anyone got time wanna give me a hand or guide on timing belt change?
 

I am in sf bay area, I got a quote for 180 to replace both timing belt and water pump... I figure if I do it myself I can save that 180. Is there anyone that can give me a hand on it? (I don't have much to offer maybe little cash and a meal?) This is the first time I am doing timing belt, I did clutch and some other stuff before on my previous car. I am just really unsure the part where you put the timing belt on.. after I read the write up, I still get quite confuse like how to set the TDC to 0.. I can take off everything from radiator to the belt and then I think I will be stuck because I have no idea how to set that TDC thingy..

Don't know if you've seen this one or not:
http://www.ttzd.com/tech/60ktech.html

Actually the TDC (top dead center) part is pretty easy. If you have the new timing belt, take a look at the back side (non-ribbed) of it. You will see 5 lines. There will be 4 lines grouped somewhat close together (2 sets of 2 lines), and a 5th line that isn't close to any of the other lines. The 4 lines will line up with marks on the cam sprockets and marks on the inner timing cover. The 5th line lines up with a notch on the crank sprocket and a notch on the crank sprocket guard. There are pics of this on the link that EMO gave you. This is the most important part of the timing belt install. If you don't get the teeth of the belt into the right grooves on the cam sprockets and the crank, then your timing will be off and you won't be able to set it properly. If I was in the area, I'd help supervise. If you can't find anyone and you get stuck, we'll all help as much as possible. It is not an incredibly difficult job, but it is time consuming. If your not changing the cam seals, main seal or VTC springs and o-rings, then the job will be a bit easier. If you have a friend who can help, even if he doesn't have Z car knowledge, recruit him. A helper is recommended and makes the job easier. Dad and I got it done in a weekend. We worked for 8 hours or so. We did change all the seals. We also installed a new radiator that needed some custom mounting, so it extended our labor time. Good luck. Comparing this to your clutch job, I would say the timing belt is less labor intensive, but more technically advanced. $180 for a timing belt and water pump install is a good deal, even for labor only. The dealer will bill out 4 hours, and in SF you could be looking at $80+ per hour. Just an FYI.

For the clutch people said it will take like 6 hours or so, I got it done with my friend in around 4 hours, (the clutch spring broke and the clutch in pieces, flywheels not resurface because it looks like new as the clutch not wear out, just broke).

back to the timing belt thing, the shop guy who quoted me 175 for timing belt labor said since I need to do the VTC spring and the cam seals which involves taking off cams and stuff.. he said make it $200 even for labor

so it's $200 labor for:
change belt, tension, cam seal, water pump and coolant

should I let him do the work or I do it? he has a shop so it's not some backyard mechanic guy.. he said the labor involves around 5 hours or work. he's charging 40 an hour.

I still finding place to get a cheaper tensioner and I don't know if the kragen water pump work good or not (they are 40 bux)

I got the belt, all the seals and water hoses from courtesy nissan.. budget is very limited so I didn't really think about buying new idler because I still have to buy O2 sensors to have car pass smog.. by the time when the timing belt is done, I will be quite happy I guess (so I don't have to worry that it wasn't being done)

so no any local guy can help me on this?? I don't really trust myself for doing some major tune up like this.. another person really is gonna help alot..

The VTC springs can be changed without removing the cam sprockets. To change the cam seals, you need to have the cam sprockets and the inner timing cover removed. If he's changing the seals, the water pump, the tensioner and the timing belt for $200, I'd say let him do it. If this guy will let you help/watch, that would be cool. Maybe he'd cut you a deal on labor since it will make his job easier, plus you couold make sure he doesn't screw anything up. The idler pulleys on my car looked fine. They spun as freely as the new ones, so you can probably get away with not replacing them. I threw my old ones away, but If I still had them I would've given them to you just in case yours were shot. The water pump from Kragen is probably fine. I used one from them on my Z31 a few years back. FYI, when I shopped around for O2 sensors, Kragen was more expensive. I bought Bosch O2 sensors from NAPA autoparts. They ran around $65 each.

I actually have couple friend that can help me with the job.. but they are not really mechanic inclined.. like well, they can change oil, use wrenches, do intake and exhaust and suspension (they drive MR2's)... do you think I just do the job with couple of my friends? If I attempt to do it, do I need to buy a torque wrench? since I think it's not too good to over torque it or someting..

For the mechanic guy, he said i can sit there and wait and look at his work.. or I can take a hike at the park next to his shop (haha -_-)..

i say you let the mechanic do it, and you sit there and watch him do it. take notes or whatever you do to memorize, and it's going to be money well spent, because you will learn how to do it. :D

The only thing you really need a torque wrench for is the crank bolt. It has crank specs for a few other things, but nothing major. Unless you knew someone who had done the job before, I'm agree with Wrecker. Pay the mechanic and watch him work.

If you know someone who has a done a timing belt job on an overhead cam motor before...he should be able to help you. This is coming from a master Z specialist mechanic that worked at ZWhizz and dealerships. He's been working on Z32's for a VERY long time. So I trust him.