2.6L Mitsubishi timing chain replacement

[Scott Bates]

I have a 87 Dodge Caravan with a 2.6L engine. How hard is replacing the
chain?? Why is there such a high cost in replacing the chain??

Any info would be greatly apprecated!!

--

Scott Bates
p030...@pbfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us

[Whitney Turner]

According to Haynes, there is a balance shaft drive chain that needs to
be removed and replaced in order to get at the timing chain.

Best,
Whitney

[tra...@hotmail.com]

> I have a 87 Dodge Caravan with a 2.6L engine. How hard is replacing the
> chain?? Why is there such a high cost in replacing the chain??
>
> Any info would be greatly apprecated!!

Let me put it this way..My father is one of those guys who does it all when
it comes to cars. He owns a body shop, he builds engines for people on the
side. Just one of those Jack of all Trades type guys. Well my Mom has a 87
dodge caravan with the 2.6 and the timing chain slipped. I've never heard
him complain so much about doing something in my whole life. I take it that
it wasn't too easy. I think he eventually had to go and buy a chilton's
manual for it, because of the way the chain is set in.

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[John]

Replacing the chain in only difficult in the engine is transverse which
makes it tough. I my experience if the chain needs replacement - the engine
is near it's life. It is not mentioned which chain has the problem. If the
oil pump drive chain has broken - the engine is almost surely toast....I've
seen enough of them. It's a really lame engine design - I don't know what
the engineers were smoking.

Scott Bates wrote in message <74d3v5$9...@nntp.seflin.org>...

>I have a 87 Dodge Caravan with a 2.6L engine. How hard is replacing the
>chain?? Why is there such a high cost in replacing the chain??
>
>Any info would be greatly apprecated!!
>
>

>--
>
>Scott Bates
>p030...@pbfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us
>

[Friar Tuck]

I totally agree with the guy who said it's a lame design. I am currentlly
fixing one that dropped the oil pump chain - on the freeway BOOM !!!

Changing the chain is a pain but can be done if you have a manual and the
time.

I now have far more respect for my Toyota the more I see of this engine.

I also found casting sand and lots of it inside the block when I replace the
wetch plug's on the second hand engine block I got to fix the above. The
amount was amazing. I wonder what effect it had on the engine cooling ??

In article <74d3v5$9...@nntp.seflin.org>, p030...@pb.seflin.org (Scott Bates)
wrote:

[morgul the friendly drelb]

kd...@banet.net wrote:
>
> I have rebuilt 2 of these engines and the timing chain looked ok on both but
> I replaced it anyway with the balance shaft elimination kit. This is what
> caused 1 engine to fail. The bearing came out of the block on the top shaft
> and sprung the cover letting the oil out of the engine. I can see no reason
> to have it. Both engines now have 20,000 plus miles on them and run
> excellent. I think it would be very difficult to change the timing chain with
> the engine in the vehicle, thus the high cost.

>
> In article <74d3v5$9...@nntp.seflin.org>,
> p030...@pb.seflin.org (Scott Bates) wrote:
> > I have a 87 Dodge Caravan with a 2.6L engine. How hard is replacing the
> > chain?? Why is there such a high cost in replacing the chain??
> >
> > Any info would be greatly apprecated!!
> >

> > --
> >
> > Scott Bates
> > p030...@pbfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us

> >
> >
>
> -----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
> http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own

Is that because of the sideways engine placement? i had the chain
replaced in a mitsubishi rwd car with the timing chain in the front like
god intended, and it was no big deal. main source of cost was the
exorbitant parts prices, but nothing completely out of line with other
imports.

[kd...@banet.net]

[SKeller105]

Its not technically hard, but it is a lot of work. You have to hold the
engine up with a lifting rig because to get the chain cover off, you remove the
right engine mount. It costs a lot because you are also buying the guides that
keep the chain tight. If your van has 150,000 miles or more-do it. I waited
till I heard funny noises at 245,000- the chain guides wore through and broke
and endied up in the oil pan. You may want to replace the balance chains at
the same time, to keep the engine running smooth.
SKell...@AOL.COM

[Colin Smith]

I don't agree with you on the other 'import' pricing, but found prices for
the 2.6 to be quite reasonable. I just replaced a piston in my 2.6
Mitsubishi (Mazda truck), and it was $24.99 CDN with pin.

Also, rings, gaskets, rod bearings, etc were all reasonably priced. In fact,
they were considerably less than similar parts for an 88 Sunbird done before
it.

Colin