I started assembling my 91 L98 today. I bought a new S.A. Gear dbl roller timing set for it, and the chain seems very tight to me. I checked and the part number on the box isn't for a aline bored block or anything. I can move the chain from side ...... a little....... but don't feel any slack at all. Any thoughts?

 

I put a Cloyes true roller on the engine I built and it was REAL TIGHT! I couldn't move the chain by applying light (less than 10 lb) pressure. I think they allow for the chain breaking in and make them that way so they won't have slack after they break in.

 

Sounds normal to me as long as you can rotate the bottom end without any binding or rubbing sounds. I just refreshed my 305 and put a new timing chain with the stock gears and it was tight. I have been driving the car with no problems. The old timing chain when tearing the motor down had enough slack that I could almost pinch the chain together between the gears.

 

OK, Thanks Supervisor42......... I did a search and found a few others with a tight chain to start with. Everything rotates fine, so I guess I won't worry about it. It is a "true roller" chain, but wasn't the most expensive chain out there. Any one else ever use an S.A. Gear product?