89 240sx KAE right chain guide missing......problem?

[le_ryan]

looking at the motor from the front, the right side guide is gone. It looks as though it has recently been worked on down there (RTV dead give away) possible recent chain raplacement? Ive been hearing alot of chain rattle, so i pulled the valve cover. The chain looks to be in good shape, but theres no right guide......WTF will this cause a problem or can i run it like it is? It seems to be fine inside there. I dont race the car, its just a DD.

[180fan]

you should still have a guide there. If i'm not mistaken that should be the tension side guide and it should just be a long metal slab with a long plastic insert on it but regardless, you should have that.

[le_ryan]

yup, thats just gone, im guessing the previous owner put a new chain on and mabey just didnt put the guide in ... i dont think it can jump any gears, but i guess i should fix it huh....CRAP!

[ricebike]

says, "Gawd, Yes! or else you're going to have the chain rub/cut into the timing cover/water jacket & have a milkshake in your oiling system"

[le_ryan]

i should just be able to insert the guide in and not have to take the chain off right? just take off the valve cover, fan, crank pully, and front timeing cover right?

[180fan]

pulling the front cover should require you to pull the distributor and oil pump. You won't need to pull the chain at least. Just make sure you're at TDC regardless though.

[le_ryan]

well damn, i might as well do the whole shibang huh. this sucks........not really but what gets to me is that i dont need a timeing chain replacement, but i have to do all the work involed in replacing the chain.........

[180fan]

Ha ha ha it's not that bad on the SOHC. At least you don't have to pull the oil pan like on the DOHC. Just pull the oil pump, dist, valve cover and the front cover. It all goes pretty fast, and the aligning of the rest of it when it all goes back is pretty easy also. Keyways on the crank and cam point up and make a D tipped \ on the oil pump and the dist in a similar direction \ but pointing downwards. It shouldn't even take a day to do. I think the fastest chain job I did on a SOHC was about 4 hours. You'll have little to no problems with the SOHC.

[le_ryan]

thanx for the confidence build man, ive never done a chain replacement, but i plan on doing this one, i think theres even a DIY guide here plus i DL the FSM and bought the chilton, so i should be able to "get er done"......god, i hate that phrase...

[180fan]

The FSM is all you really need. Even if it's your first time, the SOHC chain job is a cinch. Don't put skid marks in your pants where it's not needed. I do dread the DOHC chain jobs though...A SOHC is a walk in the park for reals. NO sweat on that one.

[wcbjr]

Just don't break a tap off in one of the guide bolt holes likes I did. Ouch.

[ricebike]

wholly thread revival!

but did u finally fixed it?