Best Timing Chain?

[zielinski.family]

What timing chain have you thought was best? Cloyes? Federal Mogul (Sealed Power)? S. A. Gear?

 

[bk95td]

I used a Melling once and it was half way to spec for slop brand new. The cloyes sets are on the verge of binding they are so tight when new. Cloyes does make the timing chain sets for other brands but I don't know who.

 

[Edzzed]

if I were gonna spend some coin to do the timing chain I'd go Phazer and get gears. There are varying opinions on gears from harmonics will kill an engine to best thing they ever did for the engine. Ed

 

[WarWagon]

if I were gonna spend some coin to do the timing chain I'd go Phazer and get gears. There are varying opinions on gears from harmonics will kill an engine to best thing they ever did for the engine. Ed

X2 gears are the best if you can get them as all chains will stretch with low miles. (30K on my last set.)

 

[Koots]

I'd be afraid of gears grinding or binding and wearing the teeth down, which would cause some symptoms similar to chain clop. That's what i would assume could happen.

 

[Edzzed]

I'd be afraid of gears grinding or binding and wearing the teeth down, which would cause some symptoms similar to chain clop. That's what i would assume could happen.

maybe so but then I'd be more concerned with rear end gears, There has to be a reason cars and trucks are not chain driven like most motorcycles. Ed

 

[zielinski.family]

But the fear of the harmonics killing my motor does concern me very much. My luck would have it, that soon as I replaced with gears to have a stronger set-up that the remedy would be the death of me! I have to have my injection pump rebuilt and was told to do the chain as well or it becomes a timing nightmare. had the injectors tested (bought off the internet) to my surprise they tested perfect and were at the same pressure. The shop told me if the head in the pump is bad then it could cost well over a thousand to have the work done. I have found a dealer based out of New York that has them rebuilt for $699 with the claim the heads are new??? What to do?

 

[bk95td]

From what I've seen most oe timing chains will still be in spec a 250,000 miles. If you replace that chain it should last another 250,000 miles. Do you really think a gear drive at 4 times the cost of a chain is really going to make much of a difference? Would your engine last long enough to justify spending that much for the gears that would outlast 3 or 4 engines? I don't see harmonics being a problem. Many farm tractors have gear drive for the IP.
My local injection shop quoted me $650 to rebuild a 4911 IP replacing the head to the new style.

 

[Burning oil]

I would go chain also, don't see the "real world need" for a gear.

 

[WarWagon]

The Autozone Duralast and Cloyes timing chains I used recently were both so tight new I could barley get them on with no slack at all.

The 6.5 IP is gear driven off the camshaft then chain to crank.

Cummings and Duramax engines use gears exclusively.

Your 6.5 block will crack itself to death someday even with a chain. When it does you remove the gears and ARP studs and find another block.

Chain is going to stretch some and require a re-time of the IP. Re-time was within 10K miles on my rebuilt engine and a teardown at 30K although in spec I replaced it anyway.

The harmonic damper is another item you can spend cash on Fluidampr or check the factory type often...

 

[Brooklyn Tow]

From what I've seen most oe timing chains will still be in spec a 250,000 miles. If you replace that chain it should last another 250,000 miles. Do you really think a gear drive at 4 times the cost of a chain is really going to make much of a difference? Would your engine last long enough to justify spending that much for the gears that would outlast 3 or 4 engines?

X2

 

[JeffMD]

I don't recall how much I paid for my phazer gear set as I just rolled them into a repower with Peninsular and a bunch of other stuff. 90k miles later I have no complaints and the truck fires up like it's brand new.

 

[jrsavoie]

All the sets I've replaced were out of spec starting at 180,000 miles - just barely

500,000 miles - way out. At that milage you can just about take the chain off without messing with the gears

X2