The Nissan Path

I have an 05 Pathfinder LE and it started the whole trans/coolant mixing fun at just over 200k. 2 years ago i replaced the engine with a low mile one (25k) which lasted a year before the dreaded timing tensioner issue, it has been sitting for over a year now and in the next couple months Im gonna pull the whole drive train .......again. I was thinking of using a stillen radiator, ive heard good things but Im open to suggestions. Im having a local performance shop rebuild the trans. With any luck the engine wont have any internal problems and i can just replace the timing components as long as thats the case I will also be adding the stillen supercharger while i have the engine out. If anyone has any suggestions Id love to hear them. Thanks in advance.

I've only heard of one person at these forums purchase the all-aluminum radiator from Stillen and they had some problems with it. You may want to hold off for awhile on that or go to a plastic tank radiator.

Is the rest of the truck in good shape? little or no frame rust? if so it is a good solid platform to build upon. Instead of dumping the engine with 25K why don't you just replace the timing chain and gears?

smj999smj wrote:I've only heard of one person at these forums purchase the all-aluminum radiator from Stillen and they had some problems with it. You may want to hold off for awhile on that or go to a plastic tank radiator.

thanks for the info

Kestral wrote:Is the rest of the truck in good shape? little or no frame rust? if so it is a good solid platform to build upon. Instead of dumping the engine with 25K why don't you just replace the timing chain and gears?

The truck is perfect no rust whatsoever. Im gonna keep the engine and hopefully just replace the timing components. Timing has jumped 28 degrees so Im just hoping it hasnt done any internal damage.

selliott wrote:

Kestral wrote:Is the rest of the truck in good shape? little or no frame rust? if so it is a good solid platform to build upon. Instead of dumping the engine with 25K why don't you just replace the timing chain and gears?

The truck is perfect no rust whatsoever. Im gonna keep the engine and hopefully just replace the timing components. Timing has jumped 28 degrees so Im just hoping it hasnt done any internal damage.

finding out you have bent valves/piston damage would be a very wise move
i'd invest in a leakdown test before doing any repairs on the engine

eieio wrote:

selliott wrote:

Kestral wrote:Is the rest of the truck in good shape? little or no frame rust? if so it is a good solid platform to build upon. Instead of dumping the engine with 25K why don't you just replace the timing chain and gears?

The truck is perfect no rust whatsoever. Im gonna keep the engine and hopefully just replace the timing components. Timing has jumped 28 degrees so Im just hoping it hasnt done any internal damage.

finding out you have bent valves/piston damage would be a very wise move
i'd invest in a leakdown test before doing any repairs on the engine

That is the plan and my main concern also why it's been sitting so long, I just didn't want to deal with it.

ok so now im stuck and confused. I pulled the timing cover yesterday expecting to find worn out guides and or tensioners but they are perfect not a mark on them, chain is tight and looks good so i have no idea. Nissan said the timing is 28 degrees off which im not sure how things are supposed to be lined up to tell how far its off. So essentially i have it torn apart and have no idea what to do. Since I have it apart should I replace everything with the new "redesigned" ones? Could this be a computer issue?

selliott wrote:

Kestral wrote:Is the rest of the truck in good shape? little or no frame rust? if so it is a good solid platform to build upon. Instead of dumping the engine with 25K why don't you just replace the timing chain and gears?

The truck is perfect no rust whatsoever. Im gonna keep the engine and hopefully just replace the timing components. Timing has jumped 28 degrees so Im just hoping it hasnt done any internal damage.

how do you know this?

selliott wrote:ok so now im stuck and confused. I pulled the timing cover yesterday expecting to find worn out guides and or tensioners but they are perfect not a mark on them, chain is tight and looks good so i have no idea. Nissan said the timing is 28 degrees off which im not sure how things are supposed to be lined up to tell how far its off. So essentially i have it torn apart and have no idea what to do. Since I have it apart should I replace everything with the new "redesigned" ones? Could this be a computer issue?

what happened to the leakdown test, or at least a simple compression test?

eieio wrote:

selliott wrote:

Kestral wrote:Is the rest of the truck in good shape? little or no frame rust? if so it is a good solid platform to build upon. Instead of dumping the engine with 25K why don't you just replace the timing chain and gears?

The truck is perfect no rust whatsoever. Im gonna keep the engine and hopefully just replace the timing components. Timing has jumped 28 degrees so Im just hoping it hasnt done any internal damage.

how do you know this?

After fighting random engine codes I took it to nissan and they said the timing had jumped and their recommendation was to "remove timing cover and replace components"

eieio wrote:

selliott wrote:ok so now im stuck and confused. I pulled the timing cover yesterday expecting to find worn out guides and or tensioners but they are perfect not a mark on them, chain is tight and looks good so i have no idea. Nissan said the timing is 28 degrees off which im not sure how things are supposed to be lined up to tell how far its off. So essentially i have it torn apart and have no idea what to do. Since I have it apart should I replace everything with the new "redesigned" ones? Could this be a computer issue?

what happened to the leakdown test, or at least a simple compression test?

i havent done it yet, I figured i was gonna have to pull the timing cover anyways so I started there. I have the leak down test sitting in the garage i just havent done it yet.

the service manual should have the info to verify the timing once the cover is off
service manual: http://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/R5 ... ce/fwd.pdf
did you ask the dealership how they determined that the timing was 28 degrees off?

eieio wrote:the service manual should have the info to verify the timing once the cover is off
service manual: http://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/R5 ... ce/fwd.pdf
did you ask the dealership how they determined that the timing was 28 degrees off?

Thank you and no i didnt and its been sitting for a year till i had the funds to fix it.

Ok so if the engine jumped time that much is it possible the Pistons contacted the valves and bent them?