wedges & clips

[Biba <biba@domain.elided>]

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Ian Evans writes:
I wonder how many Digesti besides myself have torn down Alfa engines
only to find timing chain tensioner tensioner wedges or upper chain lock

link hardware (clips, plates) living contentedly in the lower regions of

the oil pan?
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My little story doesn't compare to flipping over a "Cat" engine. Last
year I was re-doing (technical term) the head on my (2 Liter) Alfetta GT
and wouldn't cha know it, but the center piece of the chain retainer
went to the bottom of the oil pan. When I bought some slightly used,
very nice cams from Jay Dettinger (who unfortunately died of brain
cancer not too many months later) he laughed and handed me another
center section. Suggesting it probably would just stay at the bottom and
wouldn't hurt anything. He'd done it once or twice himself while
building his race engines (and he helped send stuff to Mars while
working at JPL).

I ended up buying 2 more magnets at the end of flex rods. Couldn't find
it for anything. Even poured a quart of oil through with drain plug
open. Nope! Then just as I was about to fill with oil (a day before
heading up to Quail Lodge) I stuck the tiny magnet on a flex rod down
the dipstick hole and pulled it out. Voila! I'm sure Jay was right, but
was happy not to be headed out for a 400 mile trip with a piece of metal
floating around in the sump.

Biba
Irwindale CA
AlfaCyberSite http://home.earthlink.net/~biba
(revised for your surfing pleasure)

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