MDchanic

I picked up an engine recently, and checked the timing chain by reaching in through the fuel pump hole and moving it with my finger. It seemed loose to me, especially since it looks new, so I checked further...

Does this look W-A-A-A-Y loose to you? It's looser than I can recall a new chain being.





Thanks,

- Eric

Allan R

Seriously Eric???

MDchanic

Seriously enough - This is not an old chain - it is clean and fresh-looking.

This is somewhere in the neighborhood of "horrifically poor manufacturing quality," is it not?
I wish I knew what brand it was, so I could tell people not to buy it.

- Eric

Allan R

Who says this is even the right chain for this engine?? Might not have anything to do with manufacturer. You and I both know that if you want something done right on your car (or new engine in this case) you don't necessarily accept what someone else has done as correct unless they have the credentials or receipts to back it up.

Is this a replacement for that worn out pavement ripping ground thumping tire scorching torque monster 260 in your Delta?

MDchanic

Good point.

Which is why I took it apart. You never know what the previous bozo (or the one before that) did.

Should be. It's a good-running, well maintained motor, which I can use without a major overhaul, thus allowing me to pursue a major overhaul at a more leisurely pace.

- Eric

OLD SKL 69

Looks like its got way too much slack for a new chain. I need to do that too to the 307 in my Riv for the same reason. Supposedly done on my motor too but when I changed the fuel pump, it felt too loose to me.

Nothing surprises me when Bubba's been in there.

Doc350s

I vote for too much slack.

380 Racer

Just change it out with a good Cloyes and have peace of mind.

MDchanic

Oh, no doubt about that.

Probably a 9-slot adjustable, as I like to confirm my cam timing.

I just thought the chain slack (on a new-looking chain) was amusing - my real question is how to ID this cam, so I know what the devil it is .

- Eric

z11375ss

Put RTV all over it. It will tighten it up.

Run to Rund

Maybe it was line bored instead of line honed. It doesn't look all that loose to me; I've seen much worse. While in there, you might as well put in a camshaft, on and on.

MDchanic

I think that's what the last guy did .

Ahhhh... Then you didn't see my other thread...

- Eric

Rickman48

Or, the PO just changed the cam gear - cheaper and easier!
I'd be checking the pan for plastic pieces.

oldcutlass

Well Eric, seems those MAW's are starting to whisper in your ear aren't they. Do what you need to do to feel comfortable with it based on your budget and expectations.

Lady72nRob71

Need an anti-MAW hat? I am running a preseason special..........

2blu442

Eric, you've already got the right answer. But just to have something to compare it to, here's a fresh 350 shortblock. The top picture is how it sets without pressure, the bottom I'm pressing inward with my finger. John

P3240645.jpg

P3240646.jpg

MDchanic

The chain looks too good for that - shiny and clean, just like both the gears, the rockers, rocker pivots, pushrods, and cam.
(And, no, this motor was never otherwise machined or rebuilt - it's very original, down to the carb., the distributor, and the grease deposits).

That's the weird part - it seems pretty messed-up to make a chain that slack.
Though, as Allan suggested, maybe it's a chain for a different motor .



And that's exactly what I would have expected, John.

Nice block, by the way - Glyptal'ed and everything!

- Eric

2blu442

Many many years ago I purchased a 1966 Ford Bronco with a 289. The idle was a nice rumpty rump, but when I put a timing light on it, it jumped all over the place. I was a teenager and still trying to figure out the difference between a crecent wrench and channel lock pliers, so I took it to a shop. They told me it had a 6 cylinder timing set in it I don't know if that's really true, but they told me they put in a timing set and that fixed it.

How many times have you run into someone who thinks the Olds and Chebby's used the same 350 engines? The difference may be hard to measure, but if you put a fresh Olds set against these I wonder if you'd see some differences. John

Porter858

I made the mistake of ordering this cheap, $27.95 chain, I figured it was Cloyes so it couldn't be too bad...

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cl...ake/oldsmobile

This chain was slightly loose, but it had the worst heel/toe fitment I've ever seen. When you pull the chain tight against the sprocket you could see lots of daylight everywhere in between.

I had to further investigate this so I installed it on a low-budget 350 rebuild I had on a stand with a mild Lunati cam. This chain was 3.5 degrees off! I pulled it off and installed a BTR chain and it was within .5 degrees.

I'm not knocking all the Cloyes chains, I've had great results with the street true roller for $69.99 or the higher end ones.

Sorry for kinda highjacking Eric, but when I saw the pics you posted, it reminded me of this chain.

GAOldsman

Albeit a single roller Eric, the cam gear looks worn and possibly missing a tooth @ 5 o' clock and the nylon teeth that took up some of the slack is prolly in the oil pan and John's pic is a double roller with new gears.

cutlassefi

Probably a chinese chain, they have a tendency to stretch easily.

z11375ss

Depends how tight around their neck it is.

Allan R

So comparing John's TC to yours (even with double rollers) I can't help but notice yours doesn't even fit on the top of the cam gear. Appears to have up to 3/16" of gap in the gear valleys, that's why I still think it's the wrong chain. Never seen one fit that badly even with slack in it.

What engine is this anyway?

jag1886

I bet it's a wonderful POC chinese part.

MDchanic

The gear is a replacement, not an original - it's cast iron instead of aluminum. No Nylon.


LOL


Reg'lar ol' 1968 4bbl 350.

- Eric

Seff

I'm pretty sure my brand new timing chain is looser than that. I JUST got the timing cover glued on too. >.>

Seff

Just checked it, the slack is about 1/4", tops. Slightly overblown by me, sorry. :P

MDchanic

Yeah, ¼" is not off-base for a new regular-old chain.

Mine looks to have about 1" .

Thanks for checking, though.

- Eric

Seff

The way the teeth interact with the chain is similar to how yours looks, though.

A2Mechanic

I've seen really worn cam bearings allow that much slack in a new chain. I know the post is old but might help someone.