I just bought a 2000 vitara w/ 87k mi for a 2.0L engine swap into a 1st gen Tracker.  At start-up, it makes the timing chain rattle, which quiets pretty quickly.  The noise never really goes away, but you really have to put your ear close to the front of the engine to hear it after it's been running for a little while. 

So my question is, should I go ahead and replace the timing chain and tensioners while I have the engine out of the vehicle?  And while I'm at it, what else should be replaced?  Water pump, oil pump, anything else?

Alternatively, I'm wondering if I should just give it an oil change with a good filter and some 5W30 synthetic and see if it quiets down.  When I run my finger around through the oil fill cap I pull up some sludge, so I suspect this car was not serviced regularly.  I searched around on this forum and some people have reported that changing weight or grade of oil made a difference and the noise stopped.  The other thing to keep in mind is that this going into a mostly trail rig.  It will see some very hard miles, but only in small doses.  I think I've put 3000 mi on it in the past 4 years. 

You know the rule about these motors with timing chains, right?

RUN ONLY 5W30 OIL in them.


Or they will eat their timing chain tensioners every 40,000 miles like clockwork.

yeah. I've read all the posts on the the 2.0L timing chains.  I have no idea what oil this guy ran.  But even worse, I have no idea if he even changed the oil.  So right now I need to decide if I should replace the timing chain and tensioners while the engine is out of the car, or just run it and hope things don't get worse.  Since I'm not familiar with this engine, I'm not sure how bad is bad on the timing chain noise.  If it's just making a small noise on startup is that ok?  Or does any noise require immediate attention? 

in my book any unfamiliar noise is considered trouble.  rattling especially.      Personally, I would replace the timing set for peace of mind, and run the proper oils.

Do yourself a biiiiigggggg favor and change that timing chain as soon as possible like yesterday!!!! As for me that is right about the mileage my wife's went on her 2000 and I've read on several suzuki posts several have broken in the last 2 weeks..  Park it until you can change it!!!!! Go to Parts Dinosaur they have the kit for about $150.00. I can't stress this enough don't wait or use it because you''ll be sorry!

yup. change it now unless you want to buy a new head (or worse)
get the dinosaur kit and spend a full day.

thanks guys. I'm starting to realize I'd be lazy/stupid if I don't do the job while the engine is out.  The only thing I'm not entirely sure is if the noise is the lifters or the chain.  The FSM says that the lifters can take up to a 1/2 hr to purge all the air and quiet down if the engine has been sitting for more than 24 hrs.  this engine hasn't been run for more than a 1/2 hr in about a year.

The lifters run across the top of the engine from front to back, you're hearing the noise from the front of the engine - what are the chances of it being a lifter at the front?

You can live with a noisy lifter, living with a noisy chain is risking potentially catastrophic chain failure

X2 on changing them while the engine is out.  It would be SO much easier AND quicker to change the chains and tensioner with that puppy sitting out in the open in front of you not to mention not having to pull the head and the additional $ associated with that.