For now this I'm just putting a few pictures of the modification along with a basic description. Gordon Glasgow has written a tech piece on the "Evil L" and whether or not to remove it. The main point is that cutting off the L will solve the Death Rattle symptom but not the underlying problem. This modification is intended to go hand in hand with a new timing chain. If you've got it apart, look at your gears too. They should have nice straight sides into each "valley". As the gears wear, they will begin to "Pocket" on the thrust side of each valley. That pocketing further retards your cam timing. If each of the four gears is worn 0.005", your new timing chain will be 0.020" "Longer" than it's supposed to be. Worn gears, and stretched chains will eventually cause expensive problems. The "L" bracket modification outlined below will of course prevent the bracket from braking off but that won't happen anyway if you fix your loose timing chain. This modification will however prevent metal filings from the bracket from getting into the oil as the chain wears out.
In the first picture you'll see the "L" after having been cut off the chain
guide with a cut off wheel. Notice that two sheet metal "tangs" have been welded to it. The second picture shows the "L" temporarily attached to the chain guide for cam gear removal. The two tangs fit over the guide holding the L to the guide in order to support the chain and gear.
The final picture show the guide with the L removed - as it is when the engine is all together. Note that the upper chain guide bolt which is important is still used and also that the opposite side of the guide has an indexing point on it. The L was not cut off in one straight line but rather was cut straight most of the way across and then cut vertically near the edge to allow it to line up easily and to help keep it in place when it is supporting the weight of the chain and cam gear.
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