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Head on, gasket on, cam gear OFF


Guest Anonymous

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Cody,

I had the tensioner and spring out completely :( , which took a bit of work with a pair of needle nose pliars and wire to get back into the slot. Once there I used a very long screwdriver to hold it in place while I pulled the chain against it. Then used a second screw diver to hold the chain and tensioner in place.

This may sound simple, but trust me, it probably would have taken less time to pull the timing cover.

Tim

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Guest Anonymous

Pull the cover.. I have enuff problems assembling the chain with the timing cover off. The spring in the tensioner can get kinked very easily and..... you can adjust the chain guides... check for chain tension and/or adjust excessive chain stretch by using #2 or #3 position on the cam sprocket. You can also visually verify if the distributor is properly located and the timing chain properly installed the 42 links or bright link to bright link on the crank and camshaft sprocket set. When you get thru....you can rest assured as humanly possible that the timing mark points to top dead center when the # 1 cylinder is at top dead center

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Guest Anonymous

We are attempting to finish up the 1975 L28 here and ran into an interesting problem: I only modified the cylinder head, and did not touch the block. Therefore, none of it was dissasembled, ad dissasembly=new gaskets=$. So when we go to slip the cam gear into the timing chain, it wont go on the cam because the chain is too tight! fmad.gif

The book assumes that at the point of cam gear installation you have the front cover off and you just hit the tensioner and slip the chain on. But its not off, and i dont want it to be! GRRRR!

Is there anyway to adjust the cam tensioner from the outside, or maybe through where the fan bolts on? I dont need this roadblock!

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The chain tensioner is not adjustable. Oil pressure sets the tension. If you didn't ensure the chain was pulled up and tight in the front cover when you removed the chain from the cam gear the tensioner has popped out. You have to pull the front cover and replace it. Sorry!

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I have been able to replace the tensioner once it popped out without removing the front cover. I've done it more than once. It takes a lot of time and patience, with a couple of long screwdrivers (flat). It's difficult but definietly not impossible.

Tim

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Guest Anonymous

First, in direct response to your question, NO, there is no way to go in through the fan (water pump?) area. (Seperate, because one is water and one is oil bonk.gif ).

 

Easy way, once you've lost the chain => NONE.

 

Now, having been there recently, it sure seemed like you can get a possible combination of long screw drivers to work from the Oil pump hole and the top chain opening (under the head, in front of the actual block), but after an hour of trying, I gave up. The front cover gasket is not that expensive.

 

I ended up pulling the front cover by loosing the oil pan just enough to crack the front ~1/2 inch. I did have to buy some cork gasket stock and remake that part of the oil pan gasket under the timing cover, and got away with it.....no leaks. 2thumbs.gif

 

If you want to be positive about the experience, you will now be able to respond to one of the most frequently asked Z questions, LOL. I think everybody who has worked on these engines has lost a chain at least once.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Guest Anonymous

I too have had a fair amount of success at getting the spring and tensioner back into the portion bolted to the front of the block useing a very long screw driver or 2 and a very bright, small light.If the spring gets bent, chances are you will have no choice but to pull the cover and replace the tensioner assembly.

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