Urgent Help! cam sprockets/upper chain install
at the end of the distributor, there are marks to help you line up TDC, you will also notice that the rotor is touching the cap where the #1 cylinder spark plug wire should plug into. If the bottom chain is in time, and it should be, and you put it in there correctly you should have that in time as well.
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burnin240sx
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He has to make sure he is on his compression stroke with the distributor.
OK, Once you get everything back on place you hand over the #1 cylinder and turn the engine until you see TDC line up. If you don't feel anything then turn the engine over again and you should feel the compression. or else you have problems. A easier tool is a compresion tester but your hand works just as good.
If you feel compression then stop and put the distributor in with the alignment mark on the shaft lined up to the mark on the spindle; The u shaped looking mark not the rivet hole.
After the distributor is in double check that the cap #1 cylnder point lines up with the rotor contact button in the distributor.
it should look like this
OK, Once you get everything back on place you hand over the #1 cylinder and turn the engine until you see TDC line up. If you don't feel anything then turn the engine over again and you should feel the compression. or else you have problems. A easier tool is a compresion tester but your hand works just as good.
If you feel compression then stop and put the distributor in with the alignment mark on the shaft lined up to the mark on the spindle; The u shaped looking mark not the rivet hole.
After the distributor is in double check that the cap #1 cylnder point lines up with the rotor contact button in the distributor.
it should look like this
A short update on my timing chain work. I've been reading all of the posts and replies from you fellow members and it has been a REALLY big help. It is a shame that all of us have been forced into the same repair work, but at least we can share in each others pain and success. All front covers are off and the new chains are in place. lower chain was a piece of cake and I'll go through all of the above mentioned checks regarding the proper alignment of the upper chain. I had to turn the intake and exhaust cams just a hair to get the links and sprocket marks to line up. I think everything is where it is supposed to be but will double check it tomorrow. Since the car doesn't have to be put into service right away I can take my time to get everything done. Friendly neighborhood parts store dudes ordered the wrong tensioners. I had to rip open one of their Haynes manuals from their front counter to show them they got the wrong parts. Pickup trucks and ATV's don't present the problems as imports do.Good luck to all.
Ok, got everything back on, filled up the fluids and such.
Turned the key, started up for a little bit then died. Tried again turned key just sits there acting like it wants to start but won't.
Shoots little white puffs of smoke out the exhaust.
I thought maybe the dist was off one tooth so i took it out and lined it back up with the marks touching and such.
I am really confused at this point.
Turned the key, started up for a little bit then died. Tried again turned key just sits there acting like it wants to start but won't.
Shoots little white puffs of smoke out the exhaust.
I thought maybe the dist was off one tooth so i took it out and lined it back up with the marks touching and such.
I am really confused at this point.
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burnin240sx
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haha.. come to think of it i just jammed that distributor in im not 100% i got those marks lined up. i have the covers on and stuff so im too lazy to go back n check. anyway.. how do you adjust ignition timing on the 240sx?? dumb question yes, but honestly i dont know how.. i can borow a timing gun and all but how do i adjust
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burnin240sx
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look st firdt podt of mine with a pic. and to adjust the timing a little just loosen the distro screws and turn the cap.Mameluke wrote:haha.. come to think of it i just jammed that distributor in im not 100% i got those marks lined up. i have the covers on and stuff so im too lazy to go back n check. anyway.. how do you adjust ignition timing on the 240sx?? dumb question yes, but honestly i dont know how.. i can borow a timing gun and all but how do i adjust
Ah I got it, I was off a tooth with the dist, and it sorta started, so I kept turning the ignition (IE flooding engine). So i adjusted the dist back and forth thinking it was timing, didn't get anywhere so I gave up since my girly friend was here. This morning, went to start her up and and she gets up there, runs sorta so I give it more gas to try and get stuff worked out. It eventually evens out (read: got all the gas out) and now idles pretty good. Doesn't run the best, but I think that can be worked out with a timing gun faily easily.
Btw your engine has to run, not run great but run for a timing gun to work.
Btw your engine has to run, not run great but run for a timing gun to work.
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burnin240sx
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- Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2004 11:58 pm
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Mameluke, I assume you got the upper chain in ok? I did my buddy's timing chain job on friday to sat. afternoon, slept sat after some drinks and sunday so didn't see this post till now. The way I got the chain lined up was to have both cam sprockets off and have the chain on the two upper sprockets while I lined up the middle sprocket. Slipped the bolts through and tightened them down.
S13eastTN, I would investigate the tensioner. I used OEM parts for my buddy's job and they were all pretty soft, I could press them in with my hand. It may cause excessive wear on the guides and should be looked into. next thing I'd look into is the oil situation, try starting with the oil cap off and see if you can see any bits of oil getting splashed around or flowing around.
S13eastTN, I would investigate the tensioner. I used OEM parts for my buddy's job and they were all pretty soft, I could press them in with my hand. It may cause excessive wear on the guides and should be looked into. next thing I'd look into is the oil situation, try starting with the oil cap off and see if you can see any bits of oil getting splashed around or flowing around.
yeah thanks i got it on, but i tried exactly what you said right there, but altho the engine was at tdc, in 5th gear so it wouldnt move, but i beleive it did just slightly so that that tooth couldnt get on. so i took a risk and moved the cams ever so slightly so i could get it on. i rotated the engine a few times it all went well. hopefully it will start up fine when i get my radiator
nooooooooooo
so i started it up today. it started right away!! it was running quietly after a lil bit that ominous sound returned. that marble-like possible timing chain sound. the tension side guide for the upper chain?? i drove my car aroudn it still needs some minor adjustments.. but please if anyone can help me out do so 
easTN i think i have the same prob as you.
easTN i think i have the same prob as you.Are you sure the sound is coming from the upper chain? Did you swap out the tensioner and guides on the lower chain? Perhaps you can get a mechanics stethoscope (or improvise something) and try to isolate the sound.
You may also want to check your oil pressure if you've isolated the sound to the front cover area. You don't want to go replacing guides and tensioners if your problem is related to low oil pressure.
You may also want to check your oil pressure if you've isolated the sound to the front cover area. You don't want to go replacing guides and tensioners if your problem is related to low oil pressure.
i guess i could use a long flathead screw driver. i replaced: lower chain tensioner, lower chain, upper chain, removed upper chain top guide. upper tensioner was functioning perfectly fine, i kept the upper chain tension side guide as well. i kept the guides for the lower chain as well.
how would i know if its oil pressure? what other symptoms would it have?
how would i know if its oil pressure? what other symptoms would it have?
I have been paying close attention to all of the dialogue regarding these timing chain problems. Still waiting on my lower rt. side guide to arrive. I also had to turn the cams just a hair to get the upper chain to line up. When I heard the racket under the valve cover I knew it was coming from somewhere in the timing chain set up. I am changing both chains, both tensioners and the lower rt. guide. The lower lf. guide was in very good condition so it is being put back. Nissan no longer stocks or sells the upper guides so both of them went bye-bye! Only a few issues to deal with on the rebuild: getting the distributor back in so it is timed, making sure I get a good tight seal around both front covers and oil pan. If anyone has put their engine under a timing gun let us know what degree mark (advance) seems to work best.
good luck to you fellow 240 owner.. haha
but about the oil pan and the distributor, the distributor has a marking on it so its not a problem. make sure you use a good silicone gasket for the front covers. i didnt replace the gasket on the oil pan, i did damage the gasket a little bit at the frnot, so i slapped on some more silicone gasket and it hasnt leaked at all. i havent set timing im still kinda clueless on that but i still think i hit it right on but my car still runing rough.
anyone??
but about the oil pan and the distributor, the distributor has a marking on it so its not a problem. make sure you use a good silicone gasket for the front covers. i didnt replace the gasket on the oil pan, i did damage the gasket a little bit at the frnot, so i slapped on some more silicone gasket and it hasnt leaked at all. i havent set timing im still kinda clueless on that but i still think i hit it right on but my car still runing rough.
anyone??
ok its not an oil problem for sure. i took a long screw driver and listened in like a doctor.. it brings me exactly to the front of teh valve cover, more specifically the upper front cover. what should i do now, i know for sure teh chain can't be rattling agains the cam sprockets or idler sprocket. so this leads me to beleive that it must be the top-side guide... should i remove it, opinions anyone?