Hey all
My TP magna has done 122K and as far as i know the timing chains have never been replaced. It now rattles at idle and sometimes under acceleration. The Plan is to replace the timing chain and completely remove the balancing shafts and chain. But i have a few questions.

1) Where is the best place to get the replacement chain and guides. Bursons want $150 without the gears and $380 with, Ringwood auto parts have it for $89. Is this just a case of cheaper is better or will the move expensive set be better quality. I'm hopeing it'll last another 100K. Also both of these come with the the balancing chain and guides which I won;t be using. Is it possible to just get the timing parts separately?

2)Do I need new gears?

3) The Plan is to remove the engine. I believe this is necessary to get the balancing shafts out and makes life easy changing the chains. I've got a crane but no decent jacking equipment so the plan was to lift the engine and auto transmission straight out the top. Is this straight forward to do? or is the gearbox going to get caught on crap coming out? I saw in magnabuffs thread about this he appeared to drop the engine out the bottom?

4) I know the AC compressor can just be unbolted then tied off to the side but what about the power steering pump? Can it be just tied off to the side of should I just drain the whole system and remove the pump completely.

5) can I remove the intake completely from the head and leave it connected? or should i disconnected all the wiring and fuel lines then remove it with the engine?

6) Once the engine/transmission is out do I need to support it on something while i work? or can i just rest it on the ground?

7) When I've replaced the timing chain is getting hte timing correct just amatter of lining up the two plated chain links with the timing marks on the gears?

Yeah any help with the above?

Hey all
My TP magna has done 122K and as far as i know the timing chains have never been replaced. It now rattles at idle and sometimes under acceleration. The Plan is to replace the timing chain and completely remove the balancing shafts and chain. But i have a few questions.

1) Where is the best place to get the replacement chain and guides. Bursons want $150 without the gears and $380 with, Ringwood auto parts have it for $89. Is this just a case of cheaper is better or will the move expensive set be better quality. I'm hopeing it'll last another 100K. Also both of these come with the the balancing chain and guides which I won;t be using. Is it possible to just get the timing parts separately?

Thats where I get em, via ebay

2)Do I need new gears?


Not usually

3) The Plan is to remove the engine. I believe this is necessary to get the balancing shafts out and makes life easy changing the chains. I've got a crane but no decent jacking equipment so the plan was to lift the engine and auto transmission straight out the top. Is this straight forward to do? or is the gearbox going to get caught on crap coming out? I saw in magnabuffs thread about this he appeared to drop the engine out the bottom?

He drops it on the ground to do it, I just lower and tilt it.

4) I know the AC compressor can just be unbolted then tied off to the side but what about the power steering pump? Can it be just tied off to the side of should I just drain the whole system and remove the pump completely.

Ac and power steer just tie aside, no need to disconnect em

5) can I remove the intake completely from the head and leave it connected? or should i disconnected all the wiring and fuel lines then remove it with the engine?

No need to touch it

6) Once the engine/transmission is out do I need to support it on something while i work? or can i just rest it on the ground?

You need to take the sump off so if you dont have a stand, leave it on the crane and be careful.

7) When I've replaced the timing chain is getting hte timing correct just amatter of lining up the two plated chain links with the timing marks on the gears?

There is supposed to be bright links in the chain, I just count the links and mark em with a paint pen before I start. Make sure you are on TDC #1 cyl when you start.
. :D

Yeah any help with the above?


Give me or Buffy a yell if you need to know more. :D

all questions answered by Old Fart lol

take some pictures as you go zomg

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?p=835381#post835381

you only need to take the motor out of the engine bay
if you intend to eliminate the balance shafts

you leave the inlet manifold on

air conditioner pump has 4 x 12 mm bolts

remember where all the timing cover bolts come from .....some differ in length

Ok cool thanks for the replys. few more questions

In terms of removing the engine is it fine to just put lifting chains around the engine mounts? I read somewhere in the workshop manual that there are lifting points on the head somewhere but I cant find anything?

I have to remove the oil pump to get the lower balancing shaft out? Does the timing chain kit come with a replacement gasket to go on the oil pump?

from that linked thread it looked like the motor wasnt out just hinged by the gearbox mount i thought of doing mine this way i changed my chains guides 20000k ago they are stuffed again 100000 = grandpa driving, anyone done them this way?

Thats a little worrying that your chains are gone already, any idea why?

In the link the motor and gearbox are suported
by a chain block at its lifting brackets
on a steep angle within the engine bay

in regards to taking the engine out to do the work, if you dont have a engine stand to work with, do NOT rest the sump on ground - you will bend / damage / dent / kill it with the weight of the block on top of it - they arnt made to support that sorta weight.

if you have to rest the engine on the ground (change crane position etc) then i would suggest an old tyre of sorts to cushion the sump a lil - gives you a lil more grace before damage.

lifting points on the block, should be easy to find - should look like a large 'hook' of sorts.
seatbelts work well for holding / lifting the weight of the engine - just gotta hope you can tie the knot well enough to hold it tho.


not really that helpfull i know, but still a lil sump safety :P

I've actually got an engine stand that mounts the engine by the bellhouse bolts, but I dont have the confidence to separate the engine and transmission and be able to get it back together afterwards. lifting the engine up on an angle like in hte above link with the crane seems like the best bet at the moment.

OK I got the kit today and most of the bits seem to make sense, just a few things.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n270/323987025/AMC/Picture001.jpg

Is this the correct gasket for the oil pump, it just doesnt look like of the ones pictured in the workshop manual?

there must be some gaskets to suit say the 2.6 sigms or triton

I recall for the TP motor
There is no gasket needed for the oil pump
the oil pump mounts flush to the block

there are two different timing cover gaskets to select from on the side
opposite the oil pump
discard the one that does not fit


picture of the back of a new TP oil pump