Engine near death experience! Or; the best $21 ever spent

[rockabillyjay]

My 78SC almost died this weekend!

I drove into work on Saturday (about 30miles), and when I got in I noticed my car making a unfriendly noise. I've heard it described different ways, but the sound a bicycle makes when the chain is hitting the guard is what it reminded me of.

At the time I wasn't sure what it was. I removed the fanbelt to make sure it wasn't the alternator bearing on it's way out. It wasn't. Rather than risk it, I had it towed to California Porsches where I do all the work on my car.

Once there I gave it a listen with a stethoscope..defiantly coming from the chain tensioner..yikes!

Once I opened it up it was obvious BOTH chain tensioners failed. I could push them up and down with one hand. A good set was dug out of the used parts pile and I was back on the road in no time.

I couldn't (still can't) afford the oil fed upgrade kit..but luckily when I was getting this thing back on the road, I spent the $21 on the guard set. These little guys saved my motor!

If you are not running the oil fed tensioners, go put these on your motor NOW!

Porsche 911 (1974-1989) - Camshafts & Timing Chains - Page 2

[Trackrash]

+1 on chain guards. Yea, the oil does leak out of the old style tensioners over time....