gasket sets will provide gaskets for these locations. My way means extra time and effort spent on cleaning joints extra well.

Total cost for parts/shop-work will be under $1000. Close to $1000, maybe more, if you add the new clutch and actuator components.

For a simple four cylinder engine, this one is fairly complex ... and your's more so. Even more cost, work, and cleaning.

BTW, this engine was making a buzzing noise that turned out to be caused by a broken timing chain guide. Luckily, the front cover was not yet damaged. 200K+ miles on truck.
Modified by 12Ounce at 5:02 PM 12/30/2006