Pontiac Repair: 97 Grand Am Timing chain, chain stretch, timing chain

Question
Hello,
I bought this car needing a water pump replaced. I drove it a short distance before tearing it down and the motor seemed to run alright.I am replacing the timing chain and tenisioner while I have it apart. It has 112k on the 2.4 motor. Before taking the old chain off I aligned the crank marks and set pins in the cam gears. The intake gear was ok, the pin slid right in. But the exhaust pin would not. The hole in the gear is slightly off to the hole in the block. Now I figured this was due to chain stretch. But When I install the new chain the same thing happens. I can get one pin or the other lined up with the chain on and tight but not both. If I shift either gear one tooth on the chain then neither pin will align. Any Ideas?

Thanks,
Rick  

Answer
Hi rick:

this is normal if you do not have the correct size pins to put in the hole the other gear is not exactly lined up straight so it throws off the other one also if the gears are worn "with 112K" on it i bet they are that will throw it off as well. Make sure you have all the chain shoes off when you are lining this up and get the correct size pins. They are metic size like 8 or 10 MM. that should do it for you.
good luck :}