Author Topic: Help me diagnose my troubles, suspect it's timing chain related.  (Read 5087 times)

VegasKyle

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Help me diagnose my troubles, suspect it's timing chain related.
« Reply #15 on: October 10, 2010, 02:23:30 PM »
Quote from: nickmpower;97291
it might just be the picture, but it looks like one of your cams jumped several teeth. The squares on the back of the cams are supposed to be aligned with each other aka at the same angle as each other. If this is the case I would just look into picking up a used engine. It could just be the pics though, check the squares

I think its just the angle the picture was taken.  I may double check.  I'll try to get the engine to TDC the way monko141 suggested. Then take a level to the squares on the back of the cams.

I think I'm going to go ahead and order the stuff to change out the guides and tensioner.  If that doesn't fix it, then someone in the "For Sale" forum is going to get a deal on some timing chain stuff.

Thanks for the help guys! Keep it coming.

EDIT: should I take out the tensioner? Would that tell me anything? Would I be able to tell if it failed in some way?
« Last Edit: October 10, 2010, 02:45:14 PM by VegasKyle »

VegasKyle

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Help me diagnose my troubles, suspect it's timing chain related.
« Reply #16 on: October 16, 2010, 02:17:31 PM »
OK, I had time today to go borrow a compression test kit from pepboys.  I think you are supposed to run the test on a warm engine but I didn't want to run the engine for obvious reasons.  The test was done on a cold engine (well its about 85* and the car is in the sun) I don't know how that is going to skew the results.  

Cylinder #1 (closest to the front of the car) 195psi
Cylinder #2  200psi
Cylinder #3  197psi
Cylinder #4  202psi

So from the looks of it the valves are fine.  I think I read somewhere a spread of 10% was considered ok.  

So the plan now is to replace all guides, and gaskets, tensioner as well as the idler gear.  Do you think to be on the safe side I should replace the crank gear, cam gears and chain as well?

DesktopDave

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Help me diagnose my troubles, suspect it's timing chain related.
« Reply #17 on: October 16, 2010, 06:42:19 PM »
Compression tests are good, I've heard 15% is the maximum permissible difference.  The cam gears look great.  I'd leave them.

I'd do the guides, chain tensioner & idler.  Gaskets & front main seal too, and the timing case rear gasket - mine is leaking all over the motor.
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