I am looking for the markings for a timing...chain...i just did a head replacement....and i realize now..that there are no markings on the timing chain........it has washed off...it's a 2003 chevy cavalier ecotec engine........if somebody who has a new chain......can tell me on which chain link is each markings ...it will be a miracle.....cause this chain is fairly new....and the markings have come off the chain

Turn the motor so the timing marks are together and take the chain off. Should change the chain if it's sloppy lose.

Timing belt or chain?
If you have chain align the dark mark of the chain to gear marks and release the tentioner . after you turn one time the mark wont match to the chain for long time.
if you have belt. the marks are on the dots on the head and block and will match every second turn on crankshaft
after you install belt/chain turn with hand ,don't start till you're sure the piston don't touch the valve .
with chain you can mark a dot on the block and head with marker to see if will come back to the same spot on same time crank and cam but is not accurate .
good luck

Look for some Youtube videos on this repair. If I remember correctly the links on this chain have different color metal for the spots that the cam tooth goes against. When each side is in the proper tooth the right and left colored links will be on the cam mark and the crank mark should be on the timing TDC mark. Sounds like the slack you describe is wrong and a tooth is off because the tensioner is allowing slack.. You need to slip a tooth one way or the other until the tensioner has room to be in a neutral position.

Did you take pictures while removing the originals? It's always a good habit. Below are the instructions you need to follow. Your own pics are very helpful when doing a big job like this.

1. Disconnect negative battery (1) cable.
2. Drain cooling system.
3. Remove upper intake manifold.
4. Remove cylinder head covers, crankshaft vibration damper, and timing chain cover.

CAUTION: When aligning timing marks, always rotate engine by turning the crankshaft. Failure to do so will result in valve and/or piston damage.

1. Align crankshaft sprocket timing mark to mark on oil pump housing (2). The mark on oil pump housing is 600 ATDC of #1 cylinder.

CAUTION: When the timing chain is removed and the cylinder heads are still installed, DO NOT rotate the camshafts or crankshaft without first locating the proper crankshaft position. Failure to do so will result in valve and/or piston damage.

1. Remove primary timing chain tensioner retainer cap (2) and tensioner (1) from right cylinder head.

1. Disconnect and remove camshaft position sensor (4) from left cylinder head.
2. Remove timing chain guide access plugs (3) from cylinder heads.

NOTE: When camshaft sprocket bolts are removed, the camshafts will rotate in a clockwise direction.

1. Starting with the right camshaft sprocket, remove the sprocket attaching bolts. Remove camshaft damper (1) (if equipped) and sprocket.
2. Remove left side camshaft sprocket attaching bolts and remove sprocket.
3. Remove lower chain guide (7) and tensioner arm (8).
4. Remove the primary timing chain (5).
5. Remove crankshaft sprocket (6).

INSTALLATION

1. Inspect all sprockets (4,9,11) and chain guides (2,5,10). Replace if worn.
2. For crankshaft sprocket installation procedures Refer to CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET.
3. If removed, install right and left side short chain guides (11). Tighten attaching bolts to 28 Nm (250 inch lbs.) .
4. Align crankshaft sprocket timing mark to the mark on oil pump housing (3).

NOTE: Lubricate timing chain and guides with engine oil before installation.

1. Place left side primary chain sprocket onto the chain so that the timing mark is located in-between the two (plated) timing links (1).

1. Lower the primary chain with left side sprocket through the left cylinder head opening.

NOTE: The camshaft sprockets can be allowed to float on the camshaft hub during installation.

1. Loosely position left side camshaft sprocket over camshaft hub.
2. Align timing (plated) link to the crankshaft sprocket timing mark (3).
3. Position primary chain onto water pump drive sprocket (10).
4. Align right camshaft sprocket timing mark to the timing (plated) link on the timing chain (8) and loosely position over camshaft hub.
5. Verify that all chain timing (plated) links are properly aligned to the timing marks on all sprockets.
6. Install left side lower chain guide (2) and tensioner arm (5). Tighten attaching bolts to 28 Nm (250 inch lbs.) .

NOTE: Inspect O-ring on chain guide access plugs before installing. Replace O-ring as necessary.

1. Install chain guide access plugs to cylinder heads. Tighten plugs to 20 Nm (15 ft. lbs.) .

NOTE: To reset the primary timing chain tensioner, engine oil will first need to be purged from the tensioner.

1. Purge oil from timing chain tensioner using the following procedure:

1. Place the check ball (2) end of tensioner into the shallow end of Special Tool 8186 (3).
2. Using hand pressure, slowly depress tensioner until oil is purged from tensioner.

1. Reset timing chain tensioner using the following procedure:

1. Position cylinder plunger (4) into the deeper end of Special Tool 8186 (3).
2. Apply a downward force until tensioner is reset.

NOTE: If oil was not first purged from the tensioner, use slight finger pressure to assist the center arm pin of Special Tool 8186 to unseat the tensioner's check ball.

CAUTION: Ensure the tensioner is properly reset. The tensioner body (4) must bottom against the top edge of Special Tool 8186 (3). Failure to properly perform the resetting procedure may cause tensioner jamming.

NOTE: Inspect the tensioner O-ring (2) for nicks or cuts and make sure the snap ring (1) is correctly installed, replace as necessary.

1. Install the reset chain tensioner (1) into the right cylinder head.
2. Position tensioner retaining plate (2) and tighten bolts (1) to 12 Nm (105 inch lbs.) .

1. Starting at the right cylinder bank, first position the camshaft damper (1) (if equipped) on camshaft hub, then insert a 3/8 square drive extension with a breaker bar into intake camshaft drive hub. Rotate camshaft until the camshaft hub aligns to the camshaft sprocket and damper attaching holes. Install the sprocket attaching bolts and tighten to 28 Nm (250 inch lbs.) .
2. Turn the left side camshaft by inserting a 3/8 square drive extension with a breaker bar into intake camshaft drive hub and rotate camshaft until the sprocket attaching bolts can be installed. Tighten sprocket bolts to 28 Nm (250 inch lbs.).
3. Rotate engine slightly clockwise to remove timing chain slack, if necessary.

1. Activate the timing chain tensioner by using a flat bladed pry tool to gently pry tensioner arm towards the tensioner slightly. Then release the tensioner arm. Verify the tensioner is activated (extends).

1. Install camshaft position sensor (2) and connect electrical connector.
2. Install the timing chain cover, crankshaft vibration damper, and cylinder head covers.
3. Install upper intake manifold.

NOTE: After installation of a reset tensioner, engine noise will occur after initial start-up. This noise will normally disappear within 5-10 seconds.

1. Fill cooling system.

Timing the Cam to the Crank

There are several ways to time the cam to the crank. Be sure to check the manual before you install the timing chain or belt.

• Some timing sprockets are properly timed when the marks face each other.
• On others, there must be a certain number of chain links between the marks.
• Sometimes chains have colored links that must be aligned with the marks on the sprockets.
• Some overhead cams have a mark on the cam gear that lines up with a mark on the cylinder head when the timing mark on the damper is at the TDC mark.

Align the timing marks for the camshaft and crankshaft sprockets before removing the timing belt or chain.

If the old parts are available, carefully compare the new gears or sprockets with the old ones. Check the keyway and timing marks just in case there might have been an error made in manufacturing. Sprockets are sometimes stamped backward. Its much better to find the problem during assembly, rather than waiting until problems show up after reassembly and reinstallation.

Maintaining Valve Timing

During a valve job, it is essential to keep the timing chain or belt in place to maintain correct valve timing. Position the number one cylinder at TDC. Some overhead cam engines use a single long chain for a cam drive. The chain can be wedged against its guides with a tapered block of wood.
the chain tensioner on some ohc engines must be wedged to keep the chain in position during cylinder head removal. courtesy of nissan motors.

Some engines have a lower and upper chain. These engines do not require special attention to wedging the chain. Be sure to look for hidden head bolts and check the repair manual before removing the OHC head.

There is a mark on the head and the gear. Line those up and bring the crank to TDC put the chain on.
Go to www.kiatechinfo.com and create a free account and you can look up anything that you want to know. It is hard to navigate the site until you get used to it.

Check your owner's manual for the recommended mileage for replacing your timing chain. Replacement for a Nissan Maxima is 60,000 miles.2 Locate the timing chain. Replace it if the automatic chain adjuster (also known as the tensioner) is damaged or worn.3 Release the pressure in the fuel system, drain the cooling system and disengage the negative battery cable. 4 Undo the upper radiator hose, engine drive belts, power steering pulley and pump with bracket, air duct, passenger front wheel and engine side and undercovers, front exhaust pipe, cylinder head front mounting bracket and head cover, rocker cover, distributor and distributor cap and spark plugs.5 Take off the intake manifold support and move the No. 1 piston at "Top Dead Center" (TDC) of the compression stroke.6 Disconnect the cylinder head front cover, water pump pulley, thermostat housing, upper and lower tensioner and slack side timing chain guide, idler sprocket bolt, camshaft sprocket bolts, sprockets, mounting caps and camshafts. 7 Disengage the cylinder head with the manifolds, idler sprocket shaft, upper timing chain, center crossmember, oil pan and strainer assembly, crankshaft pulley, engine front mount and bracket and the front timing cover. Remove the oil seal and unfasten the timing chain cover, idler and crankshaft sprockets and the oil pump drive spacer. 8 Unfasten the timing chain guide. install Your Timing Chain 1 Grease the oil seal lip with engine oil and place it in the front cover. Verify that the No. 1 piston is at "Top Dead Center" (TDC) of the compression stroke. 2 Reconnect the crankshaft sprocket (marks should point toward the engine's front), oil pump drive spacer and timing chain guide and the lower timing chain. Line up all mating marks.3 Hook up the crankshaft sprocket and pulley, lower timing chain, front cover assembly, engine mount and front mounting bracket, oil strainer and pan assembly and center crossmember.4 Reattach the upper timing chain, idler sprocket (to the back side), cylinder head assembly, idler sprocket bolt and exhaust and intake camshafts. Place the intake camshaft knock pin at 9 o'clock and the exhaust pin at noon. Connect the camshaft bearing caps and distributor brackets and secure all mounting bolts.5 Eliminate any old material from the pan and cylinder block mounting surfaces. Rub on a 3.5 to 4.5mm bead of liquid gasket over the oil pan and cylinder block.6 Attach the upper timing chain to the idler sprockets and secure the cylinder head bolts.7 Refill the cooling system. Hook up the negative battery cable and any other disconnected items. Start the engine and look for leaks.

I don't think you have to remove the timing chain, to do head gaskets. if you are talking about the distributor, you could use a paint marker to mark indicator marks on intake and on this distributor

There are 3 sets of colored links on the timing chain two singles and one double. Line the marks of the cam pulleys up with the ones on the head, they look like holes, then line the crankshaft pulley mark with the one on the oil pump. Install the chain, lining the double mark up with the mark on the passenger side cam pulley and the other two with their respective marks on the other pulleys. Install the tensioner, rotate the engine two or three times to make certain everything still lines up and your done.