some thing I suggest you get.
factory service manual
TSB for the timing chain
extremely long needle nose pliers
a friend to help
1.follow the FSM on taking the timing cover off. There are 24 bolts holding the timing cover on, there is a specific order in which the bolts need to come off, also bolts 24 & 25 are longer than bolts 1-23. You will also have to take the oval shape cam covers off first, exposing the cam gear sprockets
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- the main crank shaft pulley can be taken off w/o the nissan fly wheel stopper tool. Put truck in 4lo / 6 gear before you disco the battery. Get a impact wrench to loosen then bolt.If that does not work have friend get in the truck and stomp on the brakes while you use a breaker with a cheater bar to break free the nut. After that the main crank pulley should slide right now.
2. Pull the timing case off. There are two points on top of the case that you can shove a screw driver in to start loosening the case/ break free from the ton of RTV nissan used to seal the case. Slowly work your way around the case from top to bottom. There are two dowel pins holding the case onto the block you need to be aware of.
- once the case off, clean all the RTV off the timing case. This part took the longest. As you can see from the grooves in the case, it is a PITA depending on how anal you get on the things.
![Image]()
I uses a 5 in one painters tool, razor, small screw driver, and red scouring pads for the clean up.
![Image]()
3. Mark everything with white out the position of the cam gears
![Image]()
Once marked you can loosen the cam shaft bolts. Make sure to loosen all 4 while all 3 chains are still on or you will screw up your timing
- once you loosen all 4 cam shaft sprocket bolts, take off the main timing chain. That will expose the secondary chains in which you can slide off the cam gears to expose the tensioners. MAKE SURE ALL THINGS ARE MARKED BEFORE YOU TAKE OFF THE CHAINS
![Image]()
4. Replace the tensioners/ secondary timing chains. I made my own tool to install them instead of buying the nissan specific tool
![Image]()
![Image]()
- once the guides are back on reassemble make sure all the cam gears are still lined up to your marks. Once all 3 timing chains are back on, you can tighten the cam gear sprocket bolts
5. RVT the timing chain case / cam sprocket covers and put everything back on in reverse order
Tips and random advice
- bolt 1 under the oil pan does not come out all the way because of the power steering rack. Just get it out as far as you can.
- Instead of using the 3 bond stuff nissan recommends, I suggest using the Permtex the good stuff rtv in a can. Much easier to work with than the tube of 3 bond.
- Both power steering / alternator have bushings that need to be reseated before they will fit on the bracket
- power steering pump has a nut that you cannot put back on from the front. Have a friend stick his/her arm into the wheel well, and have them hold the nut in place while you screw the power steering pump back on.
-replace the lower radiator hose /water pump while youre doing this job. Both are pita to get to other wise.
- when replacing the water pump, you will need 2 extra long sized metric bolts to pull the water pump out
factory service manual
TSB for the timing chain
extremely long needle nose pliers
a friend to help
1.follow the FSM on taking the timing cover off. There are 24 bolts holding the timing cover on, there is a specific order in which the bolts need to come off, also bolts 24 & 25 are longer than bolts 1-23. You will also have to take the oval shape cam covers off first, exposing the cam gear sprockets
- the main crank shaft pulley can be taken off w/o the nissan fly wheel stopper tool. Put truck in 4lo / 6 gear before you disco the battery. Get a impact wrench to loosen then bolt.If that does not work have friend get in the truck and stomp on the brakes while you use a breaker with a cheater bar to break free the nut. After that the main crank pulley should slide right now.
2. Pull the timing case off. There are two points on top of the case that you can shove a screw driver in to start loosening the case/ break free from the ton of RTV nissan used to seal the case. Slowly work your way around the case from top to bottom. There are two dowel pins holding the case onto the block you need to be aware of.
- once the case off, clean all the RTV off the timing case. This part took the longest. As you can see from the grooves in the case, it is a PITA depending on how anal you get on the things.
I uses a 5 in one painters tool, razor, small screw driver, and red scouring pads for the clean up.
3. Mark everything with white out the position of the cam gears
Once marked you can loosen the cam shaft bolts. Make sure to loosen all 4 while all 3 chains are still on or you will screw up your timing
- once you loosen all 4 cam shaft sprocket bolts, take off the main timing chain. That will expose the secondary chains in which you can slide off the cam gears to expose the tensioners. MAKE SURE ALL THINGS ARE MARKED BEFORE YOU TAKE OFF THE CHAINS
4. Replace the tensioners/ secondary timing chains. I made my own tool to install them instead of buying the nissan specific tool
- once the guides are back on reassemble make sure all the cam gears are still lined up to your marks. Once all 3 timing chains are back on, you can tighten the cam gear sprocket bolts
5. RVT the timing chain case / cam sprocket covers and put everything back on in reverse order
Tips and random advice
- bolt 1 under the oil pan does not come out all the way because of the power steering rack. Just get it out as far as you can.
- Instead of using the 3 bond stuff nissan recommends, I suggest using the Permtex the good stuff rtv in a can. Much easier to work with than the tube of 3 bond.
- Both power steering / alternator have bushings that need to be reseated before they will fit on the bracket
- power steering pump has a nut that you cannot put back on from the front. Have a friend stick his/her arm into the wheel well, and have them hold the nut in place while you screw the power steering pump back on.
-replace the lower radiator hose /water pump while youre doing this job. Both are pita to get to other wise.
- when replacing the water pump, you will need 2 extra long sized metric bolts to pull the water pump out
