another timing chain question

[Atomos]

i have a 1990 240sx SOHC. one of the timing chain guides is gone. is this a big deal? the tensioner is still there and there is still tension on the chain, but the straight chain guide is gone. the curved chain guide is still there. is it ok for me to drive the car without having the straight guide in there?

[R240NA]

What do you mean by 'it's gone'? Where is it? If it's worn you need to replace it, if it's actually fallen out or become lodged elsewhere you need to get it out.

[Atomos]

i just took the valve cover off to look at it and i saw the curved guide and a pin that looks like the straight guide should be there but it isn't. The guy i bought the car from said "one of the tensioners is gone" well i know it isn't the tensioner because there is still plenty of tension on the chain...

[1dollar240]

If it's the straight one, then you are correct, its not the tensioner, it's a guide rail, but it is still somewhat important. Just remove the timing cover and put a new one in, hell while you are it, just replace the timing chain too. not that hard, just time comsuming.

[sil80drifter]

replacing the chain/guides IS hard....it is a HUGE pain in the ***, and it is VERY time consuming. Having said that, I'll tell u that once u've done it, u can do it again anytime and the second time around u'll know what goes where. But I just replaced my guides and cam sprocket and chain this weekend, and somehow messed up on the timing, so now my car won't start. IF I did infact only mess up the distributor timing, then it will be a somewhat of an easy fix, but if I messed up on the chain links somewhere, I will have to rip the whole thign apart again, and that's...well again a huge pain, but this time aorund with more knowledge. Maybe I'm mechanically un-inclined, but some parts of takign off the cover, like unbolting/rebolting that one tiny screw behind the "squarish" thing behind the alternator bracket was one of the most annoying things I've ever done. Unboltign the coolant drain plug (something I thought was a pain in the *** before this weekend) seems like a joy ride now. Oh and order your chain/guides from Napa, but if you have a Napa stoe near you, go into the store and order it there that way u don't have to pay for shipping.

NAPA part numbers:

NTP94163S NAPA Timing Products Timing Kit: $ 114.00

NGAJV5004 NAPA Gaskets Timing Cover Gasket Set: $ 18.49

It will be a little cheaper to get from the store, but the tax will take care fo thatm sototal cost should be around $130 for botht eh kit and the gasket set. Kit includes chain, both sprokets, both guides and the tensioner.

Hope u have better timing luck than I did.

sil80

[Justice]

now is that for a DOHC or SOHC engine? wonder how much it whould cost for the DOHC? nissan dealer wants 375 bucks for the kit.=P screw that.

[O0ooAJoo0O]

i know for a fact that nissan actullay removed the upper tensioner from their parts list. I tried 15000 places when my chain slipped. i got the parts i needed, by every where i went i was told that nissan discontinued it because it wasnt needed. I know have a rattling noise whenever i go over 3500 rpm. i miss my upper tensioner, im going to steal it off my friends 240 someday, hehehe [evil grin]