So, what are the odds my JDM VE has new VTC's?
 

I've had this thing a couple years and I'm just now getting around to putting it in my '93. I knew it had some work done on it because the timing covers have red sealant around them. I just started to dig into it today, looks pretty clean.

Anyways, could these be new VTC's? Look at the VTC sprocket compared to the other sprocket, virtually no wear on the VTC sprocket. Click the pics for full-sized versions

http://img4.pictiger.com/41a/18069394_th.jpg

http://img4.pictiger.com/f44/18069392_th.jpg

http://img4.pictiger.com/127/18069396_th.jpg

Also, mAd tyt3 JDM wriTiNg y0:

http://img4.pictiger.com/834/18069400_th.jpg

sorry mang, i'm gonna go with no on the new vtc theory..:(

very clean heads

Why do you say that? I'm not saying you're wrong, just wondering about your thinking on it. If the VTC's aren't "new" we can certainly deduce they're considerably newER than the rest of the engine, no?

The set of VTC's I picked up at the junkyard a few years back to rebuild have noticeable wear on the sprockets, and I can't find any sign of wear on the set on the JDM engine.

:gotme:

I hope i am wrong..:hs:

whats the kms on it? they look super clean, i would say new or super low kms, that looks like a tight engine, where did u get it from, ive been thinkin about grabbing a jdm from this shop a few provinces over from me, but than why not a 3.5 ya know? but damn i like those pics

looks like very low K's on motor...as far i can think in Japan u have to dump the car ( or motor) after specific miles on them...thats why cars directly imported from Japan r usually SUPER CLEAN...

Guys just to be clear I'm not talking about just the valvetrain in general being clean (which it is), and yes generally JDM engines are supposed to be relatively low miles. So, even though the valvetrain does look nice and is itself indicative of low miles I'm specifically talking about the actual VTC assembly.

I've already deduced it's had the timing components taken apart as evidenced by the markings on the timing chain and sprockets. However, I'm theorizing the VTC assemblies themselves are new based on the complete lack of wear on the VTC sprocket 'teeth' compared to the 'teeth' on the other timing chain sprocket (for non-VE guys: i.e., the 'teeth' on the sprocket of the left side of the head with the black cylindrical assembly vs. the 'teeth' on the normal sprocket on the right). Also, the VTCs aren't rebuilt because there's no scribing/markings on the assemblies indicating they've been re-lined/re-assembled.

Thoughts from VE guys who've done VTC work?

Edit - also, to answer the question a few posts up I bought the engine from CNS Motors (via eBay) probably a good 3-4 years back

I'm not sure if your VTC's are newer or not. But I just put my JDM engine in and my chain cover was sealed with an orange sealent. I thought Nissan used grey sealent from the factory?

i would say that someone opened it and did some work.
possible it was a TSB/recall in Japan?
it's "newer" but i wouldn't say it's "new"

AFAIK, nissan never recalled the ve for the vtc issue in the us or in japan, only a tsb was issued..

It looks like your theory might be good. They are likely newer than the engine itself.

However, my theory is that even though JDM engines have low miles, they sit for so long that the springs aren't as strong. Actually, I am thinking that it is fairly random, but eventually they will all start to clack -- USDM, JDM, rebuilt, whatever.

My engine looked great like that inside and purred w/o a sound when it was installed. But, after a year or so, they started clacking. I have put less than 20k miles on my engine since it was installed in 2004. Changed the oil every 1500 miles (6 months), Toyota filters, etc.

Hopefully, yours will last longer, since they are probably newer and won't clack for a while.