Adjusting cam timing, engine in car

[BTF/PTM]

How much headache is this to pull off? A local shop did their best to explain it to me, showed me how to read the notches on the cam pulley and where the crank pulley timing marks are, but they warned me that it's a tricky job that can become a real pain in the arse if not done correctly.

 

Anyone in the San Diego vicinity who's done this? I'm engine savvy and good with tools, just haven't done much in the way of timing manipulation before. Would it be worth paying the shop $100 to have it done?

[Leon]

I'm sure many have done it, it's not a hard job, that is if you're talking about an L-series in a Z-car. Giving us info on your car is important.

 

I did it when I first bought my Z, I think I was going off of the ZTherapy tune-up video if I remember right. The biggest, most important thing to do is to wedge the timing chain so that the tensioner doesn't move. Everything else is simple, just follow the manual or search the archives on the details.

[BTF/PTM]

It's a '72 240z with a N42-head L28. I did valve lash yesterday, took a few repeats of some valves to get them all happy but it wasn't anything terribly difficult.

 

I'm sure many have done it, it's not a hard job, that is if you're talking about an L-series in a Z-car. Giving us info on your car is important.

 

I did it when I first bought my Z, I think I was going off of the ZTherapy tune-up video if I remember right. The biggest, most important thing to do is to wedge the timing chain so that the tensioner doesn't move. Everything else is simple, just follow the manual or search the archives on the details.

[letitsnow]

I wouldn't pay someone $100 to do it(but then again I won't pay anyone to do anything on my car), as long as the timing chain doesn't fall in(or the tension doesn't come out) it's pretty easy to do. Why do you think you need to change it?

Edited April 12, 2010 by letitsnow

[BTF/PTM]

You raise a good question, I don't know that it needs to be changed. I do know that it should be checked, so I'll dig through the FSM to find that process and start there.

 

And thanks for the affirmation that it's not worth paying someone else to do it, I think I already knew that answer in my head but needed to hear it from someone else. I've pulled and rebuilt engines before, there's absolutely no reason I'm not capable of adjusting cam timing on my own if it's necessary.

 

I wouldn't pay someone $100 to do it(but then again I won't pay anyone to do anything on my car), as long as the timing chain doesn't fall in(or the tension doesn't come out) it's pretty easy to do. Why do you think you need to change it?