Before I install my timing chain on my 330 I want to ask the question.Is there a preferred year& c.i.d. timing chain I should get.The reason I ask this is Ford 460 in the later years retarded its timing.If you are building a 429-460 you get a 70 cobra-jet timing gear because its top dead center.That makes it fire at top not after the piston is starting back down.

 

Ford is ford, Olds is Olds. I don't know about the Ford situation but I would get a timing set to fit the 330 if I was in your shoes and not worry about retarding the valve timing. There are lots of other things that people do to build high performance engines and often they do them in groups, i.e. when retarding valve timing they may have also already changed the camshaft to a different grind, and may have changed induction, and rear gears, etc, etc. I wouldn't just go and change one thing and expect any significant increase in performance, in fact you might find the car runs more poorly.

 

All Olds V8s from 64-90 (except, of course, the 64 394) use the same timing chain and gears. Your call on using stock or aftermarket roller chains. Performance timing sets have multiple keyways or dowel pin holes on the gears to allow you to vary the timing. Of course, unless you plan to use a dial indicator to find true TDC first, changing the cam timing will be a moot point.

 

I didn't know that about the early V8's cool

 

Mmmm... what do you call "early"? I call the first gen "Rocket V8" (49-64, except the 330) to be "early" and the 64 (330 only) thru 90 to be "late".

 

and for the love of god make sure you use the right keyway. or no more pushrods