Re: alfa-digest V8 #386 - 2 liter timing chain question

[AlfaNeely@domain.elided]

       I agree with your statements.  I was going to write and say to make 
sure to clamp the cylinder liners in place, but you have that covered.  Just 
do not allow the engine to turn over at all until you get the clamps in place.
       Go ahead and pull the distributor.  It will be no harder to put back 
into time that the camshafts will.  In fact, in turning the engine, you might 
get everything back 180 degrees out of time from what it is now.  At that 
point you would need to either retime the distributor or move the plug wires 
180 degrees to match.
       I generally attach baling wire to the ends of the upper timing chain 
so I can fish the ends back out of the front cover later.  And make sure you 
do not drop the links for the timing chain down the front cover when putting 
it back together.  Cover the hole under the timing chain with shop towels 
when removing / replacing the link.

Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City


In a message dated 01/17/2002 8:15:58 PM Central Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:



> Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 18:03:51 -0800
> From: "Tony Sims" <SimsTony@domain.elided>
> Subject: 2 liter timing chain question
> 
> The GTV has shed her engine and transmission, and the intake, exhaust,
> starter, alternator and Spica have taken up residence under the shop bench. 
>  I
> can see no useful purpose in pulling the distributor, so I didn't.  The plan
> for this weekend is to pull the head.  Shop manual, Owner's Bible, rosary
> beads, hot coffee, cold beer and a dictionary of Italian curses will be in
> easy reach.
> 
> Before the head goes back on I want to clean the carbon off the tops of the
> pistons, and obviously this will be easier if they are at the top of the
> cylinder.  So -- can I rotate the bottom end of the engine while the top
> timing chain is off without causing myself pain, embarrassment and expense? 
>  I
> looked through my shop manual and the Owner's Bible, and I can't find any
> urgent warning not to do this, but I also don't see anything that really
> endorses the practice.
> 
> I looked deep into the heart of darkness after removing the cam cover, and 
> it
> appears that the lower chain just runs from the crank to a pulley that 
> drives
> the upper chain.  The upper chain appears to exist purely to drive the cams.
> To my neophyte eyes it looks like I can rotate the bottom end willy-nilly, 
> and
> as long as everything arrives back at #1 TDC position before I drop the head
> back on, no blood no foul.  There do not *appear* to be any mechanical
> relationships that will be upset.  And yes, I do have some lengths of
> electrical conduit and fender washers so I can clamp the liners in place
> before I move anything.
> 
> Muito obrigado,
> 
> Tony
> 74 GTV

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