After swearing more than I did during my entire stint in the army, I finally got my timing chain and guides replaced. Now that i have done the job, I feel it isn't so hard except for the broken and stuck bolts and pins.
I don't want to deal w/ 100k mile old bolts and pins again. I wonder why a lowly chevy v8 can go so much longer on a timing chain. Why have there not been an improvement in the guides so they can last the life of the car OR why didn't MB schedule a change like cars w/ timing belts?

I am not going to change my timing chain again so I was wondering what the average life of a chain is.

 

Forgot to specify this is for Gasoline V8 engines.

Thanks

 

they never break. they last a lifetime too.

however...
it becomes a bit elongated after long service time and can make the camshaft sprocket "teeth" sharp.

 

Sleepwalker, so is it okay to not change the guides and chain as long as there is no visible wear on the guides, sprockets and stretch (measured w/ timing marks) on the chain?

 

the guides (rail), yes. that one wears out much quicker and needs replacement.

the only way you can tell the chain stretched is that if the sprocket becomes sharp and pointed.
replacing the chain is quite easy because you only need to break the old one, insert the new one and turn the engine till the end of the new one reappears. then link them. by that way you can avoid those chances of breaking the bolts or pins.

 

Harley Davidson Twin Cam engines had/have a problem with cam chain (nylon) tentioners wearing out in as little as 40000 miles. Installers have found that polishing the chain extends the life of both the tentioners and the chains. Could this apply to MB Motors?

Which engines need the service?

 

I did change the guides and chain. The hardest part was getting the pins out. I broke a bolt in the last one I was removing, then broke the easy out in it. I cut the old guide off the pin, cut the pin and was able to tap the pin out from the inside. I don't want to do this again so I am thinking of never doing the guides and chain again. My sprockets look good and I had no stretch (2 degrees) as measured by aligning the cam marks. The guides had no visible wear compared to the new ones except for the darkening in color and when I went to break the old ones to see how brittle they were, a hammer wouldn't crack them...they would dent. I did break one by placing in a vice and bending but it bent quite a bit before breaking.

Now I need to raid your knowledge on getting rid of high speed vibrations.....Aligned and balanced. Front end rubber given the okay by indy. Flex discs visually okay. New motor mounts installed. Steering dampener has resistance in both directions....where do I go from here?

 

it's been a long time since i do those engines.

at what rpm the vibration occurs?

was the car at standstill or during driving?

was the car lifted and in drive?

too many factors....

it can't be flywheel but the torque converter can deform due to heat and stress. you may take a look at it while the engine is running.