Timing chain options...
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: New Orleans, LA
Timing chain options... I'm about to do a cam swap and I was wondering if I can replace just the timing chain and reuse the old sprokets. The motor has about 50,000 miles on it. This is the chain I was intrested in http://www.jegs.com/i/Cloyes/220/9-193/10002/-1 can it be done?
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2005
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That looks like a roller chain. The factory GM timing set utilizes a stiff-back / link-belt design. In other words, I doubt that specific chain would work without the accompanying roller-style timing gears. And the accompanying timing gears won't likely work with a 1994 Optispark.
I'd just get the stock GM chain replacement if the stock gears look okay. The factory chain has a tendancy to stretch, but 50,000 miles isn't excessive -- might check how much play it has even before ordering a replacement.
Otherwise, if you're looking to upgrade, it looks like you already have an electric waterpump -- so, you don't have to worry about losing the waterpump drive teeth on the back of the stock cam gear, which frees up your options. You could swap to a 1995+ optispark and timing cover, then run the cloyes 9-3145 double-roller. That's what I've been running for years. Some grinding of the timing cover is required for the double roller to fit.
I'd just get the stock GM chain replacement if the stock gears look okay. The factory chain has a tendancy to stretch, but 50,000 miles isn't excessive -- might check how much play it has even before ordering a replacement.
Otherwise, if you're looking to upgrade, it looks like you already have an electric waterpump -- so, you don't have to worry about losing the waterpump drive teeth on the back of the stock cam gear, which frees up your options. You could swap to a 1995+ optispark and timing cover, then run the cloyes 9-3145 double-roller. That's what I've been running for years. Some grinding of the timing cover is required for the double roller to fit.
Ed Wright recommended a Rollmaster timing set for my rebuild. SDCS1090, nitraded, double roller. Light as hell, good up to 1000 hp. This is if you're going to swap in a 95 vented opti. Don't know what your $$ is but just a recommendation. In the pic it's the one on the left. Best of luck.
If anything, you should replace the crank sprocket. It wears as much as, or more than, the chain.
Get a Cloyes S505 oversized crank sprocket to take the slack out of the stock setup. And use either a stock chain or the Cloyes C506 chain. It's not necessary to replace the cam sprocket at 50k miles, unless you see some damage to it.
Get a Cloyes S505 oversized crank sprocket to take the slack out of the stock setup. And use either a stock chain or the Cloyes C506 chain. It's not necessary to replace the cam sprocket at 50k miles, unless you see some damage to it.
^^Do that^^ Or if you're going to a vented opti and running an ewp, just get the Cloyes 9-3157 timing set. You will also need a 95 timing cover(big hole in the middle).GL
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: New Orleans, LA
