I only changed a Timing Chain once before. I had no clue what I was doing or what parts to use. It was for a 22RE, they guy at the local machine shop gave me the chain for the 22RE a couple years before my truck. It has two extra links then the one for my year. I guess the shortened the head or something. Anyway I didn't know how tight the chain was suppose to be because I never saw one on before. Well it didn't take long before the chain messed it self up and I had to pull the whole thing apart again.

I don't know about your situation but maybe the dude gave you the chain with 98 links on it instead of the one with 96.

Good luck.