New naive 240SX owner with a few questions................

[des4345]

My wife and I just bought a nice 240SX from our sons girlfriend. She has had this car for many years and has really taken good care of it. Two things that I have concerns over are these.....

1) When I start it, there is a rattle that seems to come from the valve train or timing chain until the oil pressure comes up. It doesnt last long at all but is alarming to me because it seems to be excessively noisy than most cars Ive owned. Again its at start up time and only lasts a moment until oil pressure kicks up. I also have an issue about a periodic rocker arm/valve tick that comes and goes when Im at an idle or driving at various speeds. Is this from the oil pump or may be an pressure regulator valve? I used to have a 85 Toyota Supra that had a similar symptom and ended up being a restricted/clogged oil pressure regultor valve that had limited oil feeding at various times. The car has about 130,000 miles on it but since we've had it, and have gone thru several oil changes, Ive never had to add an ounce of oil. Like I stated its really been well maintained. Could the oil pump be wearing out and maybe has the timing chain been stretched? Can anyone clue me into some direction?

and 2) It seems that the undercarriage has seen its share of hitting parking curbs. You know when you pull in and hit the curb with the tension rods? Well I pulled this into my work and put it up on the rack, when I did its first oil change and saw the huge bushings that mount the rods to the frame, are absolutely chewed up and the bolts that go thru them are just swimming around. No wonder it seems sloppy when I drive it. I have checked around and it seems that the only way you can get these large bushings is to buy the complete rods from the dealership. Does anyone know of a replacement bushing that may be available? I can get rods from the dealer around here for about $130 for the pair.

Any help would be nice.

We like the forum and just joined the club. we're in Kent ,WA.

[slow s13]

Your rattle could be coming from the upper timing chain guides that nissan recomends to be removed. To remove them you will need to take off the valve cover and you will see one in between the cams then theres one on the lower drivers side of the motor which you have to take the top part of the front cover off to get to. Oh you didnt mention the year of the car these guides are on the dual cam car 91 and up, im not shure about the single cam 89-90

You have a few options with you bushings. Energy Suspension makes new insererts to replace the stock ones or you can get new rods with spherical bearings.

http://www.store.yahoo.com/pha....html

http://www.courtesyparts.com/M...7105G

[574-240sx]

You can also try http://www.pdm-racing.com and get the whiteline bushings and get them pressed in which is some work if you don't mind it. You can also opt for new OEM Nissan Factory TC Rods for $62 a piece or OEM Nissan Factory TC Rods with Whiteline SPF1202K Bushings Installed for $107.50.

Here is the Link http://www.pdm-racing.com/prod....html

[yessir240]

i just bought my first car ...ive been driving a honda accord around for a little over a year.... but i hit a good bit of luck.. i found a 1996 with 24K on the Original KA engine.. it was previoulsy owned by an older school teacher never raced never drifted anything and did i mention its a 5spd ahh..sorry i love it though.... yea i got that rattle too but seems to decipate after a while but sometimes stays .. i will try what slow suggested

[des4345]

Hey slow s13.......

Thanks for the info on the tension rod bushing inserts.....

I ordered a set of them from a perfomance warehouse we deal with at work. I got them for $33, set. They should help alot, and btw they are from Energy Suspensions. Thanks for the tip.