I am restoring engine compartment 0f my 66 cutlass putting all new gaskets in the motor has 102,000 miles timing chain seems loose best to replace now while out? how much play can there be in the chain?

 

Olds timing chains should be replaces around 100,000 miles whether they need it or not.

I blew an engine (bent numerous valves in both heads, was a kid with no money and no place to fix it) at 106,000 miles, at idle, once.

- Eric

 

Don't the factory timing gears use hard plastic teeth? It's been forever since I pulled apart a stock engine but I think I remember them being plastic. I'd say change it now while it's apart...they're not very expensive.

 

Its perfect time to swap it out , replace it now and don't look back.

 

I'm not sure what year GM started using the fiber gears, but I think it was in the late sixties. Those should come out regardless of mileage before you end up digging pieces out of the oil pump pickup.

 

Replace both chain and gear with a good quality set. Cheep insurance http://www.cloyes.com/

 

And water pump while off!!

 

thanks alot gonna replace timing chain and water pump never done chain and gear before any tips thanks for your help

 

Personally, I wouldn't go more than 80,000 miles on the stock plastic cam gear. An all-metal timing set will go much further. The factory single-roller chain in my crewcab dually looked brand new at 150K miles. I replaced it anyway (hey, with the front of the motor that far apart...).

 

Get a gear puller and a balancer puller before you start, loosen the first 8 bolts on the oil pan before removing the timimg chain cover, use some brake clean to spray oiley surfaces, and get some silicone sealer to caulk all the 'leak spots'!

 

In addition to what Rick said, make sure your timing marks are lined up on the cam gear and the crank gear before you pull the old one off. It'll be a lot easier to put the new one on in this position.