ACK HELP! Timing chain? Whirring metal on metal grindy sound.
 

OK, so this issue is not 100% consistent, sometimes if i stop quickly or accel quickly it seems to change/alleviate the issue.

It sounds as if something is rubbing against something else, its coming from the front of the motor under the valve cover. I guess i could pull it, i need a valve adjustment anyhow. but im not sure im mechanically inclined enough to do this on my own. this is more then a few coolant leaks or vacuum hoses.

Dunno what to tell you other than start w/ pulling the valve cover and inspect... :D Detailed info in the FSM / Haynes manual.

Turns out it was a tensioning pully for the belt that also powers the power steering pump, or that just failed at the same time. anyhow, the belt is slipping, the pully is locked up, i need to replace it. Its the pully on the top front of the motor. dont know what its called.

Heh, this isnt good :p

Attachment 18740

now where to find a replacement

Edit: OH Sweet, they are like 8-12 bucks.

Uhh, yeah, that's not good =P

Good thing you caught that.

Just put a new bearing in it. I just replaced one

So the inside "spacer" Does that need to come out from the old bearing? or does that come with the new one? Im lost here. that and no one carries this thing :\

Attachment 18737
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Yup. Just press it out and put it in the new bearing....

Now ive read that the tolerences are very very tight on these. So much so that i can damage the bearing by not only pushing the spacer in but also but simply pressing it into the pulley as well.....Any tips?

If it's clean and you have the right bearing it should be all good. Mine worked out perfectly and I've got zero mechanical background....

Exact same thing happened to mine, twice. Made the most horrible noise the first time it went I thought something much more serious was up and pulled over all quick. Second time it happened I took the pulley off and went with out a power steering belt for a while. Now I never even bothered to put the PS pump back on after my engine swap and I'm planning on converting to a manual steering rack from a 79 when I get the time.