eddie jr

I am used to doing timing belts so I need some advice here. So far as I have been able to find out there is not a "general replacement frequency" for timing chains like timing belts. I have been told unless you have a prob, don't ever do it. I also noticed it is a lot more $$ than belts so it seems a waste if it is not necessary.

It is a 2.8 MPFI with approximately 120K miles on it.

1. What is the likelyhood that it is needing replacing now ?

and

2. what are the symptoms to know if it is worn (aside from ripping it apart to look at it??.

thanks guys.

drdave88

iTrader: (3)

ive heard that the chain gets replaced at anywhere from 25k to 50k and the chain and gears at 60k to 100k. but if you have that many miles on the original chain, do it. ive always just done it if i dont know. if its that old, it more than likely worn and needs to go. id say do the chain every, oh lets see here, 40k to 50k. just my opinion though, others may know better. but i think they will all say, do it.

MrDude_1

the chain and gears should ALWAYS be replaced at the same time.

eddie jr

really, that frequent (40 - 50K)?? Aren't they a lot tougher than belts??

any other opinions on frequency or how I can determine if it is likely worn (i only got the car 5000 ago so no idea when or if it was last done).

eddie jr

does anyone else have opinions / experiences on the frequency fro changing the chain or the symptoms???

greatly appreciated.

Dale

iTrader: (12)

Alot depends on how the engine was maintained, and how the engine was "driven".


If it was drove like grandma, and maint. good, they can last up to 200,000.

Average drove, average maint., I would say 80-100

Drove hard, abused, no maint, 50-60.


I just pulled one off at 139,797 miles, it was worn, but still had lots of miles left to go. Some were hard, and taken down a drag strip at that.


Signs...

throw a timing light on it, if it bounces quite a bit, its bad.

Pull distrib cap, then move crank one way, then back the other by hand, how far do you move crank before distrib turns?? If its alot, its bad, if none, its good.

Can get crank gear, cam gear, chain for about 40-50 bux. I bought perforamce for 100. Depends on what you want!

eddie jr

awesome, thanks a lot dale! I will do those checks you mentioned to see how it is before I bother ripping things apart cuz I don't really know how the previous owners maintained it.

Lee7

Belive it or not, the Haynes manual says every 25,000 miles.

2_point8_boy

I doubt mine has ever been replaced(204,000 miles) because the people that owned it before me didn't take very good care of it. My idle is still perfect and when I put a timing light to it...dead on everytime. Doesn't bounce at all.

eddie jr

Dale - I don't have access to a timing light but I popped the cap like you suggested and turned the crank by hand. When reversing directions there was some delay before the rotor moved. When it started to move there was a gentle clunk too (I guess that would be the chain rearranging).

So I might as well go in there after all!

Thanks for all the input guys, much appreciated

Dale

iTrader: (12)

It would prob last a little while, but if you have 30-50 bux, and the time and tools to do it, I would do it.

I know my old 2.8 would "clunk" a bit, havent tried my new 3.4l to see if it does.

eddie jr

well, I figure I have to drain the coolant anyway to fix a coolant leak so now is as good a time as any