when i changed my cam out for a new one on my 1982 305 z28 i diden't put a new timing chain on(it was only 8months old) will it really affect my timing? little birdies keep wishpering in my ear that i screwed up...

 

If your chain was in good shape to start with, I doubt it will be a problem, bit its always a good idea to change it out for a new one.

 

If it's only 8 months old, it shouldn't hurt anything. That also depends, though, on how many miles were put on in those 8 months.

But, like A^2 said, it is always a good idea to get a new timing set with a cam swap.

 

thanks guys,but could it affect my timing?

 

It will affect your timing as time goes on its the same for all timing chains, they all stretch. If you had an EFI it wouldnt be as much of a problem as the spark advanvce can make up for the loss in timing on the chain. If you are really woried about timing go to a gear set. If you have no knock sensor It will keep the timing good for much longer but will also make the engine a bit louder as you will hear the gears.

 

i'm in california, isen't gear drive illeagel in california? i'd love gear drive but always thought i coulden't have it. maybe im the dork....

 

Don't worry about a gear drive. Too much money, not enough gain with too much to risk. If you're worried about timing, just get a good aftermarket double chain design.

Besides, for many, the whining noise gets old after a while.

 

What risks are you talking about?

 

I'm not sure how gear drives are nowadays, but when i was younger I could remember people replacing the damn thing about every two years.

 

That and they make a terrible racket like you wouldn't beleive. Chains are nowhere near as annoying.

 

The gear drive discussion aside, David Vizard says that an average timing chain will stretch about a half of a degree after 5000 miles, not enough to be noticable in most cases. If you've changed the cam, you had the dizzy out. I would think the issue might be in proper dizzy replacement and/or/thus timing.

 

so... what you're saying (in my case) is that my chain has 31,600 miles on it and with putting in a new cam i need to change the chain?

KAM

 

If I had it apart I would have replaced it but I wouldn't go to the trouble now, no older than your chain is. What I was infering was that to change the cam you obviously had the distributor out. And IF you're having timing issues now then it could be improper dist. installation. Heck that's the one thing that still throws me after all these years. Every time I put a dizzy in, I'll end up moving it at least once.