hahaha so it turns out it was that piece...but ya so the only way i could get it off is by put my flat blade through that hole i made and prying it back as hard as i could...then it came off! haha

but now i need to know the part number so i can order another one...obviously its there because oil runs through there and through the tensioner...

well put the entire valve cover back on and all the spark plugs and ignitors back in...now just gotta get a new 13mm nut for the alternator, a new coolant plug, a new tensioner cover, a new o-ring, and a new air intake tube tomorrow and we'll be good to give her a go...

just out of curiosity anyone know what owuld happen if the cams are slightly off on start up? i mean are we talking catostrophic, or is it something that will be very obvious at once but essentially not a big deal if shut down quickly

I don't know specifically, but I would think that a cam being off one link would not be good. You should double check your timing marks and it might be good to make sure the engine spins without spark plugs before you try to start it.

there not off a full link, more like a quarter...i tried turning over and over but it just kept falling back which made me think it was in the correct seating...

Admittedly, I haven't seen how this all goes together (except via pictures on this forum) but how could it be off a quarter of a link??? You didn't move (in relation to the cam) the sprocket on one of the cams did you?

it does move around a bit when you have to feed in the new chain...and then to attach the new chain with the masterlink, its not exactly a loose easy fit...you have to pull every mm of play that chain has, ensure its seated in every tooth properly otherwise you wont have the length to attach the masterlink...

ok so i removed the plugs and threw a wrench on the crank and turned her over CW several rotations, and she spun flawlessly it seemed, no snags or noise of any kind...so i assume i did good?! lol

So all is well? The clank is gone?

Mav,
Since you've got the alternator off, you may want to take it to a local
Auto Electric shop if you have one (they're like a dying breed)
and have them do a rebuild on your alternator (typically 150-200), or at the very least throw some new brushes in there "while yer in there".
Typically an alternator will go out from the brushes wearing down to nubs sometime between 100K-150K miles.
Here's mine down to a nub at 120K, BEFORE it failed and left me stranded.
Mine will be a little different than yours, but same concept!

Here's what a new brush module looks like (for my car, Valeo alt. on M111 engine)...see how much longer the brush is sticking out? It's spring loaded...I was lucky I did mine when I did, or I'd been left for dead on the highway at some random point in time.
I also pulled my supercharger for rebuild too, but ended up finding one new for 600, sold the old one
for 250, 350 out of pocket. And a battery around that time, and belts, so no worries for the next 100K miles.

ya i would worry about all that if i was planning on keeping her another 50k...but as soon as this is all done and wrapped up she's going on the sale block for a C55...want some more power beneath my foot, you know?

and no not started up yet...got the last parts from MB this morning, installing now and gonna bolt it all back up and throw some coolant in her and start her up...

so i put my belt back on but doesnt seem very tight...any thoughts?

well started her up...sounded like complete **** and wobbled a bit...so i let it run for about 1 minute or 2 then shut her down...mostly did this because, oh ya the noise didnt go away!

started her up a second time to try and listen for it again, and let it sit for a bit longer this time, and then my idle began to settle down and the wobbling stopped and she steadied out at 800rpm and it was music to my ears...

although again, the noise at start up is still there...FML, my roommate is convinced it sounds like an suction thing, but i dont what that could even be, i have no opiniions on the matter anymore! lol

Is it a belt tensioner? The A/C compressor?

no its a rattle noise, not like a belt noise...my buddy thinks my valves might not be seated properly at startup...anyone know of a way to test our hydraulic valves?

The M271 had a TSB for rattling cam adjusters (something on the rear of the engine) during start up.. mine did it at 30,000 miles and was fixed under warranty. That might be your issue.

ya so finally successfully finished the chain replacement, only for it all to be a waste...noise still there at start up...FML...but hey at least I have a new chain i guess

damn man, that sucks! keep us posted.

Not a total loss but not the hoped for outcome... Sorry you didn't fix it the first time. What kind of clanking noise was it? Have you tried to pinpoint where it's coming from. You could use a stethoscope or some people put a long blade screwdriver on parts of the car and listen at the other end. Often you can hear very fine details. Maybe that might at least help you find where it's coming from.

lol now i just poppped another CEL for being lean, lol FML...the marks were perfectly on this time...F it, im done...i should have never wasted the money on this in the first place, lol

by the way, this wouldnt have anything to do with the fact that im not running it with an intake tube does it? mine broke apart when i was doing this project and i just havent gotten to the dealer yet to waste $50 on one yet...

well CEL is gone...im guessing it was w/in tolerance and the ECU adjusted for the new O2 ratios...sweet

anyone think this noise might have anything to do with my belt and supercharger? A buddy of mine suggested the belt might be just loose enough where the super isn't spinning up as fast as it should and is thus making a noise....cuz i noticed, i also get the rattle when the engine is cold and it is pulling a lot of power, aka when i let the clutch out a bit too early or something and the engine feels like its about to stall, the vibration/clank comes back then...but once warmed up it goes away...

i thought it might be a motor mount, but like i said it goes away...

There have been other 2005s on this board with "clanking" noises that have been the alternator pulley or A/C compressor.

The noise might be the balancer shaft chain.

lol ok lets just pray its not the balancer shaft chain cuz that's quite a bit more invasive than the timing chain, haha...i think im gonna hit up an indy shop to see what they think about it...it doesn't sound like its coming from the alternator side of the engine, is the A/C compressor on the right side, right above the s/c pulley?

what does the balancer chain do exactly?

Drives the balancer shafts, to smooth vibrations?

That's what my understanding is.