1. Remove the spark plug wires.

2. Set # 1 piston at TDC on its compression stroke.

3. Remove vacuum hoses, electrical harness, connectors, and harness
clamps.
4. Remove the rocker cover.
5. Remove the distributor.
6. Remove camshaft sprocket cover.

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7. Wipe off the links of the timing chain next to the timing marks on the
sprockets. Put paint marks on the timing chain, matching them with the
timing marks on the cam sprockets and idler sprocket (see Figure 1).
8. Remove cam sprocket bolts, cam sprockets, upper timing chain guides (if
equipped) and upper timing chain.

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9. Support lower timing chain by using a suitable tool as shown in Figure 2

to prevent the chain tensioner spring from coming out.
NOTE :This step is only to be applied when the lower cover is not being
removed.
10. Remove the idler sprocket.
1.
Drain coolant by removing the cylinder block
drain plug and opening the radiator drain cock
(Refer to MA section in the Service Manual).
2.
3.

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Drain engine oil.

Remove the following parts:
^ Air duct.
^ Alternator, power steering pump, & A/C
compressor drive belts.
^ Cooling fan with coupling.
^ Radiator shroud.
Remove the A/C compressor and position it to the
side. Remove the idler pulley and bracket as well.
Remove the power steering pump and position it
to the side. Remove the bracket as well.
Set # 1 piston at TDC on its compression stroke.
Remove the crankshaft pulley.
Remove the oil pan (Refer to "Removal" under
"Oil Pan" in the Service Manual).

Remove the oil pump, then the oil pickup

strainer.
Remove the front cover.
CAUTION: Be careful not to tear or damage
the cylinder head gasket.
Remove the following parts:
^ Lower timing chain tensioner (push
tensioner piston in and insert a suitable pin into
the

9.
10.
10.

hole to retain the tensioner piston in the

tensioner body).
^ Chain tension arm.
^ Lower timing chain guide.
Remove the upper timing chain (refer to
"Removal of Upper Timing Chain" in this
bulletin).

11.

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12. Wipe off the links of the timing chain next to the timing marks on the
sprockets. Put paint marks on the timing chain, matching them with the timing
marks on the crankshaft sprocket and idler sprocket (see Figure 3).
13. Remove the lower timing chain and sprocket.
INSTALLATION

1. Install the crankshaft sprocket, making sure the mating marks face the
front of the engine.
2. Install the idler sprocket and lower timing chain using the mating marks
and the paint marks made during the removal process.
CAUTION :Be careful not to tear or damage the cylinder head gasket.
3. Install chain guide and chain tension arm.
4. Install lower chain tensioner and remove the pin securing the piston into
the tensioner body.
5. Front cover installation:
a. Using a scraper or other suitable tool remove all traces of liquid gasket from
the cylinder block and front cover mating surfaces.

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b. Install new crankshaft seal in front cover (see Figure 4).

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c. Apply a continuous bead of RTV sealant to the front cover (see Figure 5).
NOTE :Use Genuine Nissan RTV silicone sealant P/N 999MP-A7007,
Three Bond P/N TB12O7D or equivalent.
c. Also place RTV sealant on the head gasket surface.
d. Install the front cover to the engine.
6. Install oil strainer and oil pan, referring to "Installation" in the "OIL PAN"
section of the Service Manual.
7. Install the oil pump.
8. Install the following parts:
a. Crankshaft pulley.
b. Power steering pump.
c. A/C compressor and idler pulley bracket.
d. Radiator shroud and cooling fan with coupling.
e A/C compressor, alternator and power steering pump drive belts.
f. Air duct.
1. Install the lower timing chain (refer to "Installation of Lower Timing Chain"
in this bulletin).
2. Install upper timing chain and sprockets, using the painted reference
marks made during removal.
3. Install chain tensioner. Remove the pin holding the piston in the bore of
the tensioner.
NOTE :The two chain guides for the upper timing chain have been
deleted. Discard the two chain guides and their bolts during any service
to the timing chain.

4. Install camshaft sprocket cover:

a. Use a scraper to remove all traces of liquid gasket from the mating surfaces of
the engine block and camshaft sprocket cover.

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b. Apply a continuous bead of RTV sealant to the cover as shown in Figure

6.
NOTE :Use Genuine Nissan RTV silicone sealant P/N999MP-A7007,
Three Bond P/N TB12O7D or equivalent.
c. Also place RTV sealant on the head gasket surface.
CAUTION :Be careful not to tear or damage the cylinder head gasket.
CAUTION :Be careful upper timing chain does not slip or jump when
installing the camshaft sprocket cover.
d. Install camshaft sprocket cover.

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5. Install rubber plugs into cylinder head after applying RTV sealant (see

Figure 7).

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6. Install rocker cover, tightening the bolts as shown in Figure 8.

7. Install distributor, following the instructions below, depending on vehicle
model year.

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^ If the vehicle is a 1991 through 1994 refer to Figure 9. Make sure the #
1 piston is set at TDC and that the distributor rotor is set at # 1 cylinder
spark position.

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^ If the vehicle is a 1995 through 1998 refer to Figure 10. Make sure the #
1 piston is set at TDC, the marks on the distributor shaft align with the
indented mark on the distributor housing, and that the distributor rotor is
set at # 1 cylinder spark position once it is installed in the engine.
8. Install vacuum hoses, electrical harnesses and connectors.