timing chain follow up

Well,
I took off the timing cover and the timing set. Definately very loose. I ordered a timing set from Edelbrock, however I am sceptical. The Crane camshaft timing gear on this was so worn down between the teeth that it was probably causing most of the looseness. The cam gear is made of cast iron. The Edelbrock one is too. I dont understand why you pay lots of money and get gears made of cast iron. Welcome to the age of steel. I had a Camaro that I rebuilt the engine on one time. 20000 miles later something went wrong and I had to take it apart again. The chain was so loose you could almost pull it off. Do they do this to keep you coming back often? You would think they should last at least 80-100K.

Josh

 

There are reasons to use iron, it has some weakness's but its strengths usually out way them. It is strong, if made with a high nickel content, it is easy to machine and dam near impossible to wear out. It messy but actually easier to machine than aluminum, it disappates heat and wears good and seats itself quickly. My 1942 Southbend lathe actually has iron bearings in it (you read that right), they look beautiful and have no runout on them and they are original, as there is no way to replace them.
One of the reasons the crank gear is made out of cast iron is the fact that the set would cost twice as much if it was made from Billet (due to diameter) and just as much if it was forged from steel. Like everything its a trade off. But I have never replaced a set of timing gears with less than 100k on them.

 

sounds like you need the rubber adjustment blocks. one is spring loaded to take up tension.

 

You're not suppose to use those with roller chains, Cloyes and Edelbrock say to specifically remove them.