Knock under the timing belt housing

[SouthO_Czch]

Whats up everyone. Thanks for all of the information you post; this site has been a great help since i bought my z.
I noticed a noise under the hood the other day wen i fired the z up in the morning. It was an rpm coincident knock under the plastic timing belt cover. After a 10 minute ride it was completely gone. This morning, same thing happened. Would like to see if anyone might have an opinion. Cant help but think it will require a look under the cover, and at that point might as well put a new tb in, and be 1k+ in the hole at least, right? She is a 94 slick top with 109k. if I get this done (I will not try this one myself), maybe some opinions on what else I could do with the cover off and everything exposed.
I really appreciate your advice.
Thanks-

[robomatic12]

When was the TB maintenance last done? Looking at the engine, the right side timing belt cover can come off fairly easy, the left side no go without taking off the front water pipes. That is, if you want to take a peek and see if you can figure out what the noise is.

[SouthO_Czch]

Really? Great advice. I was looking at the shop manual, and the way i understood the procedure it was an all or nothing removal. Im kinda screwed due to the fact i work in Albany, GA and live near the coast south of Tallahassee, so when im away i dont have any tools or a place to work on her. As far as I know the timing belt has never been replaced. There have been some other gremlins popping up as well. In the morning she has a problem getting fuel, or at least it seems as such, but works itself out. i have been getting crazy oil pressure readings, all over the map, from the stock OP gauge; read this Z is notorious for having this problem and I should replace the sending unit. And lastly, driving early morning hours with temps in the thirties, my stock temp gauge was reading almost completely rock bottom. She seemed to run fine, and didnt notice any other problems, but I couldnt believe it was running so cold at 65mph on the highway. Cant imagine its a head gasket; this car burns no oil, loses no coolant and stays clean, and has never smoked. Thanks again for checking my posts out. Any input is appreciated. i have just put the Z in a trusted shop and Ill report back with their input, so maybe it can be of help to someone else down the road (no pun intended).

[Onyxblue]

As far as I know the timing belt has never been replaced.

This is bad - and you have 109k on it? . You are running on borrowed time.
Stop driving it and do a 120k maintenance. here is a link of what you need: http://www.importpartspro.com/ni3012setibe.html

[SouthO_Czch]

Yes, this is no laughing matter, but i had to chuckle at myself. I deserve a good scolding. Like most of you folks, this was something i wanted for many many years. I am learning as i go with the Z. looking at whats included in the 120k service bundle is a thermostat.... would explain why she ran so cold the other day. i took posession of her at 103k, and have fixed a couple of immediate things like a starter that was wiggling loose and a broke off key that ended up costing me 400 smackers. that one really po'd me, but again I had to chuckle at myself. Had to have it towed and everything.
Since my questions are being entrertained by you wonderful people, heres another one. So the entire 120k kit is $500. Fair enough. What would you guess labor at; a non dealership able mechanic that is? Reason I ask is i am screwed with my job stretching me between to cities. i was new to the Tallahassee area before i got laid off and then took this job, so I really have no one to completely trust yet. The mechanic where shes at is a reccomended gentelman from a trusted source, but I am very guarded and paranoid with unknown mechanics. i would like to have a baseline cost as a guide. i would love to try it myself but its a driver currently, and i just dont trust myself lining everything up.
Thanks again yall. Seriously. Very much appreciative.
Ill get some pics up of her when I get her back, along with the mechanics assesment for future reference.

[SouthO_Czch]

UPDATE:
Getting the info from yall yesterday was the best thing that could have happened. here is NICO forum in action;
Got a call from the mechanic. As we all surmised, it was reccomended i get a new t belt, and a kit with it. Before yesterday i didnt realize all that was involved with the 120k mainenance pack. So upon reomendation, I looked at the IPP kit and its contents. i compared that with the kit that was suggested by the mecahanics helper and found the kit that was suggested was no where near as complete as the IPP. I was transferred to my boy Trey the mecahanic, and he thought the IPP kit was way better, and if it were his car he would go with the IPP. So he is going to wait until I order it, and do the labor for $575 with taxes. I am happy with that figure and what going to be done. Sure i wish the mechanic would have already suggested what i learned from research, but by looking out for the Z and doing a bit of research, I have arrived at a solution im comfortable with.
Now, I just hope Ill be good for awhile while i try and fix my back up 92 Cherokee. I need to take some pressure of my baby.
Thanks again. I loook forward to posting more often.

[robomatic12]

Sounds good! Yeah if the timing belt hasnt been changed it's definetely on borrowed time, I wouldn't be suprised if you find some cracks on it. The labour quote sounds pretty decent, not a rip off at all.

[es.biggs]

Yep that pretty close to average. Definitely a fair price

That kit the mechanic suggested was probably Autozone products, etc. Good call on spending the extra to go with OEM quality. IPP is a great vendor as well - if you need anything or if you have any questions, Kyle up there will help you with everything. Top notch business.

[DCaff300ZX]

The tapping sound at startup can possibly be the cam gears, saw this in a build some time ago (Black Sheep build?) and had the same issue before a TB/120K service where the cam gears were replaced which also removed the tapping/knocking sound.
Hope this helps!