Who makes the strongest timing chain?

[silvergtjrad]

Since a double roller, gear drive, or belt drive arent available (and wont be any time soon) who makes the strongest timing chain? I bought a cloyes timing set a couple months ago, and after researching here, im not going to put it on the engine. Too many people have had problems with them.

There are the two styles of chains->

The older blocks all use a 20/40 tooth setup. In 2000, the 3100 and 3400 both got a 25/50 tooth setup. Is there a reason GM went with more teeth/linkages? Which would be stronger by design? Im looking for the strongest timing chain I can put on a 3400.

Has it been determined which style is the stronger of the two?

[kflo 93 gt]

Hmm... that doesn't make me feel too solid about having recently purchased and installed a new Cloyes timing kit on my 04 3400...

Sadly I'm too damn broke to go with something different now too...

[IsaacHayes]

I don't know if anyone has any results yet. I think Dave and Mars are going to the older ones and will see how they fare next.

The older has fewer links in it and is a bit larger. I would think that would be less stretch with less links. However more stress at the edges of the gear since it would be bending more than one with a bunch of links..

EDIT: FWIW I replaced my chain a couple months ago. It's the old style. I put a cloyes chain on it but did not put the cloyes gears on because the cast wasn't that nice and it was actually looser with the cloys gears compared to using my old gears. So I'm running original gears with new cloys chain.

[Superdave]

i stretched mine after 800 miles, it was a stock GM '04 chain.

I may try the older style but i'm also waiting to see if someone comes up with a spacer to allow me to use the gen2 double roller setup.

[silvergtjrad]

i stretched mine after 800 miles, it was a stock GM '04 chain.

I may try the older style but i'm also waiting to see if someone comes up with a spacer to allow me to use the gen2 double roller setup.

What about machining the inside of the timing cover? Its been discussed on here recently I know. If there is a spacer made for the cover, wont you need to move all the pullies farther out to work with the water pump?

[1988GTU]

What about machining the inside of the timing cover? Its been discussed on here recently I know. If there is a spacer made for the cover, wont you need to move all the pullies farther out to work with the water pump?

Read this:

http://www.60degreev6.com/showthread.php?t=38834

[ForcedFirebird]

i stretched mine after 800 miles, it was a stock GM '04 chain.

I may try the older style but i'm also waiting to see if someone comes up with a spacer to allow me to use the gen2 double roller setup.

There's also the issue of cam reatiner to gear clearance. I'm going to try and bolt a 3.4 cam in a 3500 block I have to see if there are any other issues.

Does the Gen2 cam have a single bolt on the cam?

I'm hoping to find a simple way to eliminate the single bolt, and skinny chain.

BTW, the Gen1 chain is twice as thick as the 3500's.

[34blazer]

the gen2 has the 3 cam bolts i think

[MidnightriderZ24]

im going with the older style again. there wasnt much play in mine when i disassembled my engine and i had an older style. thats boosted with ls6 springs for about 37,000... so older is better

[silvergtjrad]

im going with the older style again. there wasnt much play in mine when i disassembled my engine and i had an older style. thats boosted with ls6 springs for about 37,000... so older is better

Well thats reassuring. What brand?

[treeZ24]

does no one remember colin's hybrid?? he wore out the gm timing chain on the gen 2 block after just a summer of racing...

not sure about the cloyes though, thats what i'm using but i havent had the engine apart in a year and half.

[Superdave]

does no one remember colin's hybrid?? he wore out the gm timing chain on the gen 2 block after just a summer of racing...

not sure about the cloyes though, thats what i'm using but i havent had the engine apart in a year and half.

I wonder if we could just cut out that whole area for the timing chain on the cover, then have someone machine out a new piece to cover the hole that would allow the clearance needed. Ooh.. maybe even one out of clear acrylic so it would be easy to inspect the chain.

[silvergtjrad]

I wonder if we could just cut out that whole area for the timing chain on the cover, then have someone machine out a new piece to cover the hole that would allow the clearance needed. Ooh.. maybe even one out of clear acrylic so it would be easy to inspect the chain.

Only if it came with color changing neon tubes pre installed.

[ForcedFirebird]

I wonder if we could just cut out that whole area for the timing chain on the cover, then have someone machine out a new piece to cover the hole that would allow the clearance needed. Ooh.. maybe even one out of clear acrylic so it would be easy to inspect the chain.

I thought TCE is working on a billet cover?

What's stopping you from using a gen1/2 cover?

[3400-95-Modified]

I may go with the old one when I see how my 04 one held up for 10k with a Milzy cam and LS6 springs... I'm just not sure what brand.