trickdriller

The mechanic says my Timing chain tensioner is broken and it'l cost a grand to fix. Scrw that! I was wondering if that is in fact the problem, is my engine ok to do a PI swap? I don't know if this problem has/will affect the shortblock. This is on a 97 GT.

And, just to clearify, the tensoner isn't broken all the way. It's loose. You can hear it rattling really bad all the time and it has been that way for a few thousand miles. I didn't know this wasn't a heat shield rattle until just rescently

trickdriller

Second page already?!

Bump.

72MachOne99GT

If the tensioner is messed up then you'll have to go all the way down to fix it, and I definately wouldnt be driving or even running the car.

If you've got the money for a PI swap, do it.

come ot think of it, something doesnt sound right, i dont know how you can 'hear' the timing chain tensioners

racer02GTstang

the timing chain tensioners run off oil pressure to my knowledge. because it has that oil port in the head right behind it.

trickdriller

I have to drive it, so that option is out. As for the tensioner acually being broken, I am no sure. I thought it was a loose heat shield or header bolt or something. There is no loss of power. I am pretty much just repeating wha the mechanic told me.

I have the mone to do a head swap, but I want to make sure this rattling hasn't affected the rest of the engine. If it has, I will just wait for it to die and put a used PI engine in it.

racer02GTstang

it hasnt untill it slips timing and a valve goes through a piston. which could be at any time.

72MachOne99GT

Yea, the tensioners do run off of oil pressure, I just meant that if one was messed up, there'd be a lot of slack in the line and at any kind of high rpms, it seems to me it'd be skipping links and ramming valves.

andy98gt

Dude you have to change that tensioner. Mine broke when i took them off during my PI swap so i had to get new ones. They weren't totally broken but they were loose like your saying. No way was i going to put it back on. Seriously replace it and get a ride wherever your going your gonna mess your engine up if you dont.

bjh061487

i am sure you know this but you can't just swap out the heads in a PI swap. its everything. heads, cams, and intake. and you are def going to need a tune after that too. are you installing everything yourself? that is more money so make sure you add everything up and have the money

96GT226410

If the tensioner fails you'll hear the timing chain rattle against the cover.


+1. Get it fixed soon before it's too late and you NEED to buy a whole engine.