timing chain specs

is there a spec or any thing to go by for how much play a timing should have. whats to much ?

 

if your looking at it directly and your asking ...?
just throw a new set in there they are not expensive

I remember there is a way to check by spinning by hand to tdc and then reversing rotation slightly and watching your rotor and
then note how many degrees of movement on your pulley marks before the rotor starts moving .....but I forgot the amount of degrees allowed

 

found one on you tube ...this guys says 7 degrees movement and you have to much slack
but I imagine thats a general spec ....imo 4*-5* might be to much

 

then again I imagine a very warn distributor gear could also give you a bad slack reading by watching rotor movement

 

thanks for that good information, good to know. my mistake the timing cover is off and the dist is out. so am trying to get them specs by moving the chain side to side.should it move a 1/16 or 1/8 or 1/4 inch

 

there will be some slack ........no slack and the chain could snap easily
how do the teeth look on both gears ?


again .....if your looking at it just change the chain and gears regardless ....

 

well actually i can just put the damper back on and see from there

 

they are new, well about a 100 miles

 

Even a the best new chain gives up 2 degrees instantly, so I always advance the Cam with a 2 degree key just for starters!

 

May not be necessary if you find an old stock chain supplied in a long box (long box because that is the only way to fold). Current chains that fold into a ball in your hand will always be sloppy. 491 chains show up on ebay sometimes. This one was $20 a few months ago.

 

already got a melling chain. was a little loose. ended up putting a timing chain tensioner on, plus a guide on the other side

 

I'm thinking 3/8"- 1/2" is typical for a new chain. I'll have to look thru my picture files...

 

they get loose real fast. i had a single roller on it with 100 miles and it was loose. have to use a stock link chain with the tensioner wont work on the roller chain

 

the timing would jump around with the timing gun, was hard to time it with a loose chain

 

My rule of thumb on V8 timing chains is 5 degrees maximum. Just put the harmonic balancer mark on the pointer (or the reverse if the timing marks are on the damper) and with a breaker bar on the crank pulley move the crank back and forth. You will be able to feel the slack before the chain starts to move the cam. If the index or pointer moves more then about a total of 5 degrees of slack, you have just found a nice weekend project. BTW - I agree with those who say that if you are looking at the chain and it has any significant slack (or a nylon cam gear), replace it they are not that expensive.

 

i ended up putting a tensioner from competition products on it. used the guide on the other side. timing does not move around now when i time it with the timing light, seems like the engine has better throttle responds and smoother. didnt try wide open throttle yet

 

Any pics of the install???

 

Tom it is the same one i put on before but with the guide this time. i have an old thread with the photos from the first time under timing chain tensioner

 

feb 15th 2013 [timing chain tensioner] could someone please post that thread