I used a Cloyes Street Roller on my 85 L98 with a factory timing cover and no clearance issues whatsoever.
Another Timing Chain Question: '85 L98
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Another Timing Chain Question: '85 L98
Last fall, just before putting the car away for the winter, I replaced the OEM timing chain. I also replaced the OEM TC cover with a stock replacement cover while I was into it because the original cover had been damaged a few years ago due to a slipped balancer.
My question is: having replaced the OEM timing chain (i.e with the flat links) with a Cloyes double roller NAPA part # 10-3023 is there any chance that the double roller chain is going to have some clearance issues either with the cover or the front casting on the block? After re-assembly, I probably drove about 10 or 15 miles, changed the oil and put it away. Now, I'm just a little concerned because of what I have read about double roller chains needing more clearance that I might have a problem. I didn't hear any unusual noise with the new chain, but just a little concerned.
My question is: having replaced the OEM timing chain (i.e with the flat links) with a Cloyes double roller NAPA part # 10-3023 is there any chance that the double roller chain is going to have some clearance issues either with the cover or the front casting on the block? After re-assembly, I probably drove about 10 or 15 miles, changed the oil and put it away. Now, I'm just a little concerned because of what I have read about double roller chains needing more clearance that I might have a problem. I didn't hear any unusual noise with the new chain, but just a little concerned.
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Ahhh!! - Good to hear. And I presume when ex-x-fire refers to a "roller block", this means with roller lifters? ...which the '85 doesn't have.
Last edited by pletzvet; Mar 8, 2010 at 09:07 AM.
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Well now, I'm concerned again - I know that you, Pete K, have been into a lot of these engines. I'm kicking myself, because I didn't check for clearance when I installed the cam gear even though I had heard about the clearance issues before. I'm afraid I'm going to have to go back in and take a look because when I changed the oil shortly afterward, I thought I could see some metal flakes in the oil. I had myself pretty much convinced that it was just my imagination but now...not so sure. I always stick a strong magnet to the base of the oil pan and pull it off while the oil is draining, and never noticed anything before that caught my attention. Darn!
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Well now, I'm concerned again - I know that you, Pete K, have been into a lot of these engines. I'm kicking myself, because I didn't check for clearance when I installed the cam gear even though I had heard about the clearance issues before. I'm afraid I'm going to have to go back in and take a look because when I changed the oil shortly afterward, I thought I could see some metal flakes in the oil. I had myself pretty much convinced that it was just my imagination but now...not so sure. I always stick a strong magnet to the base of the oil pan and pull it off while the oil is draining, and never noticed anything before that caught my attention. Darn!
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Pete - would you agree that if the new timing chain has ground a small groove into the block that this has put considerable premature stress and wear on rivetted ends the chain and increased the risk substantially of *something going horribly wrong* :-) like a broken chain?
Last edited by pletzvet; Apr 17, 2010 at 12:29 AM.
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Update
Just an update and to close this thread for future reference - the new double roller timing chain was close, but not touching the block. I estimate that there was between 50 and 75 thousandths of an inch and I removed a little more metal with my die grinder giving me about 3/16ths of an inch. No worries now!
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From: folsom california
the only clearance problems I've read about is when people put a double roller timing chain inside a cast aluminum timing chain cover on an LT based engine (when converting over to an electric water pump).
