I'm getting what sounds like timing chain slap, but only when the engine is cold, seems to go away when it warms up. Only have about 15000 miles on the rebuild. I recently did the oil pan gasket and refilled with 10W-40 and all was fine for a few weeks, could the heavier weight oil be causing the tensioner not to work properly until the oil is warmed up? I did the timing chain cover gasket about 1000 miles ago and everything looked good, no wear on the guides. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I suppose the heavier oil could take longer to warm up, letting the tensioner run a little slacker (from lower oil pressure on the tensioner) while the oil warms up. What weight oil did you run before, and what are the temperatures outside when your starting it?

I was running 5 or 10W-30, don't recall, whatever is states in the manual to use. I went to the 10W-40 because while out wheeling, after being out for a few hours the oil pressure would seem to dip so I figured the heat was thinning things out, so I stepped up a grade. WA state, so 30's to 40's.

In the lower temps a 5W30 would definitely be thinner for starting and warmup, we run 5W30 in the winter in the subaru otherwise the lifters take a solid 5 minutes to quiet down. I wouldn't think you would actually be getting slap, there should still be enough pressure to keep tension on the chain, but it could be rattling against the tensioner a little bit, doubt it would hurt anything. I know that when I start mine up in the winter (running 10w30) it sounds like a diesel for the first 10 minutes of driving, but so far no problems.

Don't know why it only happens at startup/cold engine, but, it's a broken drivers side timing chain guide. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

Did you pull the valve cover and check?

Yep, pulled the valve cover and could see the broken pieces of guide down at the bottom. Gonna order the steel backed ones, but dang, $80 bucks for a set, but only $20 for the double timing chain ones, don't get that.

Okay, I can get a double row up to 84 or a single row from 85 on up, but no single row for a 84, what gives? Anyone know if I can use a 85 on up single row for a 84?

Also what oil filter are you using? Make sure the filter you are using has the anti-drain back inside it. Some filters have it, some don't.

>>>*Suppose you were to buy a normal 1984 98 link timing set, then dual roller guides set for the early 20R and 81-82 22R and just put them on the 1984? Sure, they are wider but they do fit under the cover.

Then use the rest of the single roller kit? It all fits and works fine, just nobody makes the whole kit that way because about 90% of buyers send them right back as incorrect when they see the narrow single roller chain and the wide dual roller guides set.

But it all fits and works, that way there is no need to run around hunting down a short early drive spline.

Of course you could just buy the $20 set of guiderails and trim the outside edge of them narrower if you wanted them narrower for some reason.

*Or pay someone the extra $60 to trim them for you, that is the only difference on the 1984.

....*EB