How tight should a timing chain be?

Yep, Mike at TA says it's try one and send it back if too tight or loose and get next size.....buy a .002, .003, & .005 and that should do it.

 

Lol. That about sums up life in general

 

Prior to this test above, I stopped by the machine shop and asked. They said the line hone only takes about .002" off the caps which means the crank only moves .001"closer to the cam, if the hone process takes off equal amounts.

 

I measured the crank gear, and the "valleys" measured 0.010" larger across the diameter than the std gear. So that would mean that it was designed to take up half that or .005" in being closer to the cam. So it is too big for my case

 

It's a crapshoot...
I have a 9key .005 billet set in a non-honed block and it's perfect.
Maybe Buick's tolerances were big. That same set fit slightly looser in an align honed block too.... Go figure....

 

Idk if I would swap gears around, as they're probably batched. Maybe ok, maybe slight variation.
All the mating parts will get to know each other very quickly...

 

I measured both upper gears and the new one measured about .002" to .003" smaller in dia (across the teeth valleys) compared to the old one. So there is manufacturing tolerance

 

I asked tech that question and they said it would be ok

 

If that's the case, an option would be larger crank gears made instead of buying a whole new set, as long as the chainset isn't worn out.