Well, It seems like my timing chain is about to go out on me, so i parked it in the workshop. I would hate for it to break and screw the engine up bad.

 

How can you tell that you have a bad timing chain? I need to know these things.

 

Erratic timing...and it will feel loose to the touch when you get to it.

 

I had a Toyota that had an interference engine in it, and when the belt broke, the valves hit the top of the pistons and not only bent the valves, but cracked the top of a few pistons. But, that was an interference engine. The old Ford engines are non-interference engines, and if the chain breaks, the engine will just stop running until the chain is replaced. Ford did put out some interference engines later on though. Most of the 4 banger OHC that went into the Probe, etc. were interference engines, and if the belt broke, the valves crashed into the pistons and ruined the engine. You can tell if the chain gets worn and starts to slip because of the erratic timing as mentioned, but also it will make enough rattling noise for you to hear it. With the belts of later years, Ford recommends a change of the timing belt starting at about 60K miles, but they made no recommendation for the old chain driven cars.

 

Yeah, it's starting to make a noise, and when you rev it up, it ticks, but thats cool, that it wont mess up the engine. Thats what i was afraid of, because my uncles chevy 454's timing chain broke, and screwed the engine all up.

 

I don't know if Chevy 454's were intrference engines or not. But I suspicion they were not.

 

Well, all i know is, that the valves shot down, and hit the pistons. bent valves, busted pistons, it looked bad.

 

Whoa this ticking does it sound like its coming from the exhaust? Or can you not hear it when up by the engine? I might just have a valve tap. But there is a tapping noise coming from the engine

 

no, it's not a constant tick if it's the timing chain, it ticks when it's revved up, because i guess where it's loosing up and then tightning. You probably just have a rocker arm, ticking or something, as long as you got oil pressure, and it doesn't get louder, i wouldn't worry to much. but when you get a chance, pull off the covers and check it out.

 

Dont i have to get new gaskets for the valve covers off? My next project is to take the intake manifold off and take the rust off. I also think that there isnt any crack in the manifold. Myabe ill check out the valve covers tomorrow too.