Pretty much what the title says, what timing chain are you guys using with roller cams in ’86 and up blocks? I’m assuming that the only real difference is that the back of the cam sprocket is clearanced for the roller cam retaining plate, so why to they seem to be a hassle to get a hold of?

Anyone have a reasonably priced performance chain that they’re happy with? What are you guys using when you do a cam swap?

 

There's the GM 12371043, but it's only a single roller, not much of a performance part.

 

{Insert loud obonxious buzzer sound here} We all know where THAT leads!!!No, there is actually another difference; the bolt circle is smaller.

Here's a high-quality one for high-performance use. Not a hassle to get hold of as far as I can see. I am no judge of "reasonable" pricing; IMO, a thing costs what it costs, and that's about as far as it goes. http://store.summitracing.com/partde...art=CCA%2D3136 You can also get stock-replacement type ones from Cloyes, they're around $35-40 for the set.

 

Sofakingdom… that one seems reasonable… of all the times that I’ve scanned scummit’s site for these things I’ve never seen it anywhere in the notes or in their selection criteria that “this one is for a factory roller” like that one lists.

Thanks

 

Can you run a gear drive on these motors?

 

Yeah they don't always list them saying "for factory roller"; it would probably be easier if they did; but if it says 87-up, that's the clue that sets it apart from 55-86 ones.

 

You can run gear drives. Apparently there are "quiet" gears out there. I have no experience with them. A couple of people on the boards are using them.

 

Don't use them with factory fuel injection though. Drives the knock sensor nuts. But why use it anyway? Double rolller chain is just as good, if not better.

 

Yea, but I’ve run across some late model pn’s that are not for roller motors (don’t know what the difference there is), and not everything built after ’86 was a roller.

You can run a gear drive, but usually knock sensors don’t like even the quiet ones.

 

Actually, nothing in '86 was roller coming out of the factory.

'87 model year was the first for factory roller lifter cams.