G'day all,

My 84 yo father has broken a balance shaft chain on his '90 Fuel Injected Magna. He is really too old to drive the car anymore so he has asked me to sell it for him. Butfirst we must get the engine running properly. He is stressing as he doesn't have the finances to get it repaired at a workshop (quoted $700) so I'm tackling it for him.

Couple quick questions:

* What is easier:

Replace the balance shaft chain
Remove but don't replace the balance shaft chain
Refit an exchange motor (auto trans)


If I go the 'remove and don't replace the chain' (my preferred option)...

a) does this have any adverse affects (apart from vibration) such as the oil pump not running?
b) how many balance shaft chains are there and what is the basic procedure to get to them and how many hours would you expect a competent mechanic to take to do it?
c) what special tools might I need to do this?


PS: I know about the balance shaft removal kit but would rather do the absolute least amount of work. so just removing the chain seems to be the go?

The rest of the car is immaculate, Cold A/C, new rad, new fuel injection, tyres etc.

Alternatively would any enterprising Brisbane based members be interested in buying it in as is condition?

Many thanks from my dad and I

ok, the timing chain assembly has 2 chains. the balance chain also runs the oil pump so if u were to just take out this chain, u would have no oil pump. so u either must use the balance shaft elmininator kit (i was quoted $135 i think from repco) or replace the chain (and i would probably replace the whole timing chain assembly while u were there. $220 from repco, excluding cogs, but u shouldnt need them anyway. this kit has both chains and all tensioners/guides/gaskets etc)

you don't need any special tools that i can think of to remove the timing chain assembly. just a good socket set and ring end spanner set. i think you will need up to a 21mm piece? its either 19mm/21mm/23mm, this is for the timing chain sprocket on the camshaft. to do this properly, you must either totally remove the head, or totally remove the sump. you cannot simply loosen the sump, take off the timing chain cover do the work and expect to fit it all back 2gether. i tried this once, just taking off the timing chain cover and doing work to the timing chain with only the sump loosened off abit, but wen it came time to putting the timing chain cover back on, the head gasket was getting mangled by the timing chain cover. there was'nt enough room to slide the timing chain cover back on.

the work is doable while the engine is still in the car, though it is a pain, and will take almost twice as long to do it. wen i replaced my timing chain kit, i took the engine out of the car. it took 2 of us to totally take the engine out of the car about 3/4 of the day. but that was only cause we didnt have all the right tools there ready. (especially good straps for the engine hoist).

so yeah, i dont think you need a torque wrench that i can remember but have one handy anyway. and then just a good socket set (with long and short extension bars, up to a 23mm piece) and a good ring end spanner set. hope that helps

motors. I'm pretty good on Nissan Zed motors but am unfamiliar on Mitsubishi.

I wonder what you might charge to observe/supervise/help me do the simplest alternative of the job ? I notice you are in Qld if i provided the refreshments/lunch etc (I'm in Mansfield).

Or alternatively, might you be interested in buying it as a project for a very cheap price?

thanks in advance!