OK, my car has 149K and I'm scared of a Total Engine Wreck, so I onened it up. The timing chain looks tight, the cam sprockets are not sharp and I don't see any wear; the upper and tensioning guides are a uniform, medium-dark cramel color, not cracked. This afternoon I am removing the radiator to gain better access to bar the engine around to check timing. Then I will move the ps pump and alternator, and start planning how I am going to get the guide pins out without the slide hammer.
I am nervous about how much I have had to remove to get the cam covers off, but that's just because I am an amateur; the new cam cover gaskets will alleviate a small oil leak on the passenger side, though. I finally had to remove all the injectors in their holders, in order to get the air hoses off; in retrospect I would have had to break them to get the hoses off, as they are very stiff. I was appalled at the grit and detritus in the area where the injectors were; I greased my finger and got as much out as I could without making things worse, then wiped the bores out with clean paper towels, then stuffed some in each bore to keep grit and misc. dropped bolts out. I see no mention in the factory manual about the need to release the tensioner prior to replacing the guides, so I think I'll leave it alone and replace the chain and tensioner at a later time, if the chain stretch checks out reasonable. I have plastic parts for the cam oiler tubes, so I might as well replace these at this time.
More later; regards to all.
PS: rather than remove the radiator, I removed the fan and gained adequate access to bar the engine; set 'er on TDC #1 and removed distributor. Alas, there is no timing mark on the cam sprockets; on the left-hand (driver's) side, on the backside of the sprocket, some markings line up with the mark on the bearing tower: the marks are a "116" and below it, and "N" (may have no significance). I removed the power steering pump and bracket, and sprayed the pins with WD-40. Now, I have to develop a way to get them out.
RCR