Fj20 Cam Sprockets And Valve Cover

[Arro]

Ok so I need to reclock the cams, apparently they aren't set properly. They have these:



So I assume from looking at the FJ FSM that you need to pull the valve cover off and pop out the little half-circle rubber plugs to get a socket/ratchet on the cam bolt.

First question: Is the FJ valve cover gasket reusable? Otherwise I have the difficult task of finding where to buy one and getting it shipped ASAP.

Second question: Are FJ20's interference-based engines?

Third question: I have heard once before (I think) that there are two different FJ heads. Is this true? I know there are two different FJ valve covers, a shallow one and a tall one. I know because I have one of each (my RS-X came with lots of extra goodies). If there are two different heads, what are the differences? Also which cars came with what valve cover?

[Drft-s12]

The Dr30 came tall cause thats what i have and the S12 fj came with the short roundish edges in the front and around the oil cap looks different as well


I bought a full gasket set and i had bought a valve cover gasket before that and i barely used it and yeah i believe you can reuse them they are thick

If you want it let me know

As far as goodies what do you have   and do you want to sell some  

[VEGIE]

So I assume from looking at the FJ FSM that you need to pull the valve cover off and pop out the little half-circle rubber plugs to get a socket/ratchet on the cam bolt.

correct, but be careful not to lose the top tensioner piston down the front cover!

First question: Is the FJ valve cover gasket reusable? Otherwise I have the difficult task of finding where to buy one and getting it shipped ASAP.

ive never managed to salvage one on any of my motors,try datsport in Aussie, or stewart wilkins motor sport. they arent terribley expensive. i got a set made locally at a gasket specialist shop using the old ones as a template.

also, they are a two part gasket. outer edge for one and around the spark plug holes for the other.

Second question: Are FJ20's interference-based engines?

YES!!!

Third question: I have heard once before (I think) that there are two different FJ heads. Is this true? I know there are two different FJ valve covers, a shallow one and a tall one. I know because I have one of each (my RS-X came with lots of extra goodies). If there are two different heads, what are the differences? Also which cars came with what valve cover?

the differences are in the venting/breathers.some NA motors have breathers at the back of the head instead of on the rocker cover itself. there are 3 rocker covers. the early dr30's have the flat low rocker cover. the turbo dr30's have the tall flat cover and the s12's turbo and non have the rounded cover with the recessed oil cap.

[VG30_S12]

actually there's a nismo dealer in TN that has full OEM gasket kits for the fj, in stock and dirt cheap. he also says he can get more internal parts too dirt cheap from japan... i can give you the info if you like(i thought i posted it already) i got a kit myself too

i personally wouldn't reuse one if i could avoid it...

glad to here you got fj's  jealous of your car too lol

[Candellan]

Arro, for all FJ gaskets & other bits see SWM - http://www.swmotorsport.com.au/

Nissan FJ20 - Rocker Cover Gasket (inner & outer) - AU$80
Nissan FJ20 - Tappet Cover Gasket - Inner - AU$10
Nissan FJ20 - Tappet Cover Gasket - Outer - AU$51

I don't know why they are listed like that but there are 2 gaskets, 1 going around the outside you can see & 1 sealing off the spark plug holes.

Or just got the whole hog: Nissan FJ20 - Full Gasket Kit - AU$268

[Arro]

Yeah I need valve cover set, and a head gasket... I'm thinking Cometic. Right now, there's a Fel-Pro head-saver gasket that has the compression lowered, because Grant was planning to supercharge the engine. But I want to raise the compression and stay NA carb'd.

[ls12]

Ok so I need to reclock the cams, apparently they aren't set properly. They have these:



So I assume from looking at the FJ FSM that you need to pull the valve cover off and pop out the little half-circle rubber plugs to get a socket/ratchet on the cam bolt.

First question: Is the FJ valve cover gasket reusable? Otherwise I have the difficult task of finding where to buy one and getting it shipped ASAP.

Second question: Are FJ20's interference-based engines?

Third question: I have heard once before (I think) that there are two different FJ heads. Is this true? I know there are two different FJ valve covers, a shallow one and a tall one. I know because I have one of each (my RS-X came with lots of extra goodies). If there are two different heads, what are the differences? Also which cars came with what valve cover?

You can use the valve cover gasket if its not to old and dry. I have used mine many times, no problems. just remember to put some floting gasket (or whatever its called) on the black half-circle plugs..

Yes there are two fj heads. NA and Turbo. The turbo have 10mm studs exhaust and NA only have 8mm. Apart from that I think the castings are all the same.
You can drill and tap a NA head for 10mm studs if you want. I even made 12mm on the 3 upper bolts.

[Arro]

Well I'm gonna try to contact Steward Wilkins on Monday and get a tappet set shipped.

[VEGIE]

did you get the tensioner sussed out?

i forgot to mention that there is still a heap of spring pressure when the ratcheting mechanism is freed, so it will still hold load on the chain...

[Arro]

Gonna try  it on my next day off

Edit on Aug 3: Got the gaskets ordered

[Drft-s12]

Good to hear you got the gaskets.....did you use nissanparts.cc?????

[Arro]

No, because I didn't need an entire gasket set, and that would have been a LOT more money. Stewart Wilkins Motorsports sells the gasket components individually, so I ordered only the valve cover set, should be here in a week or so.

[Arro]

Update:

the Sterwart Wilkins gaskets are actually superior to the OEM parts, but I found out that most of the Nissan dealerships have the conduit to obtain the FJ parts once you have the part numbers. So it's nothing special if a particular dealership claims to be able to obtain them. What's more, most of them are marking up these parts, and only sell certain sets in some cases. The gaskets I bought are superior and the price was still competitive.

[Candellan]

Good to hear. So we'll see footage of this sucker running next week then....hahaha.

[Arro]

quite possibly