L28 front cover

[ennisdavis]

Do I have to replace the head gasket when I pull the front cover?

[AZDatsun]

If you drop the oil pan down a little first it might come out without any damage 50/50 I would say. Some people use a dab of sealant up in the corner between the head gasket and the front cover and that might make it so you need to replace it

[ennisdavis]

You mean "dont" need to replace it, right? typo?

[ennisdavis]

Also, Do I need to remove the front cover to check the condition of the timing chain and tensioners?

 

[Patcon]

14 minutes ago, ennisdavis said:

Also, Do I need to remove the front cover to check the condition of the timing chain and tensioners?

 

Yes

[Dave WM]

you can remove the front cover without removing head. as mentioned drop the front of the pan about 1/8 inch.

if you want to inspect the bottom of the tensioner then removing the front cover is best. 

Make sure you get a good seal around the water passages. permatex aviation sealant. also you want good clean surfaces when reinstalling. lasty use a thread sealant on the water pump long bolts. 

 

[Zed Head]

Don't overlook the little screws.

 

 

Edited October 16, 2021 by Zed Head

[ennisdavis]

Other then looking at the tensioner, what is the procedure for determining the quality of the timing chain?

[dutchzcarguy]

8 hours ago, ennisdavis said:

what is the procedure for determining the quality of the timing chain?

As i'm just in the proces of closing the front of my L28 (last week) I have a nice pic for you..

This is my reusable chain of 42 years old and 120000 Km on it !  It's in excellent condition if you ask me , By laying it on the vice you can see how much it bends.. this is normal for a used chain.. If it bends much more it's gone.. (I put it back with the big camshaftgear still on number 1 !  Meaning there is no stretched chain here..)

[zKars]

That is a very ingenious way of measuring/gauging wear on a timing chain. It doesn’t say much about stretch, but it does say something about pin wear. I’d have to compare it to a new chain to get idea of how much deflection is meaningful. Given the pretty reasonable price of a timing set (gears and chain and tensioner) I wouldn’t hesitate to put in a new set if I had the engine apart. 

I’ve never ever heard of a chain breaking, and stretch just means some mild adjustment of cam timing. At the extreme end of stretch you risk skipping a tooth or teeth and having your valves have a new angle on life (a very short life after that), but that is also extremely rare. 

[dutchzcarguy]

19 minutes ago, zKars said:

I’d have to compare it to a new chain to get idea of how much deflection is meaningful.

Oh i love to see a pic like mine of a new chain.. i bet it's almost the same..  (It took some time to get the chain lying on the vise as it's very oily and flexing all the time.)

[Zed Head]

I kind of like the factory method, if the marks are there.  Just make sure that the left side, the pulling side, is under tension.