Timing Chain Replacement tips...
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 11
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Timing Chain Replacement tips...
Ok I know these may sound like obvious suggestions, but I will post them anyway.
I just completed the timing chain/gear replacement on my '87 Dakota 3.9L. The overall job is fairly simple to complete, especially for someone who has done this once before and given you have the right tools. Two suggestions for anyone looking to do this are:
1) Label your bolts when you remove them. It will make it 100 times easier when you re-assemble the water pump/brackets/timing chain cover! I think I could have shaved off an hour had I labeled or sorted the pieces a little better than I had originally tried. Either put them into a ziplock bag or even better, draw a small diagram on a sheet of paper and set it aside to determine which bolt goes where.
2) Make sure the rubber (half-circle) gasket for your oil pan - timing cover is seated properly and that it does not flap over when you put the timing cover back on. I made the mistake of having the top corner of that gasket fold over when I put the cover on. It not fun to see a puddle of oil under the truck 2 miles down the road. The annoying part was it all looked good on the outside and was not leaking for the first few minutes that the truck was running after completion. But it only lasted about 2 miles and now I have a messy job ahead of me again. Thankfully it seems as though I can re-position that gasket simply by loosening the oil pan and not having to completey remove the cover again.
Good luck!
I just completed the timing chain/gear replacement on my '87 Dakota 3.9L. The overall job is fairly simple to complete, especially for someone who has done this once before and given you have the right tools. Two suggestions for anyone looking to do this are:
1) Label your bolts when you remove them. It will make it 100 times easier when you re-assemble the water pump/brackets/timing chain cover! I think I could have shaved off an hour had I labeled or sorted the pieces a little better than I had originally tried. Either put them into a ziplock bag or even better, draw a small diagram on a sheet of paper and set it aside to determine which bolt goes where.
2) Make sure the rubber (half-circle) gasket for your oil pan - timing cover is seated properly and that it does not flap over when you put the timing cover back on. I made the mistake of having the top corner of that gasket fold over when I put the cover on. It not fun to see a puddle of oil under the truck 2 miles down the road. The annoying part was it all looked good on the outside and was not leaking for the first few minutes that the truck was running after completion. But it only lasted about 2 miles and now I have a messy job ahead of me again. Thankfully it seems as though I can re-position that gasket simply by loosening the oil pan and not having to completey remove the cover again.
Good luck!
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Joined: Jul 2006
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RE: Timing Chain Replacement tips...
IT'S LIKE YOU WERE READING MY MIND. I'VE GOT WHAT APPEARS TO BE "TIMING CHAIN SLAP" IN MY 96 3.9L AND I PLAN ON REPLACING THE TIMING SET ON SUNDAY! I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION! BY THE WAY, DID YOU NOTICE ANY RUB TYPE MARKS ON THE INSIDE EDGE OF OUR TIMING COVER???
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 11
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RE: Timing Chain Replacement tips...
No I did not have any rub marks on the inside of the timing cover. The truck runs MUCH better now and doesn't die while idling or slowing to a stop. I am also anticipating a MPG increase of 1 or 2 gallons. We'll see!
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 75
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RE: Timing Chain Replacement tips...
THAT WOULD BE GREAT! I FILLED UP YESTERDAY AND WHEN I FIGURED MY MILEAGE, (WHICH I ALWAYS DO), I SAW THAT I GOT 19.14 MPG ON MY LAST TANK. SO IF THIS INCREASES MY MILEAGE I'LL BREAK 20!!!!!!!!! [sm=bounceybounce.gif]
