i bought a 79 4x4 truck a few months back, the head was removed and already sent to the machine shop, from blown head gasket by PO. i got it all put back together and couldnt get it timed. a mechanic told me to change out the adjuster, which will require taking the front of the motor apart. is there any thing else i should look at first/or during the prosess? thanks in advance.

 

Yep, you have to take the front of the motor apart, are you sure the timming marks were ligned up properly when it was put back together ?, does it run at all ?, if it does and there was no oil going to the timming chain tensioner the timming chain would be making all kinds of noise.

 

If the timing chain is off a few teeth you dont need to rip the motor apart at all. Just take the valve cover off, front half moon seal, then take the bolt out of the front of the Camshaft. Might have to take your mech. fuel pump off if you have one, but then just lighty pry the timing chain pulley off the Camshaft dowel.
Make sure you dont drop anything down the front of the engine while you at it. Now if i remember right just make sure the Dowel on the Cam is @ 12oclock with the engine at TDC. Then put it all back together.

 

thanks for the reply myyota and sked, i'm sure i did that when i put it together, just as the haines manual decribed. but after trying to start it several times only getting it to run at about 1000 rpm at full throtle i had the webber carb rebuilt, with the same result, then pulled the cover off and at TDC the dowel was at about 10 o'clock. i asked a mechanic about it and was told the adjuster was probably bad, and needed replacing. somthing about its a racheting action, so if any slack gets in the chain it rachets all the way out. does that sound right?

 

Sounds like your just off 1 tooth, Ive done that before even when i swore i lined it all up.

 

ya, i think i'll take the advice ya'll gave me and reset the chain. thanks

 

What ended up happening? I'll be in this boat soon, so the more info I can get on things that could go slightly or not-so-slightly wrong would help.