Monday, December 24, 2018

Timing is everything

Well first, I added a little more light to the garage in general, so that is a win.



After that I just installed the timing kit. I used a new kit that included everything including the gaskets and seals, this is the Beck Arnley 029-0059 kit. In does have both the cam and crank gears, so it was a simple install and direct, I am going to let this be a short one.


  •  Beck Arnley 029-0059 Timing Kit (amazon)
Before doing anything else, verify that the block and the head are both at top dead center, TDC, or you could have pistons saying hello to valves. 
I started by putting a zip tie around the tensioner, well two zip ties, and then just snugged the bolts in. There was no thread locker used in the bolts, but they were not torqued down at this point. 
The chain guides were next, and again it was two bolts on each, and the tension of the chain does not seem outrageous. 
I used a piece of wood to tap on the cam gear, it slid over the woodruff keys for the oil pump and the harmonic balancer. Then it was just a matter putting the chain on the cam gear. Once that was done the zip ties were removed. 


I am still trying to figure out the timing and how to verify what it is, I tried to use the same stupid cheap dial gauge from everyone's favorite parts store and that went even worse than when it was on the bench. So I got some new tools and I am going to try one more time before putting anything else on the engine. 

I also did an off-camera check of the wipe pattern, and that turned out to be a little bit to the back, so I need to take the serious side and check the wipe pattern seriously. Though the .175 lash pads are dead centered, and I think that because I checked the wipe pattern with 0 lash it was showing a bit on the wrong side but I will figure this out for the next post.  

Monday, December 10, 2018

Coming together

We have the head together, now lets bring it together with the block.

With this we had to put the head dowels in place, the machine shop did not put them in. 
Overall the block is basic, not even a slight over bore. 
The rods, pistons, and block are all within factory spec, the math will be shown later, and the rod bearings, main bearings, and rings are all ITM. They were all put together with the machine shop. 
For the purpose of this first assembly we are reusing the stock head bolts, and they are not torqued to spec at this point. They are only run down to 10 ft. lbs. just to snug up the test head gasket. This is being done so that the camshaft can have the base degree checked and verify the valve events.
Once this is done it will be taken apart again to receive paint, oil pan, and a few other items. 

  • Block: Nissan F54 standard block
  • Pistons: Nissan 280zx NA flat top pistons  
  • Connecting Rods: Nissan 280zx connecting rods
  • Core plugs: Unlisted (Set from MSA)
  • Rod Bearings: ITM  6B1171STD (amazon
  • Main Bearings: ITM 7M1172-STD (amazon)
  • Piston Rings: ITM 021-6087STD (amazon)
  • Alignment dowels (The Z Store/MSA)
  • Gasket Set (amazon) (MSA)
  • 5w/30 Engine Oil, what I had on the shelf 
The block work that was done was 
  • Hot Tank cleaning
  • Deglazing of cylinders (Cylinders did not need to be bored out) 
  • Magnaflux the block
  • Straightness check ( no material removed)