i'm buying a 91 se tomorrow with 88k miles and was planning on changing the timing belt very soon but from some pictures i saw in another thread they seem to be chains...is this true? what is the recommended replacement interval for the original chain/belt because i seem to remember reading somewhere ( in 99/00 when i used to drive my mom's 91 se before i totalled it ) that the interval was greater than 60k.. what is the most difficult part of replacing it on a 91 maxima..read that it's an estimated 6 hour job.

 

91 SE would have the VG which is a timing belt. all 89-94 maximas except the 92-94 SE's are VG and are timing belt. The 92-94 SE's have the VE motor and they are timing chain. Hope this helps. Might as well do the water pump while you're at it. I would say hardest part would be keeping it timed correctly

 

thanks. do the sprockets rotate easilly or something? i'm just wondering how it could be a 6 hour job.

 

I dont honestly know as I've never done the job myself. Wish I could more help

 

its a 6 hour job because the other 3 belts have to be removed. plus the time it takes to torque stuff down and making sure everything is exact. and then putting everything back together. now if you re an expert on this then it might take you less time.

 

i know its a very involved job

 

it's 6 hours because you have only a max of 6 inches of lateral space to work in. you must essentially take of the whole front of the motor to get to the timing belt.

just be sure to mark up everything FIRST.