timing chain rattle?

[unclethunderpants]

Hi guys, this may sound dumb but there's a pretty bad rattle that's started up on my 72 valiant, its loudest when the hood is closed and your head is under the front bumper, what I mean to say is that its seems to be the timing chain, would this be right? also any tips on how to replace it? I need the car for work and can't get time to work on it for the next few weeks, do you think it will be ok? ( I do about 70 miles a week)

 

[67Dart273]

There's procedure in the service manual for checking

Remove the dist cap. Rotate the crank back / forth until the rotor "just doesn't move" and see how far it moves at the balancer.

6? V8? ??

 

[unclethunderpants]

Hey that's a clever idea, also its a slant 6.

 

[norshorblufish]

Are you sure that's what it is and not the bearing in the water pump.

Check that first easiest and cheapest to replace.
Pull the belts of the pulleys and see if the pump shaft moves up and down by hand. With the engine off of course but you knew that.

 

[BillGrissom]

On a slant, you usually don't even need a wrench on the crank bolt (usually none) to turn the engine over. Just grab the fan belt with both hands. With the engine off, but you still know that.