timing chain blues

[galaxie]

my '96 i30t was pretty happy until i let the timing chain tensioner eject its entrails into the timing chain cover completing a water pump job (read a 2hour job now a 12hour job). my question is this, do i have to remove the oil pan to remove the t.c. cover and with 160k on the motor is there anything else i should do while i am now there. the motor ran fine before i started my pilgramage. i was looking in the archives like the intructions told me to when another query caught my eye. it was about engine noise at start up and in my research there was mention of a new updated chain tensioner that would bleed out quicker to minimize this annoyance. hope that helps someone. thanks for your help. scott

[beemerguy]

Also replacing the water pump on my 96 and came across your post. The autozone site instruction said remove timing chain tensioner to retract sleeve and insert small pin to prevent tension while turning crankshaft to relax chain on water pump. Any words of wisdom before removing tensioner? What entrails are you refering to?

[galaxie]

have you torn into your nissan yet? if not be cautious with the tensioner because it will blow up into the engine. retract and pin the plunger in place or the plunger and the spring oh,yeah and the plastic cup will shoot into the front cover area necessitating removal of the oil pan and front cover and other pieces too, like exhaust etc. when reassembling take the same precautions to prevent the tensioner from exploding. i hope this helps. scott

[brandon@balisticmotors]

yes you have to remove the lower oil pan to get to the two bolts hat go in the tc cover from the bottom