603 timing chain guides/tensioner - head off
 

I've been looking in the archives and seem to be getting two answers. 603 engine is out o' the car. I am putting a new timing chain on, and guides and tensioner if they look worn ( I am assuming they will need replacement). Does the head have to come off to do the tensioner guide or I do it with just the timing cover off? thanks.

Part of the head gasket is mated to the timing cover, though not for compression reasons AFAIK. There are two bolts from the head to the timing cover that can be removed without taking everything else apart. You can also remove the slide rail without taking head off (in fact you need to take it out to remove the head).

But if you rails and chain are worn, isn't your head gasket a bit worn too?

The head was replaced with a #17 npt too long ago. Car was not mine then or the timing chain etc would have been done too. It is good to know that I don't need to take the head off. I looked in the FSM and found out about the bolts on top in the head - there are a couple in the oil pan too, right? -
andy

yes...if you have engine out of car I'm guessing 80% of your work is already done (oh, that's assuming you have tools to remove flywheel and other pulleys)

Pulleys off - thanks to scrap wood and C clamp for the fan clutch, and $7 harmonic balancer puller kit from Harbor Freight for the big one on the crankshaft. I still need to make a dial gauge holder to go into the #1 cylinder so I can locate TDC and set the timing pointer. Anyone know the thread size on an injector? Not that I can't measure it, but if anyone knows off the top o' the head...
thanks