GorgeRunner

After 140K miles of trouble-free driving in my trusty 1990 pickup, I started to get the feeling that it needed a little serious maintenance. No real issues, but I decided to change the timing chain. I take care of the truck, oil change every 3K miles, no engine noise or problems, but I feel now is the time.
Good thing, because the chain guide on the driver's side was broken. Not destroyed, but it was broken at the top bolt hole and the timing chain was flapping. Followed the overwhelming advice and got a metal guide, new timing chain and gears.
Everything was going great until I tried to get the timing cover back in between the head/head gasket and oil pan. Very difficult to do, damaged the head gasket, now I have to replace it.
Bottom line; replace the timing chain and guides(might as well go for a water pump as well) at 150K for a 22RE. Not worth the risk to go any further. Also, you might be able to squeeze the timing cover back in without dropping the oil pan or removing the head, but I would buy a head gasket set as insurance, otherwise, you'll be like me; pedaling my bike to NAPA to get one if the squeeze job doesn't work.

GorgeRunner

I just changed the timing chain, gears and guides on my 22RE. When I tried to fit the timing cover back in between the head/head gasket and the oil pan, I crinkled the head gasket at the front, now I have to replace the head gasket.
Question is; there is nothing wrong with my head, head gasket or engine. Is there a way to remove the head without removing the intake and exhaust manifolds?

85gijunk4x4

nope, both manifolds are bolted directly to the head, so even if you removed the bolts on the head studs, it would still be held in place by the manifolds.

its not to hard to remove, just a handfull of nuts on both manifolds. make sure you spray the crap out of the exhaust manifold studs, they are prone to braking off due to constant expanding and contracting from the heat, and then getting weak and brittle

85gijunk4x4

imho, if your doing a chain job to your rig, especially if you know a guide is broken, you would definatly want to drop the pan and clean it out. you'd already be half way there so you might as well. the plastic guide peices could get into your oil pickup and clog it all up and potentially ruin your engine. not to mention the 20 years of sediment and grime you'll probably find in there!

86bedlesstoy

I cleaned mine out. It was filled with the stock plastic guide. Make sure to clean your oil pick up! I dropped my diff and everything. Only took about 2 hours. Then another 2 to install (PITA!). Good luck to you!

86bedlesstoy

BUY METAL GUIDES With your kit!

86bedlesstoy

Make a diagram of all your brackets and stick the bolts in the drawing. I used cereal boxes.

86bedlesstoy

Go ahead and replace the head gasket as well.