Are there supposed to be TEETH on the cam gear?

My 84 died suddenly on the way to work a couple of days ago (yeah, that should be an omen). The sound it made when I cranked it did not give me a warm feeling, but I was in denial on the timing chain. Unfortunately when I put a timing light on it while cranking, the timing mark was MIA. Finally got the front cover off the 307 last night, and to no one's surprise, there were no teeth left on the aluminum cam gear. In fact, the timing marks between cam and crank were off by 60 degrees. Thank god Olds motors are not an interference design.

Naturally, the MIGHTASWELLS have kicked in. The water pump and fan clutch are new, but I'm replacing the fuel pump and the oil pressure sender appears to be leaking. Of course the balancer is grooved from the seal, so I ordered the gasket kit that has the repair sleeve in it (significant savings over buying the gaskets and sleeve separately. Just be aware that if you walk into the Advance Auto store, the prices will be about 25% higher than their on-line prices. Bring printout of the on-line prices and they will match them in the store. It's a little sleazy that they make you ask instead of just giving it to you.

 

Sorry about that chief.

No teeth? You sure it isn't a pulley and that it uses a timing belt?
That engine must not of known who it was messing with but I'm sure you'll learn it a good lesson now.

Those interference engines are like time bombs with no hands on the clock.
I see rice burners on the side of the freeway all the time that have committed Hari-Kari from the ultimate shame of a broken timing belt, what a way to go.

So when does the body go on the rotisserie?

MIGHTASWELL.

 

I wish you hadn't brought that up...

I'm actually struggling with that right now. I have the 84 and the 86, and the plan is to combine the two and build a really nice "family" car. Of course, this was not supposed to be a big-dollar effort.

Yeah, right.

I have finally talked myself into a 455 instead of a 403, however.

 

Isn't it amazing what one can talk himself into. Sometimes I plug my ears trying not to listen, doesn,t work the mind keeps right on spinning. Good luck with the repair, you wern't doing anything today anyway were you

 

 

See... all you guys talk to yourselves and they talk back, I thought we were the only one that had that problem.

 

You could always sell a certain plastic tailgate for some cash. I have a nice 307 if you need one?

 

"Nice" 307? Isn't that an oxymoron?
Besides, I've got two too many now!

And I appreciate the offer on the tailgate, but I'm afraid I'll have to respectfully decline.

 

Did the aluminum sprocket have the nylon coated teeth? I hate the fact that most of the older V8's have the built in flaw of nylon top gears.

 

It's so easy to rationalize that upgrade because you know how nice it will be when the 455 is installed and your driving the car again!

 

There did not appear to be any plastic teeth. I have also replaced many older Olds timing chains with the plastic teeth (had the same problem on a 1970 350, for example).