Timing chain and grooves in cam cover

[Spoonman]

Got the cam cover off my engine to check the tappets (all well and good), and underneath the TVR logo is a groove that looks like evidence of a loose timing chain. The chain's nice and tight (you can barely lift it), but there's nothing in the service history to even suggest the cover had been off before I bought the car.

So, is there something I'm missing?

[BGB autosport]

How many miles has it done, it may have been loose in the past and tightened at the last service.

[Spoonman]

It's done just under 19,000 miles, but I've owned it since its 12k service (at 11,000-ish miles) and there's no evidence in the service history of it ever being apart.

That's not to say there isn't a massive receipt for an engine rebuild missing from the folder though.

It's a bit tappety at the moment (thus the clearances check), but I've not used it since last summer, and maybe I've just forgotten how rattly they are.

[BGB autosport]

You dont need to take any thing off to adjust the chain, its a 2 min job and does not even need the valve cover off. Simply undo a nut, turn the tensioner and tighten the nut.

The chain may well be tight at the top between the cams but may be slack at the side, put the palm of your hand on the chain between the cams and put some weight on it, you might find some slack, the cams will be stiff so use some pressure.

[fatjon]

Not beyond the bounds of possibility that the cam cover was not new when it was fitted. A lot of engines were returned for rebuild and if they ran out of cam covers and had a pile of engines in the corner of the factory - problem solved, we are talking about TVR here! Or maybe at some point in the past while being serviced the wrong one was fitted back on? If the chain isn't loose and never has been then the marks occured when the cover was on another engine, that seems clear enough. One of the great mysteries of the universe, like who designed a Cerbera handbrake and had he had a drink that lunch time.

Jon

[Spoonman]

Thanks for the info, chaps.

The car was built in Oct 2002, but the cam cover is scribed with 11.01.01. Maybe there's something in that second-hand cam cover theory...

[Whitey]

RG do a rubber cam cover gasket that raises the height of the cover slightly to avoid this. I don't doubt it's your original cover, but of course you never know!

[Spoonman]

Didn't know there was a gasket available. Sounds like an excellent idea. I'll definitely buy one before I whip the cover off again.

Cheers.

[VARLEYHYD]

Whitey said:

RG do a rubber cam cover gasket that raises the height of the cover slightly to avoid this. I don't doubt it's your original cover, but of course you never know!

Be aware the increased thickness of the gasket may have a tendency to pull the plug leads off!

G

[Whitey]

VARLEYHYD said:

Whitey said:

RG do a rubber cam cover gasket that raises the height of the cover slightly to avoid this. I don't doubt it's your original cover, but of course you never know!

Be aware the increased thickness of the gasket may have a tendency to pull the plug leads off!

G

Jeez nothing is easy with the Speed 6 is it? !

[sidpinup]

I think my chain may need to be tightened, anyone here know how to do it? I am sure there was a topic on here but cant find it.

Thanks

[HPRulz]

We still have some new ones around not sure what colours we have tho