CF Engine Cover Installation

From Nissan 350Z & 370Z Wiki

Parts and Tools

• Replacement Engine Cover
• 10mm socket wrench
• 10mm flat wrench
• small rubber mallet
• painters tape
• towel

Procedure

Lay the towel on the ground and place your replacement cover on it to prevent scratching. I suggest wrapping the head of the socket wrench in blue painters tape to avoid scratching either cover.

There are 4 bolts that will need to be removed. The front 2 and the left rear can be removed w/ your 10mm socket wrench. (See fig 1), #1. As you remove them place them on your towel beside the new engine cover, so as not to lose them. The final bolt is directly under the strut bar. (See fig 1, #2 and fig 2.)

To avoid scratching the engine cover or the strut bar, I suggest wrapping the strut bar w/ painters tape above the bolt, as well as the part of the engine cover in front of the bolt. Wth the flat wrench carefully loosen the bolt under the strut bar. Take your time as this is the hardest part. Once it is loosened you can use your fingers (if they will fit, depending on hand size) to screw it the rest of the way out. You will need to tilt the bolt head towards the back of your engine bay, and carefully work it out that way.

Now you are ready to take the OEM cover off. Lift slightly from the sides, and slide forward under the strut bar. There will be a rubber grommet on the underneath each of the 4 bolts you just removed. Be careful not to knock them off into your engine compartment. Make note where each grommet was placed on the OEM cover, the back ones come w/ a copper piece in the middle.

Remove these grommets and lay on the towel as well.

If your new cover doesn't come w/ the Nissan emblem (most don't) flip the OEM cover over, the emblem (see fig 1, #3) is just inserted w/ prongs and double sided adhesive. Do not try to pry from the front as you can easily break the emblem. Take your rubber mallet and tap the prongs from the backside, it should pop out w/ little or no problems. Insert emblem into the new cover where there should be holes for it, press down firmly to make the adhesive take hold. There will be piece of foam tape on the backside of the OEM cover, carefully peel it back and place on the new engine cover if it didn't come w/ it in place.

Insert the grommets into the new engine cover, careful to place them in the same position they were in on the OEM cover. Now put your new engine cover on. *Be sure to put blue painters tape in front of the difficult bolt on your new cover to prevent marks. I suggest reverse order for tightening bolts, starting w/ the one under the strut bar first. Insert the bolt back under the strut bar from the backside threaded end first.

Tighten by hand first and then with the flat wrench. Don't tighten too much or you run the risk of cracking your new cover. Tighten the last 3 bolts by hand first and then w/ your socket wrench and you are done. (Fig 3)