2005 Sentra Timing Chain Alignment

[zeke1729]

I'm replacing the head gasket on a 2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8s. I realized that when i was taking things apart I forgot to paint the mating marks on my timing chain to match up with the mating marks on my intake and exhaust camshaft sprockets. Am I totally screwed, or is there an easy way to align my timing chain and camshaft sprockets again? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[zeke1729]

So far from looking at a couple photos of qg18de timing chains for sale I've counted the following link pattern: 1st yellow link, then 11 links, then 2nd yellow link, then 34 links, then blue link, then 29 links, then back to first yellow link. Is this pattern correct? Do I have to remove the front cover of my engine to re-mark the mating links, or is there a way to re-mark my timing chain and get things lined up again without having to remove the front cover to my engine?

[zeke1729]

it looks like I found the exhaust camshaft sprocket mating link on my timing chain. There's a faint chip of yellow paint still on it (thank god).