93 300zxna 120k service diy?'s

[ChrisW93zx]

I am needing my 120k service done and I bought all the factory parts to do it with but I am a little overwhelmed with the thought of doing it myself. I have an OK amount of mechanical skill IE: have done brakes, trans swaps, auto electrical wiring,etc but I have little exp with
anything that has a timing belt or Japanese cars in particular. Should this be within my skill margin to try or is this really easy to mess up?
My biggest concern is that once the belt is off that the cams will get tuned and mess up the sequence of the valves and cause a fatal error once the engine is turned over again. any thing I should be worried about or is this overstating the difficulty?

[NolimitZ32]

Read the FSM there is a timing belt procedure in there, also I recommend you find someone who knows 300zx in your are preferably someone that has done this before to help/supervise you while you do this.

[ChrisW93zx]

Finding a 300zx guru willing to help for free around here in South metro Atlanta is prob going to be harder than the belt swap haha. I have a few local mechanics who can do the job but there is no way I am going to pay $600-700 to get parts put on after I just spent $500+ on said parts. I have already replaced the front brakes, battery, and spark plugs and I still need an alignment and tires plus I have a dang engine skip...I just bought this thing a week ago and I am starting to hate it already..the frustration level is increasing...

[nissanfreak12]

Read the FSM there is a timing belt procedure in there, also I recommend you find someone who knows 300zx in your are preferably someone that has done this before to help/supervise you while you do this.

x2

It can be done if you have mechanical skills, its not as imtimidating as it looks. Just remeber to count the cogs in between the markings on the gears. When all put together turn by hand at least 4 full revolutions, very slowly, any resistance stop, more than likely the piston is hitting the valve. If the cams move just make sure you match them to the marks on the backing plate and the marks on the gears. When the belt is on and lined up, those marks will not match up, this is just a refernce point, should be close though.

Just remember to take your time and double check everything if you decide to tackle this on your own. There are a bunch of us on here that have done this, so if you have any issues problems dont hesitate to ask.

Also search in this forums about timing belts and it should give you and idea what you may possibly run into.

[nissanfreak12]

Finding a 300zx guru willing to help for free around here in South metro Atlanta is prob going to be harder than the belt swap haha. I have a few local mechanics who can do the job but there is no way I am going to pay $600-700 to get parts put on after I just spent $500+ on said parts. I have already replaced the front brakes, battery, and spark plugs and I still need an alignment and tires plus I have a dang engine skip...I just bought this thing a week ago and I am starting to hate it already..the frustration level is increasing...

Oh like it has been said many times before, this car is like a girlfriend, she will take all your money and if you have extra, something will go wrong and you will be spending it on her.

if you do it yourself, it will be the greatest feeling of accomplishment. It can be intimidating, but its a good idea to learn at some point. It can go one of two ways engine running or new engine, but if you take your time and follow the manual you will be fine. We all are here to help, thats what I love about this forum.

[ChrisW93zx]

Thanks, I have printed out the timing belt install walk through off the site here along with another I found on another forum so I have a cross reference on the procedure. Like I said I am not mechanically retarded but this is a little alien to me. If it isn't any harder than the walk trough makes it look I should be in great shape.

[nissanfreak12]

I thought the same thing when I first did the belt. I have done timing belts on DOHC engines before, but they all had two cams, so four was completely new for me, and was very over-whelming. I ran into a few issues but nothing catastrophic.

[NolimitZ32]

Try doing a DOHC HO engine. s***'s stupid

[nissanfreak12]

I take it your talking about a taurus sho, I couldn't imagine a fwd and four cams.

[marty1mc]

My old Dodge Intrepid 3.5L was FWD with four cams.

[NolimitZ32]

I take it your talking about a taurus sho, I couldn't imagine a fwd and four cams.

I was talking about a Subaru Horizontally Opposed, but yeah I'd imagine the Taurus SHO with that Yamaha V8 is no walk in the park either, about like the 3000gt/stealth

[nissanfreak12]

I take it your talking about a taurus sho, I couldn't imagine a fwd and four cams.

I was talking about a Subaru Horizontally Opposed, but yeah I'd imagine the Taurus SHO with that Yamaha V8 is no walk in the park either, about like the 3000gt/stealth

No kidding about the 3000gt/stealth, I have seen the bay and thought the z had little room. Afriend had one and I refused to work on it, mainly cause I didn't see the point(not a fan of the motor) and i believe it was a water pump issue, NO THANK YOU SIR!

I have never worked on a SHO, but couldn't imagine the headaches you encounter.

[ChrisW93zx]

I broke down and decided to bring it to z1 motorsports in the morning to do it. I don't need anymore stress right now hahah.

[nissanfreak12]

Nothing wrong with that, I have only heard good things, at least you know it will be done right.

[Chattzx]

Yeah thats a good decision. Z1 is about an hour and a half away from me and I have nothing but positive things to say about them.

[ChrisW93zx]

I am impressed with them so far as how professional and friendly they are. I brought my two sons (7yo and 9yo) and John in service said we had to take the shop tour before we left. My boys were spell bound and about freaked when they got to see a dyno pull by a 350Z they had built the engine in that put out 538 HP at the wheels. That car was a monster! And we checked out the 1150 HP 300zx in the show room (I wish my crappy NA was that nice).