Timing chain set recommendations
Race Director
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Cloyes C3023K OE replacement truck roller chain set or the four degrees advance/retard option version, C3023X. These sets are available in other brands including NAPA... same parts, just a different marketing channel.
The OE replacement passenger car silent chain set is C3021K. This is the second design all metal version that is narrower than the early set up to the '64 time frame that replaced the nylon cam gear type that was OE from '65 to ???, but these are junk and have a habit of shredding teeth. This nylon tooth cam sprocket set has not been manufactured for decades. I'm not sure if there is an adjustable version of the C3021K. Check the Cloyes Web site.
All should be in the range of 20-25 bucks for the set... shop around for the best price.
Duke
The OE replacement passenger car silent chain set is C3021K. This is the second design all metal version that is narrower than the early set up to the '64 time frame that replaced the nylon cam gear type that was OE from '65 to ???, but these are junk and have a habit of shredding teeth. This nylon tooth cam sprocket set has not been manufactured for decades. I'm not sure if there is an adjustable version of the C3021K. Check the Cloyes Web site.
All should be in the range of 20-25 bucks for the set... shop around for the best price.
Duke
Last edited by SWCDuke; Jan 23, 2019 at 01:17 PM.
Race Director
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From: Fresno California
I agree with Duke. I used to run the Cloyes double roller chain sets in my Pontiacs (still do because they've been in there for 30+ years), but they like to stretch quite a bit after the initial install. The stock style, but steel geared link sets as mentioned above are strong, run quiet, and stay tight for a long time. That would be my choice. I ran the double roller because back in the day, it was the hot tip.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2016
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From: Olive branch Ms
The iwis brand chain is the best chain. I'm not sure which brands use them in their sets. I just bought a US made Dynagear set for my LS and I'll be damned if it didn't come with a chain made in India. I bought it because they said US made.
Last edited by Robert61; Jan 23, 2019 at 01:32 PM.
Safety Car
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From: arvada co
Cloyes C3023K OE replacement truck roller chain set or the four degrees advance/retard option version, C3023X. These sets are available in other brands including NAPA... same parts, just a different marketing channel.
The OE replacement passenger car silent chain set is C3021K. This is the second design all metal version that is narrower than the early set up to the '64 time frame that replaced the nylon cam gear type that was OE from '65 to ???, but these are junk and have a habit of shredding teeth. This nylon tooth cam sprocket set has not been manufactured for decades.
Duke
The OE replacement passenger car silent chain set is C3021K. This is the second design all metal version that is narrower than the early set up to the '64 time frame that replaced the nylon cam gear type that was OE from '65 to ???, but these are junk and have a habit of shredding teeth. This nylon tooth cam sprocket set has not been manufactured for decades.
Duke
Safety Car
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From: Olive branch Ms
I have seen the 9 key crank sprockets mark up the crank snout pretty good some have even said they led to crank failure. I prefer 3 key way or less. Cloyes has them I didn't see a Melling available. But to answer your question Melling products are good.
Last edited by Robert61; Jan 23, 2019 at 06:30 PM.
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On the other hand, those nylon sprockets were known to run many tens of thousands of miles without a problem. Almost 200, 000 miles of personal eperience. Not taking up for them, just saying....................
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Pasco Florida
In 1968 and 69, Chevrolet engineering recommended the nylon sprocket for Trans-Am competition 302 engine builds. I think Traco built a few with that gear too.
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Safety Car
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From: Olive branch Ms
I cant imagine those nylon gears making 10 laps with spring pressure (force). Back in the 70s a friend parked his Ford truck at home. The next day it wouldnt start. When i got into it and i did it in the street in front of his house. The nylon had come off and the chain drooped down so far the crank gear wouldnt touch it. I never checked to see if it bent any valves I put it back together and he drove it.
Melting Slicks
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From: Pasco Florida
No, I'm serious. The nylon gear was quite durable when new. I used one in the 302" Trans-Am engine in my Camaro. It was years of heat that destroyed the gear. Not valve spring pressure or RPM.
We built quite a few Trans-Am engines with nylon gears and never had an failure.
I can dig out the GM engineering recommendation of the nylon gear for competition if you need to see it.
We built quite a few Trans-Am engines with nylon gears and never had an failure.
I can dig out the GM engineering recommendation of the nylon gear for competition if you need to see it.
Le Mans Master
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Which is better then the 75K mile timing belt on most Honda’s.
Last edited by ghostrider20; Jan 24, 2019 at 03:40 AM.
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[QUOTE=SWCDuke;1598743450]This nylon tooth cam sprocket set has not been manufactured for decades.[/QUOTE
I was surprised to pull out a pretty decent looking nylon toothed cam sprocket out of my 327 out of my '65 last year. No idea how long it had been in there, as the engine was not all original, but the nylon looked good. The chain was stretched beyond reuse, not that I was going to reuse it anyways. I hadn't thought about a nylon cam sprocket in decades myself.
I was surprised to pull out a pretty decent looking nylon toothed cam sprocket out of my 327 out of my '65 last year. No idea how long it had been in there, as the engine was not all original, but the nylon looked good. The chain was stretched beyond reuse, not that I was going to reuse it anyways. I hadn't thought about a nylon cam sprocket in decades myself.
Race Director
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It's a moot point since it's unlikely to find one of these nylon gear sets. Even if you do, don't get sucked into the "NOS" argument. Walk away. Either the current Cloyes OE replacement truck roller or passenger car silent chain is good for at least 150K miles. And 25 bucks or less is unbelievably low. I cringe at the cost of replacing the chain and sprockets for a contemporaneous Porsche OHC flat six or a Ferrari V-12.
Duke
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No, I'm serious. The nylon gear was quite durable when new. I used one in the 302" Trans-Am engine in my Camaro. It was years of heat that destroyed the gear. Not valve spring pressure or RPM.
We built quite a few Trans-Am engines with nylon gears and never had an failure.
I can dig out the GM engineering recommendation of the nylon gear for competition if you need to see it.
We built quite a few Trans-Am engines with nylon gears and never had an failure.
I can dig out the GM engineering recommendation of the nylon gear for competition if you need to see it.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2015
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From: Fresno California
Two years ago I helped a friend reseal the 61,000 mile original engine in his '69 GTO. the engine was like new inside, so it was just a gasket and seal job. The timing chain was tight enough, however, every nylon tooth on the cam gear had crystallized with age and was ready to fail. So it wasn't a mileage issue, but an age and out-gassing issue that would have caused a failure. We went with a stock link-type steel set.
Team Owner
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