3.3 timing chain replacement

**R/T** · 10-15-2009, 07:22 PM

Anyone done it???

My Niece is having issues in a 97 Intrepid, looks pretty simple....

Also - do they bend valves when it goes???

**turbovanman²** · 10-15-2009, 08:49 PM

They are pretty simple, just remove the front of the motor. You'll have to buy/borrow a puller for the crank pulley, it doesn't use a regular 3 bolt unit.

I can't remember if they bend valves but I would assume they do, most chain driven motors do.

**Big_P** · 10-15-2009, 11:20 PM

I haven't heard of a 3.3 jumping time.

**Force Fed Mopar** · 10-16-2009, 12:47 AM

I don't think they are interference, but not positive. Most pushrod engines aren't. It is a pretty standard timing chain install, I've done one in a van.

**turbovanman²** · 10-16-2009, 03:17 AM

Originally Posted by Force Fed Mopar

I don't think they are interference, but not positive. Most pushrod engines aren't. It is a pretty standard timing chain install, I've done one in a van.

Actually most pushrod engines are interference. Small block Dodge, Chev and Ford are, to name a few.

**Vigo** · 10-16-2009, 11:36 AM

Id be leery of misdiagnosis in this case.. what is the car doing??

**R/T** · 10-16-2009, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Vigo

Id be leery of misdiagnosis in this case.. what is the car doing??

Loud clackclackclack from the front of the motor, then silence.....

Because it won't turn over, either direction, more than a few degrees.

I suspect because the chain is wadded up around the crank sprocket.

I'm scheduled to tear into it Monday, details to come.

**shadow88** · 10-17-2009, 06:15 PM

The nice part is I think you have to remove the oil pan to get the timing cover off. I could be wrong there, but I think there's a couple studs used that won't budge without the pan off. I also bet the problem is in the pan. ie connecting rod failure.

There's also a good chance the harmonic balancer rubber ring has pooped the bed and it's the belt drive ring that's the cause of the noise and limited rotation.

**black86glhs** · 10-18-2009, 01:16 PM

The 3.3 is easy to do. I did one in a caravan with like 220k+ miles on it. The timing chain jumped, but didn't go far enough to bend anything. The worst part is getting the balancer off. Rent one from a parts store and all is good.

**Force Fed Mopar** · 10-18-2009, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by turbovanman

Actually most pushrod engines are interference. Small block Dodge, Chev and Ford are, to name a few.

Yeah you may be right, I wasn't really thinking the other night

.

**turbovanman²** · 10-18-2009, 03:42 PM

I don't remember taking the oil pan off but you might have to, to clean out bits of timing gear.

**Big_P** · 10-18-2009, 10:50 PM

I'd pull a valve cover and check to see if the rockers move if you can spin it over a little.

**R/T** · 10-20-2009, 07:22 PM

Update;

Tore into it, did'nt have the puller I needed to get the crank pully off...

BUT: I took out the cam sensor, and can see that there is some slop between crank movement and cam movement as I turn the crank by hand.
And I could pry the cam chain up off the sprocket with a small screwdriver....

The reveal tomorrow....

**R/T** · 10-22-2009, 04:21 PM

Carnage update:

Got the timing cover off - after taking the oil pan loose, but then you can't get the pan OUT because the swaybar and K frame is in the way...

The timing chain is on but really loose.

I then reach around in the oil pan and find 3 chunks of mangled aluminium...

Then find plug #5 looks as if someone beat the electrode end with a hammer.

Pull the plenum and RH valve cover: Intake valve on #5 has punched a hole THROUGH the stamped steel rocker...

Keepers, retainer are laying there off the valve, stem is stuck in the head:

There was a *violent* piston/valve crunch, this motor is scrap....

**shadow88** · 10-22-2009, 04:40 PM

Could you snap off a couple pics? To remove the pan completely, you'll need to remove the inner sway bar cushion brackets from the subframe. It's less common to see a 3.3l come apart. Was the car well maintained?

**turbovanman²** · 10-22-2009, 05:16 PM

Dude, your fired.

**Big_P** · 10-22-2009, 08:27 PM

Time for a new engine!

**black86glhs** · 10-25-2009, 03:44 AM

Originally Posted by Big_P

Time for a new engine!

It'll buff out with a little elbow grease.

**R/T** · 10-26-2009, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by shadow88

Could you snap off a couple pics? To remove the pan completely, you'll need to remove the inner sway bar cushion brackets from the subframe. It's less common to see a 3.3l come apart. Was the car well maintained?

The car was bought at a Goodwill auto aution, has 194,000 on it, so the history is unknown.

They paid $400 for it, it ran for 4 days before it had "issues"....

'DOH!!!

**R/T** · 10-26-2009, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by turbovanman

Dude, your fired.

LOL!, if I get a chance maybe I'll pull the head off and take pics inside the cylinder - if the car is around - I told them the car is done.

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