Advice for changing RB20DET exhaust camshaft

[Remix-]

Last Friday my car started making some weird noises and drove like a pig, i traced the clicking noise down to being the exhaust cam shaft key that connects with the cam angle sensor, basically it snapped off! I have been told that i will need to replace the exhaust camshaft completely. As i would prefer to avoid going to a workshop, i am going to have a go at changing the camshaft myself. I have never done anything like this, i have heard about all the terrible things that can happen if you get it wrong and screw up your timing, but i am still going to have a go. If anyone out there can give me any advice or tips on changing an exhaust camshaft in an RB20DET it would be greatly appreciated. Saturday will be judgement day. :ghost:

[bbenny]

Yeah its not too bad, I attempted the GTR cam conversion then went back to the std cams.

Just download one of the R32 GTR manuals on this site.

its just a matter of aligning all the pulleys up so that piston no.1 is at TDC. then just start pulling everything off so you can pull out the cam.

Just make sure you dont turn the engine over while the timing belt is disconnected or you will bend some valves.

Its really not a hard job, it just requires pulling alot off to get to the source. just be carefull of breaking the cam journal bolts and use a torque wrench when putting the new one back in place.

good luck!

[Remix-]

Thanks dood, i'll grab the GTR manual and have a read. Where is the bolt located so that i can crank over the engine until it is at TDC?

[bbenny]

the bolt is inside the harmonic balancer pulley. i think its 23mm?? i cant remember. remove the radiator first then turn the HB pulley clockwise untill you line it up with the last timing mark on the pulley, it is usuall thicker or a different colour to the other markings (there are about 5 marks 5mm each apart)

then get the car in gear to lock the crank and undo the bolt. you will then need a harmonic balancer pulley remover to take the pulley off. just make sure that everything is alighned after you undo the big pulley bolt, it might need some muscle.

once you remove the timing belt cover you can double check your alignment using the cam gears markings and back of the belt cover.