Rx'd my TopLine kit today! [pix]

[slipnfall]

Hi folks, Today I received my TopLine Platinum Engine kit from http://www.importperformanceparts.net. (this is not a shameless plug BTW!) Included gasket set, pistons, pins, rings, bearings, oil pump, and timing kit. It wasn't cheap at $560(w/shipping), but I just want to say I think it was worth every penny! Everything was packed securely, and included a parts list so that I could identify some of the more obscure gaskets,etc.

::edit:: forgot to get a picture of head gasket set ::edit::









Piston's are as expected, just ho-hum casts...

I also want to point out that they included a new front cover also, with oil pump and oil seal installed! Also the timing kit came w/a front oil seal, there was one installed in the cover, and the bottom-engine gasket set included one also. So in the end I have two extra front seals. I really wasn't expecting the front cover to be included.



So, I have a semi-clean lower front cover for sale with new seal in the Parts 'n Equipment forum if anyone is interested...



Two quick questions: should I use the rear seal cover gasket(FSM makes no mention of it, just liq. gasket). Also I don't know what this copper-like washer is for: it has an outer flange on top, with an inner flange on the bottom, with a key-way on the inner flange(pictured below beside the oil-plug washer and cover-2-crank oil washer)

Below is the list of items included, as per the 'packing slips':

Timing kit: crank gear, cam gears,front(top) chain, bottom chain, bottom tensioner, top tensioner, lower L/R rail, 2 bolts(guide), 1bolt(other guide), 4x gaskets,seals)

Lower gaskets: Oil Pan(cork), Rear main seal cover, Water pump, Oil filter housing, Oil strainer, rear crank seal, front crank seal, oil pump-2-block plug, 2x water outlet, strainer o-ring, washer(13x19x2), drain plug crush washer,o-ring(?)

Head gaskets:Cyl head, intake mani(10 bolt), intake mani-2-collector, 4x exh mani, water inlet, valve cover inner/outer, throttle body, 2x exh pipe, 16x valve stem seals, 4x inj o-rings, 4x inj o-rings(smaller), o-ring, distrib o-ring, EGR inlet, EGR valve, EGR valve tube, AAC valve, breather gasket, intake mani(11 bolt), 2xAAC valve, exh pipe, 4inj o-rings, oil filler cap seal

[SMoKeM240]

i bought all my stuff from them, but got all the upgrades...

[slipnfall]

Yeah I suppose there's nothing special about these parts in particular... I figured maybe someone out there was considering buying this kit, so it might help to see it/hear an opinion.

I opted out of the Toga bearings and oil-pump... they just weren't necessary for my application. I would have been even more broke than I am now. :-)

[Bronze MFP]

Is it basicly just a rebuild kit? I mahy need something like that soon, my timing chain makes a lot of noise on startup. Your kit looks good, are all the parts pretty high quality?

[matt4pl]

hmm, i wonder if they'd let me mix and match stuff so i could get 89 pistons with 96 gaskets and all...

[slipnfall]

Yep, intended for a rebuild... it comes with every stinkin' gasket you would ever replace in the course of rebuilding an engine.(down to the exhaust).I didn't the two halves of my intake mani apart, but since they included a gasket, I might(to get to the EGR ports). I can't say I have much experiance to judge this against other kits: but I havn't noticed any flaws in the quality of parts. They even included a parts list w/pictures for the timing kit:wish they would have been a little more verbose about the gaskets and o-rings. There's two that I havn't been able to figure out where they go yet: we'll see once I start putting things back together.

::edit:: oh and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think TopLine actually manufactures some of Nissan's OEM replacement parts(in other words they're sold by Nissan) ::edit::

-Slip

[deviousKA]

Topline components are ok, although some of their timing kits are very poor (the one you got looks decent, guides do). I used to use topline components on all the engines we rebuild and warranty, although after a return on a nissan z24 component that happened more than once i made a switch on a few parts that cost me more, but provided the buyer what they should expect.

If you find a true main distributor of the components, you can get the parts much cheaper. Topline is actually lower price stuff compared to what all is available.

I work at an engine component wholesale/rebuild center and lately have been on a quest to offer the best selection of high quality components online. Over the past 2 yrs i have been deciphering ka component quality and offer the highest quality available, which sometimes requires a combination of various brand names.

::edit:: oh and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think TopLine actually manufactures some of Nissan's OEM replacement parts(in other words they're sold by Nissan) ::edit::

-Slip

Those are actually oem nissan components that are available in the topline kits, topline does not manufacture them. They do this because with some parts it is more cost effective to offer a quality part in a kit, not requiring manufacturing on their own. Other brands do this as well

[SR22DET]

hey guys i know i'm gonna sound like the biggest dumb-as$ but anyway why would anyone want to get the 89 pistons in a 96 ka24de like matt4pl said? is it to lower compression? and also deviousKA, i noticed you said that the kit is pretty much ok but it's not the best... is it a good "bang for the buck"? just wondering because you work with rebuilding motors and i will need to on my ka24e...

[Red coupe]

89 pisons have either a flat top or a flatter top(not sure if its compleatly flat) in comarison to de pistons. It raises compression when used with a de head.

Devious who would you recomened for a timing chain kit? im haing trouble finding a kit I can trust, I either find individual oem pieces or kits of nameless parts.

[deviousKA]

On the DE, complete timing kits are very expensive. You can save a lot of money and end up with a well working system by just upgrading the main wear items such as lower chain/guides/tensioner. The two upper and the crank drive gears are also affordable individually. Some would call a setup like this a full kit but really it is not, a true complete kit includes the middle drive gear and bushing. Common price of a complete kit from good manufacture is over 400. Best bang for the buck is a new lower chain, tensioner, and lower guides. Provided little wear on other items.

btw. If your using a new oil pump, a new oil pump drive is wise option.

[slipnfall]

Thanks for commenting on TopLine's quality; I'd rather have ballanced opinions in a post when talking about a specific 'brand'. After comparing my original guide to the plastic/metal on in the kit, they do seem different. The one incl. in the kit seems to use a softer, or dare I say, white-metal for the backing. I'm confident it will hold up OK, but I didn't take notice to such differences untill you got my looking.

Most of my timing components were in OK shape(for 120k), so the timing components were mainly for re-assurance's sake. And no, no idler gear; had I known this earlier I would have ordered one w/the kit. <shrug> Ah well.

Oh while I'm thinking of it: I can't figure out what component goes on the lower timing cover, just below the thermostat jacket. I believe it's the return for the oil pump-there's a liq.gasket lip around it. It's been so long since I'v seen an assembled KA I can't recall!

Also: are there any gaskets I should *not* use in this kit? There are gaskets for the water jacket, water pump, and oil pan, but these seem like good canidates for liq. gasket. Is there any harm in using both??

Regards!-Jamie

[slipnfall]

Ah, it's the breather seperator. I assumed the breather mounted to the block, but it's just a tube that attaches to the block...

...should have dug up some of my old pictures earlier

Anyways, the gaskets?

Thx,-Slip

[deviousKA]

There is no harm in using both gasket and sealant, be sure to dig out the old silicone from the inside rib of the parts. The gasket kits will supply a few parts you dont really need unless your taking the intake manifold/throttle body further apart.

[Red coupe]

I though I remeber when the permatex guy was talking to my class he said useing a gasket and sealant was fine but useing gaskets with liquid gaskets was not a good idea...

[slipnfall]

I think I'm just going to use the RTV stuff alone(it's permatex hi-temp gasket *maker*). I don't know how probable it is, but some newsgroups say not to use w/a paper gasket b/c it can cause the paper gasket to slide around or shift.

Do you guys let the gasket maker cure a bit before tightening down?

Thanks,-Jamie

[Red coupe]

nope, and the grey stuff is recomended for imports, black for domostics(doesnt reay matter both will work but black is softer for engines that have different metals expanding at different rates, for a little more give.