Chipped chain rail on 300CE

[antonino]

I took the top timing cover off to replace a leaking gasket on a 1991 300CE with the M104 twin cam engine. I bought this car that is in exceptional condition with 146K on it last year. My wife and I have driven the car for a year...it now has 156K on it. I took it off the road for the winter to do a waterpump (did this the other day) and replace the gasket for the front timing cover. I set the cams and then rotated the crank until the cam marks lined up again and then checked the crank which read 0 degrees TDC...This would lead me to believe that the chain may have been replaced as it shows no wear (lools brand new) and no stretch...that is the good news, the bad news is that I am sure that if someone changed the chain they did not do the guides as the one that rides on the tensioner is the alluminum backed one, not the plastic ones sold now. The issue is that the top front side of this guide has its front top edge chipped for the last 2 inches of the rail. As I said the car is in the garage for the winter so there is no rush...I want to do what is needed. Can anyone who understands this situation tell me what needs to be done. Obviously, if the guides need to be relaced then the question is do I do the chain as well and has anyone had any luck pulling the damper which I am told is torqued to 250lbs? Help and advise please...I will consider it an early XMass present.

Antonino

Antonino