My 1983 Wagon (Eaglerod)

[tougeagle]

Where those two metal hooks are inside the timing cover is where a plastic tensioner sits, thats why it was rubbing. You definitely need to get a tensioner for it.... it's just a piece of rubber/plastic that slides in...

[mudkicker715]

Where those two metal hooks are inside the timing cover is where a plastic tensioner sits, thats why it was rubbing. You definitely need to get a tensioner for it.... it's just a piece of rubber/plastic that slides in...

Not listed in the book nor was it ever present in 6 258's I seen. 3 had oe timing sets

[68AMXGOPAC]

Guess all 3 of yours fell out, bummer.

[thereverendbill]

I called autozone and they said that it is not listed/ not available.  Would it really hurt to put it all back together without or does the 4.0 Cherokee share the same tensioner

[mudkicker715]

Guess all 3 of yours fell out, bummer.

So my books are wrong

Also the 2 4.0's I dug in have none.

So where does this mystery tensioner go. Not in the mood todig through pics

[thereverendbill]

well, I decided to just put it back together with no tensioner.  New chain is nice and tight with no slack so I think I am good for another 100k miles (I hope)

[mudkicker715]

well, I decided to just put it back together with no tensioner.  New chain is nice and tight with no slack so I think I am good for another 100k miles (I hope)

The point is your good as it never had a so called tensioner.

[thereverendbill]

well, I decided to just put it back together with no tensioner.  New chain is nice and tight with no slack so I think I am good for another 100k miles (I hope)

The point is your good as it never had a so called tensioner.

there is a listing for it through autozone but they can't get it (don't surprise me).  i also checked for the 4.0 that looks simular to the 4.2 unit but again  but they can't even get the part number for that one.  I just hate dealing with these parts stores around here   

[IowaEagle]

I checked both parts catalogs ('79 - '88) and the only chain tensioner I found was for an AMC I-4.

[tougeagle]

Mine has a tensioner in it, wish I had taken a photo. I would hope they would include tensioners in these things, unless it was the same kind of deal as the exhaust manifold gaskets, or lack thereof. That's exactly what those two "hooks" in the cover are for though...

[mudkicker715]

i say your car is unnatural than. a tight chain needs no tensioner. it is tight. also i see it would be impossible for such a thing.

[tougeagle]

>_< The tensioner slips between those two, it is just a plastic piece. I don't know why they're no longer sold. If I had the time and had absolutely nothing else to do I would pull my cover and take a picture of it. Though, I do have a true roller set, maybe the tensioner came with it. They wouldn't just put those grooves in the timing cover for the chain to wear off and deposit aluminum shavings into the oilpan, toasting main bearings or an oil pump later on.

[mudkicker715]

Tabs?

[tougeagle]

My engine must be pretty special then, since it was the only one ever made with a timing chain damper

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-Cherokee-Grand-Wrangler-4-0L-Timing-Chain-Set-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZMakeQ3aJeepQQhashZitem35b06c9c5bQQitemZ230593174619QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CLOYES-9-4023S-Timing-Chain-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZMakeQ3aAmericanQ20MotorsQQhashZitem5ae0245d3aQQitemZ390307536186QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

https://napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?A=NTP95337_0191971926&An=599001+101983+50002+2002008&Ar=AND%28P_RecType%3aA%29

Bill, my apologies, it's not a tensioner, it's a damper. It's listed for the 4 cylinder but it is exactly the same for the 6 cylinder.

[thereverendbill]

it's all good toug, I tried and tried to find a new one around town here but they are unavailible or the counter help is just too lazy to order me parts for a 242 that interchange with my 258.

I did get the new timing set installed and everything put back together.  I also checked and regapped the plugs (45 for the time being from 48).  i also found where my valve cover is leaking/pouring oil.  It looks like I got what i paid for when I bought the ebay valve cover, it is warped.  Now I get the fun task of taking the valve cover off and see if I can get it milled flat.

has anyone just cut the firewall to make it easier to remove and install the alluminum valve cover?