Genuine 1986 Nissan 300ZX Cylinder Head

1986 Nissan 300ZX Cylinder Head Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: What are the steps involved in removing and installing the cylinder heads on 1986 Nissan 300ZX?

  A: To begin, relieve the fuel pressure and disconnect the negative cable at the battery, ensuring it is placed out of the way to prevent accidental contact with the negative terminal. Drain the engine coolant and remove the intake collector, timing belt, injector assembly, intake manifold, and both cam pulleys. Next, remove the rear timing cover plate by taking out the four bolts. For the left cylinder head removal, take off the air conditioning compressor from its bracket and secure it with wire, then remove the distributor hold-down bolt and pull the distributor out. For normally aspirated models, remove the alternator bolts and wire the alternator out of the way; for turbo models, disconnect the turbo from the exhaust manifold and lay it aside. Remove the bolts attaching the air conditioner/alternator bracket to the engine, followed by the bolt and two nuts connecting the crossover pipe to the left side of the exhaust, and then the nuts from the exhaust manifold on the left side to slide it away from the cylinder head. Remove the rocker arm components and loosen the cylinder head bolts in several stages, keeping them in their original locations using a cardboard organizer. Remove the small bolt at the lower front of the head securing it to the block, then lift the head off the block, taking care not to scratch the mating surfaces. For the right cylinder head removal, after completing the previous steps, remove the power steering pump, disconnect the right side exhaust crossover connecting pipe bolts, and remove the exhaust manifold and rocker arm components. Remove the cylinder head bolts in order, take out the small bolt at the rear of the head securing it to the engine block, and lift the head off the engine, avoiding damage to the mating surfaces. For installation, insert shop rags into the cylinders to prevent gasket material from falling in, remove all traces of gasket material from the mating surfaces, and install the new gasket without sealant, using alignment dowels for proper positioning. After removing the shop rags, install the head and tighten the head bolts in the correct sequence to the specified torque. Finally, install the lifter/guide assembly and rocker arm shaft assembly, leaving the bolts loose for timing belt installation, and complete the installation by reversing the removal procedure for the remaining components.