The VVT actuators come with the sprockets as one assembly.
His theory as a Land Rover indy specialist was that the engines which have timing chain issues within a range (~60k-90k mi) are engines that didn't get their oil changed often enough. Then he said engines that need the timing chain work done later at like 130k are engines that had the oil changed more frequently and somehow that played into the actuators. After I hung up I used carfax to get my oil change interval, at least what is documented, and it does support his theory:
Miles ran for each change interval:
1. 12,797
2. 11,026
3. 39,138
4. 23,254
5. 11,785 (my first oil change)
#3 was pretty alarming. This new shops price is pretty high and there is another shop that would charge $5500 to do the engine swap.
What I'm trying to do is to get 100,000 miles out of the LR4 and its now at 99k miles. It kinda seems like it might be better to replace the engine, but I may not need to. Any suggestions on which way to go, chain work or replace the engine?