This article is going to cover an installation of upgraded rods for the Nissan 240SX KA24DE performed at Batlgound Motorsports Engineering. I am installing these Rods in my personal car and this should be the final step in my build of the Long Block. I started my build by removal of the engine assembly.
This is not required for every job of this nature but I am also having the rotating assembly balanced while it is out. After Removing the Engine and Transmission assembly you need to seperate the two, and remove the clutch and flywheel. This is so you can put the engine on an engine stand. Once the engine is on the stand you can really tear into it! I removed the stock intake manifold, but again it is not necessary, I am fabricating my own manifold to be used when this goes back together.
I will have a seperate article for that job. Be sure to remove all oil and coolant lines from the block that are connected to the head. Take off the valve cover to expose the top of the engine. Make sure you have the engine at top dead center to make installation easier and to take tension off the valve train. Remove the timing chain cover to access the cam sprockets and idler sprocket.
Remove the timing chain tensioner and then remove the cam sprockets and chains. With the idler exposed you can now loosen it and disconnect it from the head. Once that is out of the way you can loosen the cam caps. Do this in a front to back method, meaning start at cam cap E1 and loosen it, then go to E6, then 2, then 5, ect…Do the same for the intake side and remove the cams. Now we can see the head bolts or studs depending on your set up. Loosen these in a criss-cross front to back ending in the center. You can always refer to a Factory Service Manual, or Chiltons/Haynes manual to help you. I encourage it. I still to this day use a manual of some sort to have as a reference. With the head bolts/studs out you can now remove the head. Dont forget the 10mm bolt near the distributor holding the head down! The head now removed you can see the tops of your pistons and the cylinder walls.
We now turn our attention to the bottom side. Hopefully you have drained all the oil by now! Remove the oil pan and oil pick up tube. Loosen the rod cap nuts and GENTLY tap the exposed studs to seperate the cap from rod. Remove each cap and again gently tap each rod until the piston protrudes from the block deck. Catch each piston as you tap or push it out and mate it to its corresponding cap just to keep everything organized. Now we have a bare engine block and we can seperate the pistons from the rods.
I already have upgraded my pistons and if you haven’t now is the time. Stay tuned for the Installation portion of this article, when we get to do the fun stuff, UPGRADE!
