[chrisf]

First, just a little back ground. I got a 76 911s back in June. Original, non-rebuilt 2.7 (tensioner updates). Car has been running great, but recently developed an exhaust leak at the header manifold. I decided this would be the right time to adjust the valves, change filters, etc…..Tear down has been going wonderfully. The most troubling part (until now) was looking at the extremely rusted exhaust nuts, but they came off well, only pulling (4) studs, which will be replaced. I’ve never worked on a 911 myself, and I am amazed at how quickly I was able to strip this thing down!! The only thing left that I would be comfortable removing with the engine in the car would be the fan, intake, and the timing covers, which brings me to the purpose of this post.

Yesterday evening, I finally got around to pulling the strainer from the bottom of the cases. Now, the way this happened is still tripping me out. I stuck my hand inside the case and pulled out……..what I now know to be the small clip for the timing chain master link! It was just laying in the bottom of the case! The tensioner update was done back in March of 2005, perhaps the mechanic shot this clip from his pliers, couldn’t find it and said f’it and reach for another? Maybe not.

I’ll be pulling one or both of the timing chain covers to search for this missing clip on the chain. Typically, is the master link inserted from the back of the timing chain, meaning that I would be able to see that the master link clip is missing? And are the any special considerations before I remove the timing covers, which side would be easier, etc?

Thanks for reading my post and any advice is much appreciated.

Chris