N14 Advice

[sargenc]

Hey all,

Apologies if this is the wrong place to be posting. Was hoping to get some advice on my N14 Ti 92......


I've had it for about 10 months, and took it in for a service recently. The mechanic told me the camshafts need replacing. He said this will cost $1,500 to $2,000 to fix, due to the fact that the camshafts will need to be new.

Therefore, would I be better off getting a reconditioned engine? Does anyone know how much these are, and if they're hard to come by? It has 230,000km on the clock.


Alternatively, I am happy to sell to anyone who'd be interested in parts, project work, etc. Inside and out, the vehicle's in pretty good nick and has been looked after very well by its previous owner.


Thanks in advance! :)

[d-Z1R3]

you can get poncams installed for less than that! where abouts are you located???

if your in hobart shot me a pm and i'll give you a place that will happily take care of you!

[CoZZm0]

If the cams are worn then there's a good chance so are the rockers which will increase the cost. Did the mechanic say WHY the cams need to be replaced?

If it was really looked after the cams wouldn't ever need replacing. Was it suffering from top end oil starvation?

[Nismo N14]

just get another sr20de

[sargenc]

If the cams are worn then there's a good chance so are the rockers which will increase the cost. Did the mechanic say WHY the cams need to be replaced?

If it was really looked after the cams wouldn't ever need replacing. Was it suffering from top end oil starvation?


Spot on! :) I don't know much about cars, but that's what the mechanic said, yes. That there wasn't enough oil getting to the top oil galleries, etc.

Which, as you said, would suggest there's an underlying problem for WHY the camshafts are running dry. But he didn't really give a reason as to why the camshafts needed replacing. Only think I can think of, is that I haven't serviced the car since I had it (9 months ago).

That was neglectful on my part, but I wouldn't have thought that so much damage can occur from lack of servicing in such a short time?

[vivioman]

Would suggest putting in a low km or reconditioned engine...

[UDIsss]

I think you are better off getting reconditioned or a low km engine.

[CoZZm0]

Spot on! :) I don't know much about cars, but that's what the mechanic said, yes. That there wasn't enough oil getting to the top oil galleries, etc.

Which, as you said, would suggest there's an underlying problem for WHY the camshafts are running dry. But he didn't really give a reason as to why the camshafts needed replacing. Only think I can think of, is that I haven't serviced the car since I had it (9 months ago).

That was neglectful on my part, but I wouldn't have thought that so much damage can occur from lack of servicing in such a short time?

Did the mechanic mention that he had removed and cleaned the cam lubrication tubes? because that would be the first step to stopping the problem from getting worse.

Either way you're going to be up for some money. You might be able to pickup a set of stock cams cheap, and some rockers, but a mechanic (or someone with the tools and knowledge) will need to install them to check the clearances and apply the right shims etc.

If you've got the cash then sure, getting a replacement motor would be an "easier" way around it. You also have to think if the cam lubrication tubes were blocked up, what else has got gunked up in that motor too, which is why a replacement motor might be a good option for you.

[d-Z1R3]

go to the place i sent you a pm about and see what they say chris the blokes there are good honest people and will do the right thing by you!

let me know if you need any help!!!

[J3D]

as d-Zir3 said go to the place he said get there view into it i cant belive that there would be something wrong with the cams at 230,000 ks

[CoZZm0]

as d-Zir3 said go to the place he said get there view into it i cant belive that there would be something wrong with the cams at 230,000 ks


CoZZm0:
"If it was really looked after the cams wouldn't ever need replacing. Was it suffering from top end oil starvation?"

sargenc:
Spot on! I don't know much about cars, but that's what the mechanic said, yes. That there wasn't enough oil getting to the top oil galleries, etc.

[sargenc]

Hey everyone,

Thanks heaps for your advice and suggestions. I got another mechanic to look at it, and they fixed it up for under $500 (a quarter the price of the original quote). Just goes to show the variance between quality/service out there.

The issue was that the oil rails were completely clogged. They gave them an acid bath and that seems to have fixed the problem. Also, I've never felt so much torque in this car before! I'm assuming the engine flush and un-clogged oil rails contributes to this?

All in all, I'm very happy to be back on the road in my N14! Next thing I need to get done is install a new odometer unit (it's been stuck on 230k's ever since I had it).


Thanks again everyone, you guys rock! :cool:

[CoZZm0]

Did they replace the cams and/or the rockers? if so did they show you the old cams to see the damage?