A Little Rattle Never Hurt Anybody?
 

I have a very very slight rattle upon cold start up. But only sometimes... It goes away in a second, but how urgent is it that I have my chain and guides replaced? Is the car a ticking time bomb? Thanks guys....

Based on the types of issues you have asked about over the last couple months here and on other forums, I'd say, yes, it's a ticking time bomb. You should get it checked out ASAP.

Okay Glen, suppose you didn't know about my idle issues, my (now fixed) slave, would you say its a problem? I know it should be replaced soon, just how long can these guides take the abuse? It's a very slight rattle, if any. The rattle isn't even sharp, could be valve clatter upon start up? Really not sure....

With all the "little" things that you've had to fix, I'd really be concerned that the previous owner neglected basic maintenance. If that's the case and you are hearing chain rattle...who knows!

On the one hand, maybe you are still running the original tensioner and it's bleeding down and letting the chain rattle at first startup. Maybe all you need is the updated (ratcheting) tensioner. I don't know.

I still think you should have it checked...sooner than later.

Glen, to let you in on a little secret, the previous owner and his maintenance? What maintenance? There was none. The car sat for 10 years.... But its intrinsically coming back, slowly but surely. Some things were done, but not much... But considering what I paid, I'm still very much in the black. Thanks for the advice... BTW, is there a way for myself to visually inspect the chain guides without taking the whole valve cover off?

The valve cover has to come off to see the cams, sprockets, and chain.

if there is a ticking sound when u first start the car when its cold, and it happens all the time...then its time to change the timing chain and tensioner.

A Chain Tensioner IS Cheap....When Compared to a Few BENT Valves...AKA Valve Job.....It May Just rattle a Little toooo Long one time and then ..BAM:eek:

I had the same problem, When finally tackling the project after many risky starts, one of the guides on the driver side was in 25 different pieces which had to be fished out. The new tensioner helped the starts right away and make sure to prime it well before installing it, otherwise you are still at risk for the next few starts.

Peter