Timing Chain vs. Timing Gears
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 332
From: Woodinville WA
Timing Chain vs. Timing Gears
I didn't really understand that timing gears were a thing until today...
Why would you use a timing chain vs. timing gears?
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performan...20310/10002/-1
Adam
Why would you use a timing chain vs. timing gears?
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performan...20310/10002/-1
Adam
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 332
From: Woodinville WA
Just watched the Summit video on the subject; they said that the gear sets can cause false positive in EFI system knock sensors and make them retard the ignition timing as a result... Automatically out for me.
If anyone else has any opinions on pros / cons, I'd love to see them but I think I'm back in the dual roller camp now.
Adam
If anyone else has any opinions on pros / cons, I'd love to see them but I think I'm back in the dual roller camp now.
Adam
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 477
From: NSW, Australia
C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Just watched the Summit video on the subject; they said that the gear sets can cause false positive in EFI system knock sensors and make them retard the ignition timing as a result... Automatically out for me.
If anyone else has any opinions on pros / cons, I'd love to see them but I think I'm back in the dual roller camp now.
Adam
If anyone else has any opinions on pros / cons, I'd love to see them but I think I'm back in the dual roller camp now.
Adam
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 332
From: Woodinville WA
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 332
From: Woodinville WA
Adam
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 406
Likes: 46
From: Lebanon OH
I had a dodge Omega once in college...when I was poor. Damn thing had a bakelite timing gear pressed onto the camshaft. Before that, I used to think timing gears were the stuff of high rpm, high compression motors with superchargers and gobs of horsepower.
Today, as an engineer, I try to select things for my car based on the application. In my opinion, timing gears are only better than timing chains if your application requires the precision, added strength, or increased operational range delivered by the gear set. Putting a gear set on a mildy built SBC results in the same performance as a timing chain, with the addition of a really cool sound. A timing gear may be more durable, but you can easily get over 150K miles out of a good timing chain. And you can buy three sets for the price of a timing gear set.
MajD
Today, as an engineer, I try to select things for my car based on the application. In my opinion, timing gears are only better than timing chains if your application requires the precision, added strength, or increased operational range delivered by the gear set. Putting a gear set on a mildy built SBC results in the same performance as a timing chain, with the addition of a really cool sound. A timing gear may be more durable, but you can easily get over 150K miles out of a good timing chain. And you can buy three sets for the price of a timing gear set.
MajD
Last edited by MajD; Dec 7, 2016 at 08:54 PM.
Pro
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 708
Likes: 150
From: Minnesota
Go with the Cloyes or other double roller chain. If you are on a full rebuild, tap and plug the front 3 galley holes with 1/4 NPT plugs and drill a 0.030-0.035" hole in the center of the middle plug to lube the back of the cam gear. If not, skip that and just install a double roller.