alex102

Hey guys,

Just wanted to check your opinion on the way my engine sounds. I think I hear the chain rattle, but is there also something else, like piston slap?

Here's the video, I rev it up at 0:18 sec and the sound changes a little:

ss2ooo

Sounds like a diesel... and your timing chain tensioner

Slowcrash_101

Sounds like some loooooooooose valve clearance, otherwise ok.

alex102

I've just had my valve steam seals replaced. Does that typically include a valve adjustment? I assume that's what it needs to fix the loose valve clearance noise, right?

The mechanic also told me my chain is stretched and that I should replace it.

Slowcrash_101

It could also be a missing lost motion assembly. It's a little spring that sits under the rocker arm. When you install the cam caps its usually a good idea to back off all the valve clearance so it lowers the risk of snapping a cam cap.

alex102

This is how things look on the inside. What do you think? One side of the springs are kind of black, wondering why? Also, when crank is at the correct mark, the cams are not exactly facing each other.

I'll check everything you mentioned too.

Slowcrash_101

You got the valve cover off? Wiggle those rockers see if they're loose. Looks like the cam idler gear was removed and replaced as the timing marks are not in line with the cams. Do the cam marks line up with each other? The timing marks on the crank pulley aren't 100% accurate.

alex102

Older pictures. The car has been making this noise for a while, even before the valve steam seal replacement. So I don't think there's anything loose. But I'll look into it.
The cams align, but then don't match with the pulley. Here's what I mean:

Slowcrash_101

Try this, put a long wooden stick down the bore, through the spark plug tube on cylinder 1, and then line up the cams, see if the piston is at TDC with the cams aligned. If it is, you're good on that end. Again the marks on the pulley aren't always 100% accurate. The only real accurate way is to remove the pulley and judge piston TDC from the crank keyway. Pulling the crank pulley bolt is a ripe ol' PITA, and probably not worth the trouble, stick down the bore is pretty good to see if you're in the ballpark.

Also any pics of the "black springs"?

alex102

Just this picture my mechanic sent me after replacing the seals. I've added an arrow. Seemed weird that one row of springs is a completely different colour than the other.