ambit

Lol,
Yeah I was looking for a way to rename the thread after we really got into the project but didn't see a way.

"Can you provide some detail on how you got the timing set up with the cams and all?"

As you can kinda see in this pic, there are 'arrows' molded into the metal frame that hold the cams down:

Here is a better closeup:

Those 'arrows' line up with the 'notch' in the cam (circled in red) that looks like this: |

We set the crank at Top Dead Center via the marking on the front of the wheel. It lines up with the protrusion from the timing chain cover circled here:


With the crank set at TDC, and the intake cam lined up, we used large crescent wrenches to turn the exhaust cam towards the intake cam. This pulled the chain tensioner tight, brought the links close enough and lined up the exhaust cam notch.

ghetto. but it worked
With the exhaust cam lined up we were able to slide the master link into the chain and clamp it down.


2 of the head bolts were broke because my friend and I are retarded and we both misread N/m as Ft/lbs and over-torqued them, lol.
Same issue with one of the 20 bolts that hold the cams down. Misread the specs and over-torqued it too. No big deal though, we got very good extracting them

I have put ~200mi on the car since the rebuild and it has been flawless. Took it to MB of Devon and it passed inspection and a more thorough checkever I requested.
I will actually be listing it for sale shortly, waiting for a PA plate to come in for it.

If you have any other questions please feel free. There are lots more pics available.

darkcirc

It's worth noting that this was, as expected, the single most difficult part of the whole process.

I'm not sure that the 'Mercedes OEM' tool would have helped much as it wouldn't have compressed the tensioner; turning the cam, which is how we compressed it, wouldn't have been possible. The alternative is the loosen the tensioner, however, this would be less than ideal as well. For one, the access seal would have to be replaced, which isn't terribly expensive, but it would be annoying. The second issue is getting a socket in, IIRC it would have required a VERY thin walled socket(for it's size) to get through the chain housing, and getting to it without removing the alternator is either difficult or impossible (I don't actually remember).

For comparison, our biggest issue was preloading the crank and output cam enough that the motion of compressing the tensioner lined up TDC properly. It sucked, and took a couple of tries, but it beat the alternative.

med23

hi i just have a quick question ... i have a 2002 c230 coupe also and I have been looking for those projector lights and i can't find them ... where did u purchase yours from?

thanks

med23

hi i have a w203 , 2002 c230 coupe and me and my friend recently rebuilt the engine also but the only problem i am having is that my timing is off ?!! ... we replaced the timing chain tensioner but sometimes i have power and sometimes its off , back and forth ... would you know what we are doing wrong? thanks in advance

johndzul

Hello Guys,
I have a 2003 C230 Kompressor Coupe and I am tackling a very similar project with my car. The only thing stopping me from getting any further is allowing enough slack from the timing chain to remove the camshafts. Please help me out, I been trying everything to try to remove the chain but just can't seem to figure something out. By the way thanks for posting all info on the project.

ambit

Ohh hey forgot about this thread.
This car is for sale if any one wants it:
https://mbworld.org/forums/mercedes-...to-philly.html It actually runs/sounds better then the red one I have now.

med23: I don't have projectors. I'm not sure what you're talking about.
If your timing is still off you should be hearing it sound pretty bad.

johndzul: We actually just cut the chain with a hack saw:
Looking back now, it would have been like 5x easier to connect the new chain to the old one and feed it through the crank instead of tearing the whole timing plate cover off. I'll reply to your PM with more info.

drochin

Hi,, on quick question. did you have to replace the chain tensioner guide on the driver side. and the tensioner itself. i just had my head gasket blown and the mb mechanic says i got to replace these guides, im in mexico and it will take over a month to get those spare parts.. can i just keep the ones in the engine? what is your advice? thnks. DrochIN

Blashbenz

Great info and pics any advice on how to replace the timing chain guides without having to take off the front timing chain cover? Looks like there are three pins holding each of them (right and left) in. Would they all come out with the bolt and washer tool you fabricated?

Dune

I had the timing chain replaced in my 05 C230, but the guides were not replaced. I also would like to know if it is possible to change the timing guides with out taking off the timing chain cover. I think the pivot pin has backed out and is hitting up against the chain cover, the car makes a rattling noise between 1800-2800 RPM.

I removed the belt and ran the car with out it on to make sure it was not any of the pulleys, the noise remained and I have narrowed it down to be behind the timing chain cover......

VII

I've finished (I hope) changing the chain on my c230, I'm just not sure the timing is right and need some input.
Any help is highly appreciated.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...time-pics.html

BTW if you are planning on doing this the job is easy just rent the chain riveter and make sure you buy the $100 retainer.

VVF

Do you have any links/pointers as to where to rent the riveter and buy the retainer?

VII

The riveter I got was from a member over at peach parts forums, the retainer you can order from parts.com with the part number. You could also order the riveter but its about 250 + the cost for the single chain insert.

VVF

Nice, I didn't know about that peach parts forum. Thank you!

ademusta

hello
can you pls help me ?
have you got clear pic of tensioner pls

ambit

I have to laugh every time my 6 year old thread pops up
I found this pic in my archive. The whole front timing chain cover was removed. Tensioner is on the left.

Rolandliksenaj

Hello there I think you made my day by showing me this picture, I have been looking for something like this for the past week my car been siting outside for that long because of the (busterd bolt lol) I just could not get the way through it, now that you showed me the picture and you told what you did I can go ahead and do it tomorrow. One more time thank you. So pleased to see someone talking about that particular difficult little hidden bold.

solarwindp

So I am the latest victim with the M271 timing chain disaster. Pretty sure that this page is the most detail one on the internet.

RedGray

Did the timing chain break? If so, the engine is trashed.

If the timing chain breaks, then the "engine is a boat-anchor" (it's worth scrap value only).
You can not re-bore/hone/sleeve/etc the M271, or any other engine that has coated aluminum cylinders.

solarwindp

The chain didn't brakes, intake cam jumped 1 tooth.
now I am trying to fix the problem with febi timing chain kit. Hopefully it will be done in a few days.

evannguyen

Is that the closed loop chain kit? Let me know how it goes.

thanks

solarwindp

I was stopped by the guild pin..... just found the solution and will keep you guys posted.

The reason for choosing febi closed loop because I dont need any special tools to install the chain. On the other hand, its a little bit beefier than the OEM chain in links, not much though.

solarwindp

I am kinda bad luck, the oil pump/balancer chain guild was damaged.

evannguyen

Is that the old part that broke?

solarwindp

Yes, that chain guide is the old one. I have the new parts and I cannot be lazy .....