Carrera tensioner upgrade on a 1980 911SC
 

I will soon be performing the carrera cam tensioner upgrade on my 1980 911SC Targa.....parts have been ordered. Can I get any last minute advice from any of our members that have done this on their car?......photos? How did you secure the cam chains to prevent them from slipping? Any issues on start up?......much appreciated!

1980 911SC Targa
2006 997 C4S Coupe

The chains jump a tooth rather than slip. Not easy to achieve. At any rate, I would use the proper tool P204 to tension the chains: PEL-TOL-P204

G

Thanks a lot Aigel....will hopefully be able to add that tool to my order with Pelican Parts!
Much appreciated!......so this way you don't need to tie the chain or jam a piece of wood in to secure the chain....correct?

Alex

Mark the chain on the cam gear, I spray off with carb cleaner and have fingernail polish in the tool box. Now you know where the things go if it were to jump.,
Take the nut off the old tensioner, with a finger support the idler, pull the old tensioner, installl the new one, run the nut on, and then pull the pin to load the tension.
If you were to jump the chain, the flats on the cam are 17mm, release the tensioner and jump the chain back to the mark and reload the tensioner.
Bruce

Thank you also Bruce!
I forgot to mention this but I will also be replacing the chain wheel support arms, as my car has the older, narrower ones with the aluminum spacers,........what's the catch there?

Alex

keep finger pressure on the chain and if anything jumps. load it up and move it back to where it belongs. It wouldnt hurt to put marks on 2 different places on the gear then you dont have to guess if its exactly where it belongs.
If in doubt, have someone hold the cam with the open end 17mm
Bruce

Thanks again Bruce......one more dumb question......so the chain, if it is going to slip, would slip from the camshaft and NOT the crankshaft.......seeing as I won't be able to view the crankshaft during the procedure, you would assume that the chain remains secure "at the other end"......correct?

Alex

with the engine on #1 TDC, you can remove both tensioners and the cams will not move. just don't try to turn the cams until the new tensioners are installed and the pin pulled and you'll be fine.

I d still put fingernail polish on it. J.W. and I both have the tools to redial in the cam available but you dont. The cam is loading up with spring pressure and thats the end on the chain that would jump because of the spring pressure.
Bruce

Gentlemen, thank you very much for all your advice! I'm expecting the parts in the next week or so and will keep you posted as to my progress. Meanwhile, if you can think of anything else, let me know.

Thanks again!

Alex
Calgary, Alberta

1980 911SC Targa
2006 997 C4S Coupe

Here is a good step by step with illustrations

Pelican Technical Article: 911 Carrera Chain Tensioner Upgrade

Thank you very much Aigel, Flat6pack, Tom1394racing, and Johnwalkersworkshop! The project is now complete and with your expert guidance, a success at that. What a difference in the engine sound!.....no more clang/clang/clang of the old tensioners. I inspected the old tensioners and was amazed at the amount of wear that I encountered, especially to the aluminum collars.....they were pretty hacked up, to say the least! Also, I couldn't compress the tensioners.....it seems as if they were just jammed in the fully extended position. So, with that, the job had to be done! I was probably on the verge of experiencing a major tensioner failure at anytime! FYI The SC has 125,000 KM on it. So now, on to other things........Thanks again gentlemen!

Now just a word to other 1969-83 911 owners......if you haven't upgraded your tensioners....DO IT NOW.....IT"S A MUST!

Much appreciated guys!

Alex

the previous owned had it done on my car. unfortunately i dont know the details