How-To: D21 Z24i Timing Chain Replacement

[Tally HB]

With the timing cover back on I would advise to go ahead and fight with the oil pump installation next. This may test your patience. It did mine.

This is another of those critical installation steps and must be done correctly or you will be out of time.


So you can understand what is happening here I will briefly explain.


The oil pump drive shaft has that white gear on the shaft. That gear meshes with the oil pump drive gear on the crankshaft.

As the oil pump is inserted into the timing cover the gears mesh and cause the shaft to spin as you slide the pump into place. Once the pump has seated the drive shaft has to line up correctly as it came out so that the distributor will go back into place in the correct position. This is why it is important to correctly line up the oil pump body mark with the mark onthe drive shaft before you insert the pump into the cover. No matter how hard you try the pump shaft may move a little as you insert it into the guide hole and it is almost impossible to look up into the cover and line the pump up. This is trial and error folks. Just have to do it till its right.

There is a method to do this, and it works, but it is still a bitch. Next I will explain this method and use the photos I took to help explain.

[Tally HB]

The oil pump body has a notch. The oil pump shaft has a dot. These two marks have to be lined up before inserting the pump into the cover.

See photo below and it shows these marks.

[Tally HB]

Lining these marks up is simple. However, once you go to insert the pump into the cover the marks end up facing down and you cannot see them anymore.

So if you have a little trouble getting the pump shaft into the guide hole up inside the timing cover it may move a little. A little is all it takes and, once seated, the shaft alignment may not be right.

So, what you do is line the marks up, insert the pump and seat it then check the distributor hole and look for alignment of the "D" shaped end of the shaft.

If its lined up perfectly with your mark, that you made before removing the pump, you are golden.

If its not right, pull the pump back out and try again. Try this until you get perfect alignment. It took me about five attempts till I got it right.



You are looking for alignment of the "D" shaped end of the drive shaft as shown below.













Put your crankshaft pulley on and this will let you know if you are in time still. If all is well the mark on the crank pulley will point to "0" as when you removed it. If this doesn't line up then your crankshaft moved at some point. Everything has to come back off and you start over.

[Tally HB]

You can now put the distributor back on if the alignment is right. The distributor will only fit one way so you cannot screw this up. If it doesnt seat all the way it isn't lined up right to the shaft. Just spin the distributor shaft till it fits onto the drive.

Breathe!!

The hard part is over.

[Tally HB]

If all has went well you have replaced your timing gear, installed the oil pump and distributor correctly and are in time.

You can now install:
-your oil pan,
-water pump,
-lower hose water outlet,
-alternator,
-spark plugs, cap rotor and wires.
-Install your valve cover too.
-Put the cross brace back on.

Change your oil filter and pour in your new oil. Install your radiator and hoses and put in some water or coolant.

-Connect your negative battery cable.
-Plug in the distributor connector to the distributor.
- Once you are running you need to check spark timing with a timing light.







This writeup will pretty much end here as the rest should be very simple.

If you are putting your factory style water pump back on then carry on.


If you are following my other write-ups and are doing the 280z water pump install, then click HERE

[alabama_lowlife]

Sticking and closing up these how to threads to keep them clean. Ask questions in a new thread in the appropriate forum. Thanks for taking the time to do these Tally HB.