Personally I think the mechanic is full of it! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I ran the tar out of the old Trooper and it's still going at 170,000 miles. This includes excursions to redline and towing 2500 lbs of ski boat/trailer. I did not baby that motor in the least and it's still a Survivor!

No way a new chain is going to break or even stretch enough to slip that badly in 40,000 miles unless there's something else wrong. Cryin' out loud, it's a double-row chain running in an oil bath!!!

Either something was wrong with the installation or poor quality parts were used.

The 3.1 or 3.4 timing sets are no different than the 2.8's.

I believe there are heavy-duty full-roller timing sets which are stouter than stock, you might check into that.

Maybe Jegs or Summit or other aftermarket sources. The timing damper is cheap (under $10) and I don't think it much matters where you get that as long as it's a name brand.

G'luck........ed