My car is in the shop to install cams (and Kinetix SSV and BBs but that's not important)

When my mechanic took out the old cams he noticed something weird about the gears that drive cams and one of the cams.



See the little pin circeled in red. That's what holds these things together. I could hardly believe Nissan would use something as insignificant as that to lock the cams. But there's more: see anything particular about that pin or the gears ? (I know, sorry for the bad quality of the pictures)



Now see what I mean ? That hole is supposed to be round ! The hole in the cam was just as oval as the hole in the gear.

My mechanic checked for the cause of this. Why did this happen? My car is not putting out THAT much power yet, 330 RWHP at the last Dyno run, without the Cryo (important, as it's always 85 F+ here), @ 7psi and the previous Kinetix Plenum (that plastic ones that bulges even under the 7 psi of boost). He found that the bolt that holds that side (drivers side) in place was not torqued down well according to the marks left by the bolt. The other side was not showing any sign of damage and was torqued down well.

Now here's where it get's hairy. My engine was never opened before. This means that, from the factory, that bolt was not torqued down right !!!

Man, I'm so glad my mechanic caught this... if that pin would have given, and it would've sooner or later, ... I mean... bye bye valves and pistons and maybe even cilinders and what else.

Danny

 

This usualy happans when the mechanic puts a wrech on the cams to hold all the cam gears and timing chains still to take the bolts off from the VTC units or something else thats connected to the timing chain. Not ragging on him but yes it is a small pin and not designed to take force in that way.

 

Mine was the same way and the pin was broken in half

 

Well I dont want to start a trend . . .but mine was worse. My timing chain was stretched and both cam tensionors broke (as in pieces had fallen off). This was all discovered immediately after taking the front cover off. We contacted nissan and they said they have no record of any of these problems. We also called several other shops around the country that we deal with and see if they had seen this and no one had.

Needless to say the cam tensionors were only miles from being metal to metal and would have broke the cam chain causing engine failure. I was very thankful I installed cams otherwise I would have never seen it. We replaced both broke tensionors and timing chain.

It should also be known I have one of the first cars (00153 to be exact) and they may have fixed some of these problems. We have not seen any other cars come in with this problem so it looks to be an isolated incident.

 

subscribing im glad i still got my warranty!! HEHEHE let that puppy blow up! i dont care!!

 

Mine is a 2003 too. That makes 2 for sure.

What year is yours ?

Danny

 

i have the 3rd won sold in the state of wisconsin.. I think I might just check it out...

 

$hit something else to worry about...good eye though

 

Wow So I'm Not The Only One I Guess We Better Watch This!

 

Mines also a 03 .. I spoke to overzelous1 to show him what i found.. I got a new dowel pin to replace the broken one.. hopfully it will hold even though the hole was rounded out a little.