m42 timing chain guides NLA?

[sdfe30]

I was looking to do some preventative maintenance on my M42 and trying to get the timing chain components for it is looking to be a bit of an issue.

everywhere I look the guides are either listed as backordered or straight up not available.

Is this a production issue due to COVID, or are we looking at the end of this engines use?

it seems pretty early for such an essential part to be NLA for an engine that had as long of a production run as it did.

[roguetoaster]

Some things have already gone NLA, come back, and are now NLA again. Right now, I suspect we are getting in to S14 territory from a decade ago, and with the M42 not being the original engine from an M car it's future looks iffy. Depending on the guide I may have one left on the shelf, and there are many folks who are in the same boat, so PM me and ask around.

On the bright side, late M42 parts are available at last check if you wanted to swap timing cases, and some M44 parts can be modified to work on an M42.

[sdfe30]

On the bright side, late M42 parts are available at last check if you wanted to swap timing cases, and some M44 parts can be modified to work on an M42.

My local and online resources in Canada don't even have m44 chains and guides. the only parts available for the assemblies are the gaskets and tensioner pistons for m42/44s. the chains and guides are completely unlisted from all vendors.

I'll double check the guides when i do the preventative water pump replacement in the next month, and hold out for a bit to see if they become available again, but I think I'll start putting away for something else instead. I was already tossing around the possibility of a 3SGE Beams swap before I came across the stroker possibilities, but if basic maintenance parts are going NLA, I'd rather move away from the M42 entirely.

Which is too bad. It seems like a great daily driver engine and I was very much looking forward to doing the stroker over the winter.

[varg]

Timing chain guides are hardly a basic maintenance item, they last a long time as long as the tensioner hasn't been allowed to fail so that the chain slaps around. Late model cases use all the same guides, with the addition of another in the elimination of the idler sprocket. If early M42 timing components are NLA late production will be no different. I am guessing they will be available again at some point via the aftermarket, it is still a fairly common engine since it was used through early E36s too. If you wanted to do an NA performance build you're much better off with a 3SGE BEAMS though, it is on another level vs an M42 and stock for stock you're looking at 20-70hp gained depending on which generation you swap to.

[sdfe30]

Timing chain guides are hardly a basic maintenance item, they last a long time as long as the tensioner hasn't been allowed to fail so that the chain slaps around.

Yeah, even then its the type of item that says to me if it's NLA I don't want to be investing in building an m42 of any kind up.

If you wanted to do an NA performance build you're much better off with a 3SGE BEAMS though, it is on another level vs an M42 and stock for stock you're looking at 20-70hp gained depending on which generation you swap to.

Yeah, the 3SGE BEAMS was the target when looking at a stroker anyway. the goal is something light and around the 180-200bhp NA mark for a solid daily that doesn't mess with the weight distribution, so if this turns me off the m42 the BEAMS will be the choice since all the swap parts are pretty well priced from XM.