Hi, so it's been quite a while since I've posted here. I finally finished putting on the timing chain, water pump, and new head a few days ago (had to wait on a lot of parts to ship), but the car seems to run great so far. The car sounds completely different, never heard it so quiet before and it even revs differently. I was able to use a scotch brite on the piston heads and the nicks are barely noticeable. I've only driven the car lightly so far, but it seems to be holding up. When I opened up the timing cover, the one large left-hand guide was in about a dozen pieces and one piece was lodged in the casting. I accidentally dropped a socket in the oil pan, but when I took off the oil pan there were pieces of that guide in there, so I guess it was good that I took the oil pan off. I had to replace two guide bolts since they were worn down on the side. So far, the car seems to be running better than I've ever seen it run before!

 

Did you install a replacement bolt for the front upper guide (the black plastic one)?



This is a Dorman bolt, it eliminates that top bolt from breaking and cause the guide to shatter

 

Hi, yes I replaced those guide bolts for that, but with the same ones that were there before. Is that picture the same as this?
Is it fine using those?

 

No, not the same. You can replace it easily. https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...de-bolt-62897/

 

This is a explanation of the guide bolt problem

 

Oh wow okay, I'll look into buying that and replacing the bolt soon! Thanks for the info about that bolt!

 

Happy to save you a headache, down the road!

 

Okay so today I went to go drive it and it took a little longer than usual to start up (like 2 sec instead of the instantaneous startup) and after I drove a mile I noticed it was idling rough. I checked codes and there was a pending code for cylinder 4 misfire. You guys have any clue what that could be? I replaced the fuel injectors and spark plugs, didnt replace the grommets for fuel injectors but they were pretty worn. Could the grommets cause that issue?

 

I guess I’ll swap the coil pack around with another to see if the coil packs are bad too, they are still the original ones

 

Could be an oring nicked sucking sir, could be a loose coil connector.