hopefully, you set the Balancer timing marks to 0 prior to taking off the cam, but if not, it's not a HUGE deal...
the chain will not fall off any teeth from the timing device or any of the other gears. just drop it in the hole.
when you are ready to put the cam back on, just lift the chain up, and put tension on it where it can turn smoothly, like with a wire, or chunk of hose in the middle..., then rotate the crank around to the 0 mark, and put the cam in place. it'll be fine.

Cool thanks, yes, marked at 0 when pulled.

I'll take pics and post. Took the trip today into the city and hit the picknpull. Found an '85 SD that hasn't been touched yet and an '82 SD that was a little picked over. Grabbed a bunch of stuff. Ran out of energy. Driving back tomorrow to get the vacuum pumps and one of the turbos.

scene of the crime
 

Took some pics. Went out today and cleaned block surface (pics are 'before'), pulled oil pan vent and turbo drain lines and cleaned 'em up. Got the manifolds and tensioner off old head. Waiting on head, new bolts, gasket set. Doing all new head bolts.

Why not just repair the head? A valve job usually consists of new guides anyway. My local head guy only charges $250 plus the cost of the guides (about $6 each).

That is one clean block surface for a before picture

$250 is a good deal, the machine shop here quoted a considerably higher price and of course I'd have to pull the prechambers. Just one more tool to get, although I should get one.

Pre-chamber special tools are not on my shopping list. How often are you planning to remove them?

I can loan you the PC tools...

Done!
 

After all the wailing....its done, car runs great. Daughter has an eye infection so was just me and the shop crane, and a load leveler (great things).

Everything went back together easier than it came apart.

I do admit that I have an extra head. I went to the upullit and grabbed a head, cleaned the jujubees out of it and it looked great, not a single crack or ugly mark. Valves were all tight in the guides.

Still have another on the way from a forum member, that one is going to go to the shop and get a complete re-work and go on the shelf for when I do a motor rebuild.

New valve guide seals, tensioner spring, head bolts.

Idles quietly at 750, no blue smoke, a little black smoke if I really get into it. Timing might be off because I was screwing with drip timing chasing the original smoke issue. Compression on 4 cylinders came up (one was already at 400), so I suppose it really needed the work. 225 is now 355.

Did discover that my left motor mount isn't tightened down, I suspect I cross threaded the big bolt. (sigh) Guess next job is to get the engine 'foot' off and either replace or drill tap for a bigger size.

Cool
 

Happy to hear all is well...


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Awesome news!

Yay! That's the most pleasing part of a project -- firing it up and discovering that you solved a big problem!

This is true :o.

No the most pleasing part of a project is cleaning up all your new junk yard treasures in the bathtub and trying to straighten up your new trunk mat you just found wadded into a ball :D

Yes Christmas came early for me, I may have holes in my socks and used underwear on, but by god my little silver girl will get her parts....

Yes I may have problems....

Smoker are you reading this? Its an insight into your future :D

Heh.....But I have so many steel ladies to please......and ...what is 'underwear'? Submariners never wear that stuff.