Okay, so close yet still so far.

I let my timing chain slip off the tensioner, so I had to take the timing case cover off and reset the tensioner to be able to put the cam gear back on. I noticed there's this weird shaped plastic washer in there behind the small guide on the tensioner that goes around the part that actually slides in. Well, I broke that 30 year old piece of brittle plastic within two seconds of touching it. I have my other parts engine that I could probably pull that out of, but that's a lot of work for a stupid f***ing piece of plastic that I'm not even sure is still good in there. That other motor has been through a lot. Do I need that washer? what is it's purpose even? that is the only thing stopping me from getting this car back together.

 

Pics? I don't remember any plastic parts / washers under the guides... unless you mean a mounting ear. But even if there were, why not just go to your local parts store & find something that matches?

 

It's funny, how I didn't have any problems with my chain tensioner. It is actually really tough, and hard to break. I was prying on it pretty good, while trying to get everything in place, and the cover back on. So not really sure what washer you are talking about. Maybe post some pics, so we can see what you are talking about. Good luck man.

 

The part is broken in three pieces, but I'll try to kind of put it back together so you can see what I mean, I'll get some pics up really soon. It's not so much a "washer" but I didn't know what else to call it. It's black plastic, roundish with a hole in the middle but isn't totally flat. Also i read my last post and see that I worded it crazy, I'll try to explain a little better as to where I found that part:

The tensioner has a piston with a spring in it, and on the end of that piston is a triangular-ish piece of plastic that pushes up against the chain. I found this piece around that piston, between the triangular piece of plastic and the surface that the piston comes out of. I'm thinking it's some sort of spacer to stop the tensioner from going in too far, possibly making the chain too loose?