Bottom end shells / Engine out

[Chimp]

OK this one looks like its going to be tricky. Anyone took this job on by themselves? if so can you help me with the following..

1) Shells are cheap, so i may aswell go for swapping them first to see if i can get rid of a slight rattle at 2,500rpm. Any nasty surprises taking the sump off? I had a quick look while fitting the exhaust and it looks like the steering is in the way http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/frown.gif

2) Should this not cure the noise (im hoping that its so slight, I might get away without a reground crank) Is taking the engine out a *total* nightmare. I have done the job before on a R5 turbo, but big engine work on Nissans is a mystery to me. I think I am right in saying the engine would HAVE to come out for a crank regrind.

* how much would i expect to pay to have jobs a or b done by a guy in overalls somewhere?

Thanks for any help/advice Im a little desperate to sort this one out.

Dan

[cjones]

I've taken the engine out myself and it's actually not that bad. Most of the pipe and wiring loom go back quite easy as they just fall into place and it's obvious where they go. Only real problem I had was the engine crane. The arm wasn't long enough to reach over the front bumper and i couldn't get it from the side. I had to let my front tyres down to get the engine up and over the front plate/radiator.

Tip: Don't try taking the head off while in the car, complete pain in the arse.
Oh, some axle stands cause it's a tight fit underneath getting the bell housing bolts out (especially with a beer gut ;-) )

[Chimp]

cheers, im really not looking forward to it at all. Once its out its great as you get chance to run around cleaning everything. Its just that initial "here we go" when you first crawl under to get started that makes me cringe, since i cant afford for the car to be off the road for too long. Been qouted £500 quid for an engine from intapart, but with some blood sweat and tears i reckon £200 should cover it if i reapair my own.

[Chimp]

can the bottom end shells be done without any probs, with a simple sump off and swap em affair?

[SteveCarter200]

Chimp, for the sump off question have a look at the tuning section of the site. Its under engine tuning, fitting guages.
I did this myself to fit an oil temp guage and its a complete pain in the arse.
The big end bearings can be done wih the engine in the car coz thats how SE do it, for £300, by the way.

Have fun! http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/smile.gif


------------------
Steve
Blue '89 S13, T28,
HKS IC, Mongoose,
Pipercross. 280ish bhp,
13.77s @103mph Qutr:)

[Chimp]

Is the crank removable without getting the engine out?!. Incase it has to be reground.
Or am i limited to replacing shells.

cracking news if it can be done from the bottom end

Glad to hear its a pain in the arse, with my luck it was never going to be easy.

Cheers steve

[Chimp]

* Just read the thing on the site Steve, I forgot about that. Top work. Looks like a pain, but at least i know to aim for a days work.

[kerfumph]

I've just had the lump out and it is dead easy i.e engine on floor after rebuild to running, in 3 hours.The best tip I can give is to put as much as you can back on first. I had Alternator,fan,gearbox,inlet manifold and throttle chamber,turbo,downpipe, kept rad in car so basicly all there was to do was propshaft,gearstick,loom(only fits one way)waterpipes,power steering pipes and clutch cylinder.oh and just one more thing,even if just the bottom end needs doing take off the head and check it out at the same time. I did'nt and am REALLY regretting it.

------------------
Graham
90' s13
164@wheels+growing

[kerfumph]

Oh I forgot don't take the gearbox off first,it'll come out with it on.

------------------
Graham
90' s13
164@wheels+growing

[Chimp]

Clearly you need to come to my place and like, help.

http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/biggrin.gif

[kerfumph]

Ah, my post does'nt say I was alone does it! http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/biggrin.gif Nah the hardest bit is the cost of the parts ,gaskets + stuff, I replaced the cam belt tensioner, £55!!!!!!!!!!!

------------------
Graham
90' s13
164@wheels+growing

[Chimp]

looks like thats the road im going down anyway. Not looking forward to the hassle but if im going to take the engine out Im damn sure the pistons will be getting machined so I can run a bit more boost. So its deffo an engine out job to regrind the crank?

Im gonna go to bed so i dont have to be dissapointed until the morning. http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/frown.gif


------------------
Dan
Red S13
Actuator/chip/filter/Mong00se
http://animatedgif.net/animals/otheranimals/ape_e0.gif

[A8-RICK]

funnily enough just finnished putting mine back together tonight, reconditioned head (needed full set of inlet valves), piston rings, crank shells etc. judging by what ive just read it seems a lot easier to take the entire engine and box out than just the head, (its a complete pain in the a*s), anyway couldnt believe it when it fired straight away first time as though nothing had happened, what a result.

when replacing the shells though all i did was undo engine mounts etc, jack under gear box, undo sump, then when lose, tilt the sump so you can undo oil pick up, then wiggle a lot till it comes out.

only thing was the head was off at the time, not sure if theres enough clearance with it still on, gearbox case needs to be right up tight against the bulkhead, mingt be worth trying?

[Chimp]

thanks chaps.

It looks like a week off work is in order, I may aswell take the engine out (or have it taken out) and recon it on the garage floor, bit more hassle but peace of mind I guess.

Nice to see another cheshire bloke, the "northern elite" is growing day by day it seems http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/tongue.gif

[A8-RICK]

where abouts you from chimp? just wondered im from oldham/ashton-u-lyne way.

[Chimp]

Moved from Chester a few years back to Sunny Winsford, near northwich.

Rick weas the bottom end real noisy, or just tickity tick? Mine rattles slightly between 2 and 3 thousand rpm but not when booting it. Any opinions on whether I would get away with a set of shells or is a regrind pretty compulsory?

I should really make my mind up. But i dont want to do any unnessacary work, the cost of a rebuild would mean the T3 is out the window for months.


[This message has been edited by Chimp (edited 19-06-2001).]

[A8-RICK]

sorry mate cant really help you there, i just decided that while i had the pistons out i may aswell do them, after inspection they did show a little wear but they did'nt make any noise on the car.

if you can get the sump off fairly easy without taking the engine to bits, i think id be tempted to try a set of shells in it first before taking the crank out.

im presuming your thinking of doing it yourself, otherwise you mingt be better off getting the lot done just to be sure.

if your gonna try shells first, sooner the better mate.

[colin]

My engine is still out! Just buying the gaskets and stuff...with an oil pump and timing belt, its gonna cost around £300. I've already lashed out £200 for big end shells, main shells and crank regrind.

Am feeling very skint indeed and still have to pay the guy to put it all back together.

Somebody please tell me it coudn't have been done cheaper!! But...head in good condition so should be solid now though huh???

[kerfumph]

Just to cheer you up I did that too (But the crank was passed as ok) and it still makes a noise.Sometimes top end noise is actually top end!

------------------
Graham
90' s13
164@wheels+growing

[Chimp]

lol ffs. I dunno anymore..

[Kristian]

Hello! just saw your message saying you live in Winsford. I lived in Northwhich up until a few months ago opposite John deans. Dont see many modified 200's around. It might be quite interesting to hear your engine noise. I now live in Manchester just off the M56 near Northenden. I'd be interested to hear what its like. If you're interested drop me a line. cheers

kris