hi gents, my car has done 79 thou miles and i think she's due a chain, is it worth changing the gears as well or are they long lived. cheers ian ( UK ).:lala:

 

chain will usually out live the car not broken dont fix it unless oyu happen to be fixing something in that area and have to take it apart any way

 

I don't believe you can buy just the chain. Besides,it wouldn't be a good idea to put a new chain on worn gears. That would be asking for trouble.

 

Sure, replacing it is a good idea. I changed mine out at 180,000 miles though, so you might have a long way to go before you need to change it.

At the local Pep Boys store, they sell the chain separate from each gear- but Kevin's 100% right, don't put a new chain on old gears. Everything develops a wear pattern, and if you put a new chain on old gears, the old gears will eat up the new chain and send metal everywhere.

 

The timing chain is only sold in a set (two gears & a chain) for our engines.
Also necessary is the tensioner (triangle plastic thing in middle of chain) & a balancer repair sleeve kit ($4 US money).
Besides all bolts you'll see upon disassembly, be aware you may find two 8mm fine machined thread bolts, in front lip of oil pan connecting the T cover.
Also replace water pump & check & probably replace radiator hose, as it's all removed with this job.
Worth it, DEFINETLY!
Labor instensive, YEP!
Check out my distributor rebuild tech article for topping off this timing chain project.
Really is a worthwhile project.
IF ya need a new balancer I know of one available.
You'll know if ya need a new balancer when you have it in your hands. It'll look like it falling apart/separating (balancer is two circle parts held by a rubber band in middle).
Hope these parts are easy to get over there.
How was the power blackout Thurs. Aug 28?

 

Not true Karl... Advance (Discount) auto parts was happy to sell me just the chain.

Bad idea, as Tom stated, you REALLY don't want a new chain on an old worn patterned-timing gear.

Same principle of changing cam and lifters at the same time.

 

All I could offer is
The two times I did this job, I was never offered just a chain. Chain set came as kit in my instances.

 

thanks for the info, our dealers here will sell seperately hence the question. will post another query tonight!! ho hum... power blackout missed us up here in the north...
cheers lads
regards ian

 

power blackout missed us up here in the north...

It looked like a good time was had by those caught in the blackout.