The vise grips( either filed or holding something with proper holes in them) might help with seating of the side plate, which several have described as a very tight fit... and since it is a tight fit it takes very little peening of the pin to make it where it will not come off without grinding the end off... as shown in the shop manual...
Listen to Larry.. this is a frugal bunch and timing chains just don't have to be changed all that often...