Fiddly Stuff

[gtst25]

After owning a couple of imports now I've come to realise that some parts etc may be hard or expensive to get. Here's a couple of little jobs some of you might want to do in the near future.

ELECTRIC AERIAL

My silvia had a horrible grinding noise when using the electric aerial. I've seen a lot of silvias and a few skylines where they've had to replace the aerial for a cheaper piece of junk.

One day mine just stopped half way down and I decided to have a go at pulling it apart and clean/lubricate it if possible- it took a couple of hours and when finished it worked like new. I used diesel and detergent to clean everything once apart and a white silicon based electrical lubricant when re-assembling. The workings inside were filthy with that black stuff you see in the engine bays etc - this clogged-up everything.

Skylines look like they've got the same aerial - my r33 hasn't given any problems yet but I'll probably do it one day.

HEATER HOSES

On the silvia I had one blow and after spending weeks clocking up a phone bill looking for new ones ( couldn't find anyone in QLD back then) I pulled the whole lot off and went to repco to see if anything matched. The ones around the back matched with VN commodore and Camira parts exactly - and only cost about 20 dollars!

CAMSHAFT BELT IDLER PULLEYS

Did the cam belt in the '33 and got some pretty wild prices from nissan for the idlers - ended up going to a company which specialises in bearings - they took the numbers and had the parts overnight.

I saved around 200 dollars here - it gives you a feeling of satisfaction when you get a big saving after doing the job yourself and hunt around a bit!

Anyway hope this helps a bit if anyone's mucking around doing these jobs - it all helps!

I'd be interested in any other helpful tips from other owners so post away if you like!

[(B1) MR_fanny]

good post....by the way whats the part numbers for the aftermarket idler and tension bearings??

[Bliksem]

yes i asked this question a while ago i was sure you could get an aftermarket idler bearing from somewhere. i'd also like to know the part number!

[gtst25]

I'll have the numbers in a couple of days - easier to do it before you pull everything apart eh?

[Sumo]

Yeah, You can get cam belts to suit the r33 from aftermarket suppliers.

E.g. Anyone who stocks Gates belts and Hoses

And bearings? well I haven't seen the idler for the 33, but I assume you would only have to press a bearing out and press a new one in? Any bearing stockist usually have a good range of NSK.

Cheers

Sumo

[Sumo]

Cam Belt was worth around $59...

Cheers

Sumo

[(B1) MR_fanny]

I'll have the numbers in a couple of days - easier to do it before you pull everything apart eh?

yes...very:D:D

[gtst25]

Tensioner NSK 60TB0683 EA7L 806

Idler NSK 56TB2801B01 ENSL 309

Hey fellas

My dad and I looked into pressing out the bearings and putting in new ones but it looked like you'd have to be really skillfull not to wreck the whole thing. A bloke in Gympie QLD who's got all the right gear did it and the bearing lasted about a week and we all know what the bad outcome of a seized tensioner would be.

So we just bought the parts.The price was about a third of genuine so we were happy.

Another little blunder we ran into was the WATERPUMP. Dad's rb20's pump had a hernia and a VL one fit perfectly but on my '33 a bolt hole is different so you'd have to drill and tap a hole to suit or just buy the expensive r33 pump. Apparently on some 25's the VL pump fits but on mine it didn't. My car has only done 80000 so I'll leave it a bit longer.

That timing belt price is excellent. Where from??? Dad just paid over 100 bucks for one as he couldn't source one cheaper.

[Sumo]

That was from my local Gates stockists.

We deal with them alot, So i could not tell you if that was RRP or the price he gave me.

[RTHRTY3]

Tensioner NSK 60TB0683           EA7L   806

Idler         NSK 56TB2801B01     ENSL   309

So where exactly did you get these parts from and for how much? And how is it functioning now? Any dramas?

Cheers

[The Dan]

I just bought my timing belt genuine for 55 dollars. But I get trade on all that crap already.

[gtst25]

RTHIRTY3

Got the parts from the local bearing shop which deals with anything from excavator, chainsaw or car parts/bearings.

Any local bearing parts dealer which deals with NSK bearings should be fine.

Don't exactly know the name of the store - if you really want it I can email my dad.

The bloke can send stuff by mail.

The prices were around $56 for the idler and $76 for the tensioner - once again if you want to know exactly I can email my dad.

It saved me a lot - genuine was really expensive.

No problem at all with the parts - sit them next to the factory ones and they look exactly the same.

Dad's rb20 has got idler/tensioner from the same place too and it does a lot of miles.