KA24E rattle

[skyzthe1imit]

I have a '90 single cam and it's rattling every time it hits 4200 rpm and then the power falls off. The timing chain is a bit loose and I'm searching to see how to tension it. Anyone know how? And what are the other possibilities of the rattle?

[dan240]

On the single cam motor the stock tensioner has a tendency to be eaten away and spit into the the oil pan. The chain rattle you hear is the chain hitting the front engine cover. Eventually it will eat into the water jacket and you can/will have serious problems. The tensioner will have to be replaced, if the motor has a lot of miles you will probably want to get a whole timing chain kit. If you are unable to do this kind of work yourself it will be very expensive to have done.