Timing Belt: Square Teeth to Round

jbbons25 · 10-02-2009, 01:36 AM

I am wondering if it's possible to convert the the square teeth version of the timing belt to the round version? The three sprockets seem to be removable and a different spring for the tensioner needs to be used. Will it be worth to convert it?

*CapedCadaver* · 10-02-2009, 07:31 AM

i didn't anything about a different tensioner spring, but you're right about that. other than that all you gotta do is swap the sprockets. the round tooth belt is 100k rather than 60k, so if you really think there's a chance of you putting another 100k on your Max then yes. Otherwise it's just added expense. Says he who is converting to a round-tooth belt on his z31

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kringle03 · 10-02-2009, 09:25 AM

Ah... so that is the main reason that conversion happened?.... That's good to know... The motor I just dropped in was from a 94 Max with the round tooth... THX for the info!

*CapedCadaver* · 10-02-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kringle03

Ah... so that is the main reason that conversion happened?.... That's good to know... The motor I just dropped in was from a 94 Max with the round tooth... THX for the info!

yea basically. i know the vg33 pathy had a round toothed belt also. that's actually the belt i'm using on my z. good thing he pointed out the spring difference; i got the one for the square belt so now i gotta order the right spring! but i had a bunch of other stuff to order from Courtesy anyways so i'll just get it with those items.

1993-VG30E-GXE · 10-02-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbbons25

I am wondering if it's possible to convert the the square teeth version of the timing belt to the round version? The three sprockets seem to be removable and a different spring for the tensioner needs to be used. Will it be worth to convert it?

Hey buddy -

I don't think it's worth it. I came to the same question, but unless you can find those sprockets easily (3) and you already are dong the timing belt on yours, it's not worth the work.

Basically, your going to have to go to the yard and get those sprockets off (unless you buy them new - courtesy?), and fiddle through that hole in the wheel well to get the timing belt cover off, or you could hack it off some how - just rip it apart, that's what I would do but it's still a pain and not worth it in my opinon. The harmonic balancer will also have to come off in the yard too.

jbbons25 · 10-02-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1993-VG30E-GXE

Hey buddy -

I don't think it's worth it. I came to the same question, but unless you can find those sprockets easily (3) and you already are dong the timing belt on yours, it's not worth the work.

Basically, your going to have to go to the yard and get those sprockets off (unless you buy them new - courtesy?), and fiddle through that hole in the wheel well to get the timing belt cover off, or you could hack it off some how - just rip it apart, that's what I would do but it's still a pain and not worth it in my opinon. The harmonic balancer will also have to come off in the yard too.

I'm gonna change the timing belt when it hits 290K miles and right now it barely hit 279K so I got some time. Most likely I will look for the top two sprockets at the junk yard and order the bottom one from Courtesy. Worse comes to worst Nissan doesn't carry it anymore and have to look for it at the yard too.

Tomorrow and Sunday there is a half off sale at my local junk yard so I should take advantage of it.

*Maxpwer* · 10-02-2009, 09:39 PM

When it comes to the crank sprocket, its often has to be destroyed to get it off because its rusted to the crank. If this is the case then and you must order a new one, you might as well get the round tooth one since thats half the cost of the conversion right there. I was able to find someone who had already pulled the round tooth cam sprockets off a pathfinder and picked them up for around $30.
If you would rather get them from a junkyard to save a little money, getting the top cover off the timing belt is the easy part, the bottom is a lot more difficult. I personally think that its worth the time and money regardless if you keep your car for another 100k or not. If you sell the car as a whole or just the engine sometime later, its a great selling point since changing a timing belt is very time consuming and doesnt allow for any mistakes.

One thing to make sure of during this conversion is that the correct cam gear (left and right) are on the appropriate cam. If you mix them up, your distributor will not match up with the FSM's listed position for TDC.

1993-VG30E-GXE · 10-02-2009, 10:26 PM

Also, if your ordering from Courtesy and are going through with it, may as well replace those cheap little plates:

Crankshaft Sprocket Plate (1)
Harmonic Balancer Plate (1)

*CapedCadaver* · 10-02-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxpwer

When it comes to the crank sprocket, its often has to be destroyed to get it off because its rusted to the crank. If this is the case then and you must order a new one, you might as well get the round tooth one since thats half the cost of the conversion right there. I was able to find someone who had already pulled the round tooth cam sprockets off a pathfinder and picked them up for around $30.
If you would rather get them from a junkyard to save a little money, getting the top cover off the timing belt is the easy part, the bottom is a lot more difficult. I personally think that its worth the time and money regardless if you keep your car for another 100k or not. If you sell the car as a whole or just the engine sometime later, its a great selling point since changing a timing belt is very time consuming and doesnt allow for any mistakes.

One thing to make sure of during this conversion is that the correct cam gear (left and right) are on the appropriate cam. If you mix them up, your distributor will not match up with the FSM's listed position for TDC.

well if you mix them up you might have more problems than a mistimed distributor

o and nice sig

jbbons25 · 10-03-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1993-VG30E-GXE

Also, if your ordering from Courtesy and are going through with it, may as well replace those cheap little plates:

Crankshaft Sprocket Plate (1)
Harmonic Balancer Plate (1)

Are those the two plates that surround the crank sprocket?

Well I was at the junkyard today and it was full due to the 50% off sale (line was long that it took an hour for me to get to the cashier). There was only one 94 VG there but I didn't have the tools to take out the timing belt cover... So the only think I took from it was the cluster cause I'm gonna replace the trip meter on mine and do some other experiments on it. I will see if I can try again tomorrow.

1993-VG30E-GXE · 10-03-2009, 11:28 PM

Yes those are the plates. Mine were rotten and warped a bit - probably from the last mechanics prying them.

It may be faster or easier to just cut the timing cover off, check it out (although there aren't that many bolts I recall)- if it's the pick yards are like around here, with thousands of cars, it can be your own feeding frenzy and makes removal fast and easy.

*Chris Gregg* · 10-10-2009, 03:46 PM

From someone who has done this conversion, it is very simple. Already a lot of good feedback regarding components and issues to be mindful of, so no need to repeat it again.

Kiron Kid · 10-23-2009, 09:50 PM

I'm new to the Maxima. But, I was told that it has a timing chain, not a belt. What's up?

Thanks
Kiron Kid

*CapedCadaver* · 10-23-2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiron Kid

I'm new to the Maxima. But, I was told that it has a timing chain, not a belt. What's up?

Thanks
Kiron Kid

1981-1991 all models (L24E I6, SOHC VG30E V6) had timing belts.
1992-1994 GXE models (SOHC VG30E V6) also had timing belts.

1992-1994 SE models (DOHC VE30DE V6) have timing chains.
all 1995-present (VQ30DE(-K) and VQ35DE V6) have timing chains.