I am thinking when the day finally comes to rebuild the 2.6L if I don't win lotto and put a 3.5L tippy in the TR is it true that it chops the guides out and dramatically reduces timing chain life. I honestly would not of thought the amount shaved would "seriously" affect tension - It seems plausable in theory or is my mechanic just too scared to guarentee the work.

Nope, done this several times on Sigmas - similar motor - and there are no problems shaving the head affecting the chains or the guides. Mind you, on a high mileage motor these bits are probably due for replacement anyway. Shaving the head will simply make any chain rattle you have slightly worse. Why not do the chains and guides at the same time? Check the piston bores too, you might need a rebore and new pistons. And a crank grind.

Ahhh what the hell, just rip the motor out and do everything at one go.

Sounds like the mechanic is scared to do the head work because of all the other problems he will find! lol

Just ask him what else might need doing while the head is off. When the 2.6L gets beyond 250,000 Km lots need doing to get it back to new.
How many Km on your engine? I can have a guess at what needs doing based on that.

176,542 km's still a baby - but the valve stem seals are shot, and I heard the chains only go to about 200k, I am also running Penrite HPR30 (loved it from V8 Falcon days). But price of rebuilding (I mean a full not just rings and seals etc.) I'm really thinking my body and interior is mint - but I do have to respray due to clear coat - how hard if possible is it to buy a 3rd gen wreck and do ABS conversion and put a 3.5 tippy in it - or am I just dreaming as usual ?

previous owner did 172,000 lost licence for 2 years, then 5 it sat in a paddock for just over 18 months and I got it. If it does a long run 15km+ regularly with no idling it's great, but stuck in the city idling it is like a Sigma in 5th up a steep hill no rings foot flat (under load)

it could be done but will cost 2 times as much if you cant do it yourself. Biggest issue straight off the bat is the engines are opposed. TR is east west and 3rd gen is west east, if you get what i mean.

Do people bother using thicker headgaskets on a stock rebuild? to compensate for the head shaving? On turbo/tuned cars it can be an issue if you dont but thought i would ask? this could be the reason mechanics may not like it?

Yeah I know what you mean by the engine tranny being opposed - is this the same with the 3L ? Otherwise I'm just going to buy a decent KR/KS wreck one day and strip it as need be. I actually wanted to shave the head for increased compression at rebuild as I always use high octane pump fuel 95 - 98 RON

Hi DKG779,

Getting the heads machined for an increase in power isn't likely to return much - for a 10% compression increase, you might net 3% more power. Aside from giving more slack for the tensioner to take up, the other thing you'll have to deal with or live with is retarded cam timing (unless you put in thicker head gaskets, which defeats the purpose). The retarded cam timing could mean no net power gain.

There is not only the engine orientation to think of, you have a 4cyl thus you need to upgrade lower control arms, brakes, drive shafts etc etc

Then the next issue, which ecu to use, you can use an unlocked third gen box if you are going to run a manual box, if auto as you are tinking of 5 speed tippy, you have then TCL, ABS and a host of massive other mods all to do on a 1000 dollar car

If you are doing it to be a little different but if not then it is a waste of money and time, also good luck convincing anyone to register it as well. While done properly I think that this would be an awsome conversion to a second gen, I sadly think that most of the people who have to sign off on something like this would think otherwise

Ok, Thanks To all who have replied. It's funny I've always been a manual person but since I have driven a tippy I love them, but I love the shape of the 2nd gen. In saying that I'd rather put what money I have into getting a house payed off and mod the 4 cyl a bit when I eventually need to get it rebuilt - Looks like I was dreaming again !