Timing chain guides have to be done

[RT22]

How hard is it? What all has to be removed to get to them? I guess I will do chain and gears also while in there along with water pump and thermostat. Just wondering if there are any tricks to know, anyone here done it themselves and what am i looking at?

[RT22]

OH and do I have to remove the head, or can it be done with head in place? Is there a plate covering the chain and guides? I would like to do this myself if it is not to tricky.

[seang]

Alot of kits out there have plastic backed guides, which is a big part of why anything has to be done in the first place.

[Rev_D21]

You don't have to remove the head if you bend the front lip of the pan enough for the front timing cover the slip off. I did mine 2 years ago except I decided the drop the pan to retrieve the broken pieces of guide floating in the oil. Cost me a few hundred in parts but that's because I went ape-s*** replacing anything I could find. Water pump and T-stat a must. Also replace your belts, flush your radiator good inside and out. The worst part is getting the oil pump and dizzy sync'd correctly. It pays to have someone hold the dizzy rotor in place as you feed in the oil pump and spindle. Get 2 oil pump gaskets! You will F one up no doubt. TDC is a must before you rip it apart. Turn the engine by wrench TWICE to make sure the chain links line up before hitting the key in the ignition. Have fun!

[o0Syn]

I did this last winter it took a whole day and a half and was a pretty crazy job. The guide on how to do it i used from NICO was for the DE but getting in there is all the same. I didn't have to remove the head everything came apart pretty easily just make sure you follow each step and if something isn't making sense just slow down and read over the instructions more. This may be your problem but it may not be the source of your headaches it could be your valves or stuck lifters. I did my chain and the annoyance still exists so next for me is checking out the lifters.

[RT22]

Thanks, I always get that 3-5 second rattle on start up. But now I noticed(with windows down) that rattle when letting off to shift. Seems worse in the first warm up cycle. As truck gets to full tamp it is better or more quiet. Thing is it is coming from the bottom or front not the valve area. I think the chain is slapping those guides when not under full load, like when letting off to shift.