Project Nissan 240SX: Day 3
04.13.08 - 10:10pm
I got a little distracted today and didn’t quite follow my plan from yesterday to the T. I had initial hopes of removing both manifolds and the head but I quickly realized that was a big chunk of work. I started off by removing the fluids from the block and then removing the various components attached to the block. In doing so I also learned an important lesson, if wrench A plus right arm doesn’t work, wrench A plus right arm plus hammer works but wrench A + right arm but sledge hammer equals snapped bolt.
Progress
I’d have to say today was a very productive day. I logged about 4 hours of work on the car today and I pulled a lot of junk from the car. The shots below show the start and finish along with the draining sludge from the oil pan. Just looking at the cam and valves everything looks ok up top so I’m pretty certain I didn’t smash any valves into the pistons. The timing chain is still taut on the tensioned side but there is enough play in there to make the slap-slap noise against the timing chain cover, explaining a lot of the ground metal in the oil sludge.
I’m slowly beginning to realize exactly how much crap goes into keeping an engine running. I feel like I’ve removed miles of vacuum hoses along with various fluid hoses all while having spurts of gasoline and various hydraulic fluids spilled on me and the floor. The power steering pump came off after 30 minutes of work and thankfully I had already drained the lines as there was a good 2-3 cups of fluid in there. In pulling the fuel rail I managed to spill a good amount of gasoline all over the engine and onto the garage floor which made up for my carefulness with the power steering. Draining the oil was like watching molasses pour out of the engine, poor thing.
The Plan
Yesterday’s plan of pulling the head should go through tomorrow as I have removed a lot more and made more parts accessible. First thing to pull will be the alternator and then the remaining vacuum/water lines going in and around the intake manifold. I think I’m going to just leave the exhaust manifold attached to the head and separate the exhaust manifold from the exhaust to pull the entire unit out in one motion. I think that’ll be enough to keep me busy tomorrow, if I do get bored though I’ll pull off the timing chain cover, relocate the AC compressor, and pull the remaining lines going into the block. I think by the end of this week I’ll have the bare engine ready to be pulled or possibly dropped out the bottom of the car. I need to now track down an engine an transmission from a donor car.
Man you work fast, that’s some job you’ve got on there though. Good Luck
Well looks like a have a bit of work to do, but good that you got a car now :D
I hope you enjoy the car! Let me know when you’re done and I’ll slap some pictures up on the site. Cheers
-Ryan
hahahahahahahaah I just bought a 89 240′ thought it was a blown head gasket. but hell this is a harder head to take off. I also found more lines (vacuum and coolant) than normal. the head gasket hasn’t blown, yet the chain guides were both broke….. and i mean shattered, never seen this before. hell I’ll get it fix, well good luck to you too. can’t wait till I can get the rb25 lol.
Good luck with the car, the head on this car is a positive bitch to take off. I just decided to source a KA24DE, hopefully I’ll get to swap it into the car when I get back home next week.
yeah it was. I Want to get the rb25 but don’t got the extra cash right now. well good luck with the swap. hell it does look easier to pull the whole motor then just the head.