i havent been able to find a good decription of this, or at least one that I can understand. there is one youtube where the guy promises it's the easy way and then gets himself all confused.
i think i may have jumped a link in the chain at the crank sprocket when changing the head gasket and want to check.
here is what i think is true:
i am looking for the brass links to line up with the arrows, one arrow up top and two arrows below
i see that i want to turn the crank until they all line up
BUT if i jumped a link when i was changing the head gasket they might never line up, correct?
OR since the crank sprocket is smaller could it be: if the upper arrow lines up with the copper link then the lower ones should also be lined up?
what a head scratcher.

 

Research ModMini on YouTube. He has a perfect timing chain installation video.

 

he's got great videos. i followed the head gasket one but he's got nothing i can find about replacing the chain on a gen 1. he doesn't mess with the timing cover when he does the head gasket.

 

Try this one.

 

This one is also informative:

 

you only have to spin the motor twice through to get it back to TDC on the intake stroke. if it's still in time, it'll align properly within 2 complete rotations of the crankshaft.

 

thanks! one thing i noticed about the R50 is that some people take the bumper out and move the water pump a little to get the timing cover off. i dont see anyone having this problem with the r53. right now it's just hung up on the water pump pulley. once i get that out ill take a look at both sprockets. new gaskets and seals otw

 

Check this 4 part video on timing chain replacement.

 

you might need to get into front-end service mode. gives you way more space to work with

the r53 water pump runs off the supercharger pully. different setup

 

thanks Mike, i watched that one at least twice. he took the bumper off

 

on one of the mod mini videos he does the ac compressor coil. he undoes the rear mount and uses a ratcheting strap to pull the engine back. now i remember doing this. the problem now is that i think i have to put the upper mount back on. there is a bracket on there now. still perhaps easier than takign the bumper off

 

when you say "take the bumper off" i think you mean "front-end service mode". he has a video on that. makes it much easier

you probably already know that. I've have seen him pull the engine back also. good tip

 

thanks for the help on the guys. no issues with the timing cover etc. the two brass links on the crank and the one on the cam were lined up with the arrows. got the new seals and gasket in but since everything else looked good (and the car still doesn't run) i didnt replace anything else. the long and continuing story of this is on my "misfire cylinder 2" thread