So my recent rebuilt '86 22re has this rattle that sounds like the timing chain rattling the steel guide whenever it first starts up. I know the tensioner is oil pressure controlled. The timing chain is supposed to be new along with the guide according to the guy who rebuilt the engine. He said is was normal for it to rattle. The only argument I have is that prior to the rebuild, it never made this noise. So... those who have rebuilt their engines or had it rebuilt using metal chain guides... does your chain rattle whenever the oil pressure is low??

I don't have experience with the metal guides, but, I do know that if the bolt(s) through the tensioner are over-torqued, it causes the tension rod to stick. Others will chime in.

Sounds like something is not right <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />
Are you sure you have the right steel quides for the 86 engine ?
Staceman is right, there is a bolt related issue, I think the bolts may be differant lenghts for the left and right side guides. If they are wrong they restrict movement of the tensioner.

Staceman.... would the tension rod still activate once the oil pressure builds up? Or, once stuck... always stuck. The reason I ask is it is not a constant noise but seems to be linked to oil pressure. What bothers me is that after running for a period of time, upon restart it'll make the same noise until I give it a blurp of throttle and then the noise lessons.. The rebuild only has @ 10k miles on it.

I'm sure that the rod will pop out properly given enough oil pressure. With steel backed guides, your situation isn't as dire as those of us with plastic units.