Frankly,

I had a lot of time to think about the failure on the plane today. I kept coming back to the fact that the chain snapped on the tensioner side, and my belief is a hard engine failure would break the chain on the injection pump side, You experience does seem to fit this pattern but unfortunately I won't be able to put eyes on the car for a while. I will definitely check out the upper pan next time I go to the car, plus I will bring my flashlight to try and fish the chain out - even in bright daylight I couldn't see down into the depths.

The tensioner rail, FWIW, was not in contact with the tensioner and was actually a little inboard. I suspected it was because the chain had fallen against the lower end of the rail and levered it inward. Which end of the rail broke on your's, the upper of lower end?

I still think it is salvageable, just have to put a little more work into it. What really bites is that I wanted MY $100 behind the barn story to end with me driving it out of the field and 300 miles home .

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.