When you say "loosened" you mean locked it up? I have done that, its only about half a turn from memory. Should I be able to push the timing chain around a bit once I have done this?

I'd really like to undo that retainer if only to replace the seal, but I don't think its gonna happen. Cheer's for the advice.

Yes, it should 'click' and the chain will be slack.

BenJ

Sorted, cheer's for the advice. I think I might have figured that one out eventually.

Seeing as I'm a gun sparky an all, I thought I would try my hand at some monkey mechanical work. Pretty scary playing with this stuff not knowing where everything goes, what it does and all that. But I have much success (kazakhstani) and put the cam and HLA's in and its all great. Cam is good, stronger just about everywhere, but not as much as I thought it might be. Loses a little from around 1600-2000rpm but picks up from there. I like it!

Here's some piccies!

Rocker cover off, stuffing around with the power steering pump.




But I'm sure you've all seen the inside of an inline 6 so moving on. New cam vs old cam. How do you tell its a regrind?



Valvetrain out, checking it over and replacing the HLA's. Kitchen benches are great for this, so long as the mrs is still asleep on a Sunday morning. I taped the HLA's into position, makes it much easier to reinstall the valvetrain.



Back in the car and ready to rumble.


Hot tip for others having a go at this. Apparently its normal for the HLA's to make heaps of noise at startup, it takes a few minutes for it to settle down. I freaked out, pulled it all apart and checked it again. You live, you learn.