I was checking fluid levels on wifes 98 XJ8. I noticed a sound from the front of the engine. It sounded like it may be coming from the water pump. It was the origional with plastic impeller. There was also some play in the shaft. 2 bolts snapped off while changing the pump. I had to drill out the bolts and used time certs for the thread repair.
Filled the reservoir and started the engine. No leaks but the sound was still there. Took the belt off and spun the idler pulleys. The tensioner idler pulley was making a noise so I changed it. Restarted engine and the sound was still there. I removed the belt, started the engine and the sound was still there.
My best guess was that it was either the primary tensioners or the guides. Last night I removed what was needed to get to the timing cover and removed the timing cover.
Below are pics of what I found under the cover. Seems that the noise should of been louder than what I originally heard. Parts should be here by tomorrow night and will get it back together by Saturday if I have no more issues.
I will be taking off the oil pan to clean any debris and the oil pickup.



The inner guide failed

 

Go buy a lottery ticket: you are quite lucky!

 

+1...yeah, right! Feel free to tell me those numbers if you have a religious fervor against gambling.

 

I was thinking that just the guide was starting to crack and deteriorate. I wasn't expecting the guide to be completely gone. When I took the valve cover off the passenger side I looked at the guides from the top with a flashlight and saw the pin, that the guide should be on, with nothing on it. Surprisingly the engine is still in perfect time. If I hadn't noticed the sound from the front of the engine when I was checking the fluids, she would still be driving it. Well at least for a little while.
The secondaries had been replace earlier and the primaries where on my to do list. I think the time has come to change them.🤔

 

Highhorse,
The numbers are
1,2,3,4,5,6

Good Luck
🤑🤑🤑🖖

 

LMAO!!!...

 

New primary chains, guides, tensioners, and engine timed last night. Today putting it back together and with no problems getting back on the road this afternoon. 🤞🤞🤞

 

She restarted last night with no problems and is now back on the road.

The cam covers were leaking before I started this project. I have read that the gaskets for the AJ26 are different from the AJ27. I think the car had the AJ27 gaskets because they were blue and I read in a Motorcarman 's post that they should be red in color. I think they were changed when the PO had the secondary tensioners replaced. I couldn't find the correct gaskets.
I read in another Motorcarman post that you can use cam covers from an AJ27 supercharged engine, they don't have the holes in the cover for the VVT. I had an extra pair of the covers and use the with Lincoln LS gaskets. No leaks and all looks good.

 

The early AJV8 engines used a reddish gasket on one side and a greyish gasket on the other.
There was an engine number split when the cam covers changed to the thinner black gaskets.

 

Really nice post, You are very lucky indeed. Where did you get the chains, tensioners and guides? Christophers?

 

I got the timing chain kit, TK4162, online but I don't remember where, it's been 2 or 3 years since I purchased it. I don't like the way the guides that come with the kit fit so I got OEM from SnG Barrett.

 

The guides that come with the aftermarket chain sets are for the 'silent-running' Morse style primaries. Some people adapt them to fit the early roller chains but I always use the wider OEM guides for the early engines.

I have a box full of the aluminum narrow guides if anyone wants them.

 

+1
I use them to scratch my back.