Changing Timing Chain

[alanworland]

So there I am, car in the air with sump off to change the crankshaft shells which have done about 80000 since the engine was rebuilt.
The engine was running ok with good oil pressure and no 'mains rumble' but I thought it a goog idea to re shell to avoid any crank damage.
From my records I knew the mains were -020 so I obtained through the club a complete set of bearings. Shock horror as I took the first big end cap off as it was -010 !!! Oh dear
The shells look good other than the centre main, which was starting to break up on the face which takes the clutch thrust, changing just in time me thinks.
While grovelling about upside down and turning the engine with the flywheel I have decided that the timing chain is quite worn and could do with replacing and I reckon it could be done while the sump is off by joining the new chain to the old (with the 'U' clip) and pulling it into position!
Has anybody else done or considered this approach?

[mike.perry]

To the best of my knowledge, (I may be wrong!) the timing chain which is a duplex chain is a one piece unit with no joining link which means that to to fit it you have to remove the timing chain cover and timing sprockets, fit the chain over the sprockets, not forgeting to line up the timing marks as per the workshop manual, and slide the sprockets back into position.
As you have the engine stripped down it is just a case of fitting the chain to the sprockets. Unlike the A Series engine there are no timing chain tensioners and being a duplex chain wear is not usually much of a problem.

[bigginger]

Unlike the A Series engine there are no timing chain tensioners and being a duplex chain wear is not usually much of a problem.

There are tensioners on the A series? I've never spotted one
a

[alanworland]

Thanks for response. I have a link in the chain so it is potentially possible to join it to a new (linked) chain and pull it into position. I don't have the engine stripped down, just in the air with the sump off!