Timing Chain Question

[82wagon]

Now that my '82 has about 135,000 miles on it I got to wondering about the timing chain.

My question is, did the 258's use the cam gears with nylon teeth from the factory like other manufacturers of the time did? If so I am probably way over do for one.

Thanks in advance!

Ken

[IowaEagle]

yes they did, on the cam gear.  You may find this of some help:  http://www.amceaglenest.com/~iowaeagl/guide/index.php?title=Timing_Chain_R_%26_R

[Jurjen]

Mine started making noises around 80,000 miles.

[82wagon]

Great!

Thanks for the help. As far as I know mine is still the original set. Guess I better plan on replacing it....

Thanks again.

[AMCKen]

Anyone have suggestions as to how to check for a slack chain? My timing light shows the mark jumping around a bit. I've heard that if you move the crank back and forth until the distributor moves, or you feel the chain about to move the cam, you shouldn't have more than 1/2 inch of movement of the balancer. Years ago on my Gremlin, at about 100,000 miles,  I could heard the chain tapping the cover when I wiggled the crank. That isn't happening yet on this car at about 118,000 miles.

thanks

[Jurjen]

The problem is that the nylon gear is getting brittle after so many years, so you will need to replace it anyway.
It is also a good time to check the rubber in the haromonic balancer and to replace the front oil seal (that is probably leaking now).
Parts are cheap @ $40 for the gear, chain, gaskets and oil seal.

[shanebo]

They are most certainly nylon!! When I disassembaled the motor in my 83' I noticed a bunch of fine hair line cracks between the teeth....I accedently dropped the thing a few days later and it basically shattered.....I would DEFINATLY think about replacing it as they do tend to get brittle with age.

[Eagleearl]

At 135,000 miles I doubt that the timing set is original. It may be time to rechange it though.
Shanebo, how many miles did your car have on it when you changed it and found the nylon toothed gear?
I changed mine at 162,000 because it was making a lot of noise ( slapping against the timing cover under power,sounded like bad pinging ) and it was not the original.

[AMCKen]

My 68 AMX actually skipped 2 teeth at about 140,000 miles. The nylon teeth were mostly gone into the oil pan. That's when I decided to do the Gremlin with only 100,000. I thinking I'll order up a set from rockauto and do it 'cause if I sell it, I don't want it to fail the next week.

[shanebo]

It was on my 83 wagon...shes got just over 80,000 miles...The gear was all there (before I dropped it) it was not wore down, but it was full of small stress fracture looking cracks....very brittle!.

[JayRamb]

My 87 Eagle had 63,000 miles and was worn

[shanebo]

Its weird that some wear in so few miles while others can make it over 100,000. I suppose driving conditions and extreme hots and colds could cause the material to become brittle and wear prematurely.

[JayRamb]

I believe mine was worn out sooner due to engine run on. I cured that after I bought it.

[thereverendbill]

whyen I replaced my timing set at 103k everything was metal (and not all that worn) but since I had already taken everything apart and bought the new timing set I said the heck with it and installed the new pieces

[shanebo]

Im glad I tore the engine down and found that....could have had a big problem on my hands otherwise