Timing Chains 'Double Roller vs. Non-Roller'

[69 Cuda 440]

Timing Chains,

Have seen more and more Double Roller Timing Chains get stretched
out, even after being in service for a short period of time.

We've had better luck with a Link-Belt and the lighter weight Cam Gear.

Anybody else experiencing the same results.

 

[GTS Registry]

I have the M/P timing chain tensioner with my 340's double roller chain and have had NO problems! The machine shop that did my 340 was so impressed by the tensioner, that they install one with every LA engine rebuild.

 

[pishta]

The roller has less material to NOT make it stretch than the link belts. ie, the pins are smaller, a link belt has like 5 plates as opposed to 2-3 of a roller? Just use the M/P tensioner. Should be SOP for a rebuild. My Mazda has a cool ratchet tensioner on a spring, almost looks like you could drill/bolt it into an LA chain path. I read somewhere that the chain stretches but the cogs (they market hardened cogs on good timing sets) actually wear more. measure a new cog from trough to opposite trough of the teeth, then measure it after the chain "stretches" odds are the measurement will be smaller. The roller is supposed to have more bearing surface area for less parasitic loss. ?????

 

[moper]

I think a lot of status quo stuff in this type of question:
People confuse "double chain" with vs a "Double Roller".
Marketing guys push the misconceptions.
Production guys cut costs in materials and accuracy.
Valve spring pressures go up as cmashafts evolve.

Comparing to a link chain and nylon gear - I'll take the dual roller any time as I find the soft cam gear wears out. That chains hold up fairly well but the cam gear is toast pretty quick.

My own choice - I run a Summit billet roller set and an MP timing chain tensioner on my small blocks. No issues with timing moving or chain stretch thus far. Prior to that I ran Cloyes True Roller sets but that was before Cloyes was sold years ago.

Most performance chains now are doulble chains but not roler chains. Add in differences in materials and quality of manufacture and you get a cheap "double roller timing set" that stretches in very short order with the higher valve spring loads and more crank flexing.

 

[67Dart273]

All double roller chains USED to be "roller" chains. This idea of "non roller roller chain" only came about when the almighty dollar (save) and the Chineseos came along

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Timing Chains,

Money not the issue.

We used to go with 'Sealed Power' #844-CTS-3103R.

But after several Engine pulls with little service miles, we were astonished
by the amount of stretch.

As well as using the Sealed Power 'Double Roller' on Chevy Small Block
Race Engines.

A few years back, we built a 1968 Z-28 302 Chevy for one of our customers {Nick Minichetti}
with a Nylon Gear and Link-type Chain.

Wouldn't you know, the damn Engine went under the E/Stock National Record at Englishtown.

He 'swore' by the lighter weight Timing Chain and Cam Gear.

 

[66fs]

All my experience, mainly from the 70's and 80's, led me to always run a true roller chain setup. I made a lot of money rebuilding 350 chevys from trucks. The nylon toothed cam gear and chain would fail at 70,000 miles like clockwork. I've checked 340's with the original double roller setup and they would still be in factory spec after 100,000 miles. These were everyday drivers that were raced on weekends all their lives. However, it sadly does not surprise me that metalurgy and quality is not the same today as it was then. The stuff looks the same but I'll take that 50 year old stuff every time. In a Race engine you can change things a lot sooner than most average Americans do.

 

[/6 Matt]

Run a gear drive. Problem solved.

 

[greymouser7]

Although thread hijacking, what is the difference between a true roller and a double roller?

 

[67Dart273]

Timing Chains,



A few years back, we built a 1968 Z-28 302 Chevy for one of our customers {Nick Minichetti}
with a Nylon Gear and Link-type Chain.

Wouldn't you know, the damn Engine went under the E/Stock National Record at Englishtown.

He 'swore' by the lighter weight Timing Chain and Cam Gear.

I think I remember Grumpy used to like "silent" chains, too. But drag racing is a poor comparison. Those nylon sprockets are indeed quite---when they strip and slip, or the junk goes through the oil pump