Who makes the strongest timing chain?

[Mars]

bwhahaha. nice

[Alxsmt]

alright, swaped the timing set out last weekend. Im happy with how well the cloyes set held up. the chain was streached but its a lot better than I was expecting for 20k.

here are some pics and vid.
















old chain. click me.

new chain. click me. (slack was on opposite side as the old one)


one thing I noticed between the 2 chains was that if you layed them down in a straight line and bent them in the wrong direction (against the links if that makes any sense) the old chain bend a good half inch more

[pocket-rocket]

I honestly think the problem is aftermarket chains, they have way too much play which causes alot of slop and gear wear over time.

Bottom line the aftermarket chains Suck.

I had to lol at that, that's pretty good, Phil. On the down side, that shows just how flimsy they are. I used a stock replacement Cloyes on a 3400 on a minivan and it lasted a season before I thought it had enough slop in it to declare it needing replaced. And that was with stock everything.

[onefastV6]

I honestly think the problem is aftermarket chains, they have way too much play which causes alot of slop and gear wear over time.

Bottom line the aftermarket chains Suck.

[3400-95-Modified]

I order a GM crank gear from the local dealer today, I figured for $32.00 it was good for peace of mind. Some items just aren't worth taking a chance on, and sadly I have yet to find or hear of an aftermarket set that matches GM quality. So the only thing I am using from the Sealed Power set is the GM cam gear.

I still want to see this Napa kit and I'm ready to just go buy one for the hell of it to see whats in it. I would also love it for Mars to physically inspect his chain for wear and whatnot, but I really cant ask someone else to take their side cover off their engine to look at their chain, that is their decision and he seems happy with what he has.

As far as the Napa set goes, it looks like it might be the same as the others: GM Cam Gear, Sprocket Stamped S-619 and a cheap chain.

There are two different sets though, so maybe the chain is better on the more expensive set?
Napa Part #NTP 103036 $91.99
Napa Part #NTP 90385S $74.49 (comes with guide)

Napa Crank Gear: http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Mul...+50012+2012037

Napa Cam Gear: http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Mul...+50012+2012037

Napa Chain: (looks to be the same style as the rest of the aftermarket chains) http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Mul...+50012+2012037

Makes me wonder how Mars's setup is really holding up. As noted I killed one of those S-619 gears on a stock cam and springs. I'm not commenting on what happened with the cam gear since on that setup it was also an aftermarket part, but the Napa ones are aparently GM cam gears at least and that seemed to take the abuse on my second build, at least to a reasonable level.

I should be pulling my engine soon so I'll look again this year if I feel like killing my perfectly sealed engine to see if I notice any bad wear. I've been runing for 1.5 years on it and quite a few pulls and its still seems to sound ok.

[onefastV6]

I order a GM crank gear from the local dealer today, I figured for $32.00 it was good for peace of mind. Some items just aren't worth taking a chance on, and sadly I have yet to find or hear of an aftermarket set that matches GM quality. So the only thing I am using from the Sealed Power set is the GM cam gear.

[QUOTE=3400-95-Modified;434069]I still want to see this Napa kit and I'm ready to just go buy one for the hell of it to see whats in it. I would also love it for Mars to physically inspect his chain for wear and whatnot, but I really cant ask someone else to take their side cover off their engine to look at their chain, that is their decision and he seems happy with what he has.
QUOTE]

As far as the Napa set goes, it looks like it might be the same as the others: GM Cam Gear, Sprocket Stamped S-619 and a cheap chain.

There are two different sets though, so maybe the chain is better on the more expensive set?
Napa Part #NTP 103036 $91.99
Napa Part #NTP 90385S $74.49 (comes with guide)

Napa Crank Gear: http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Mul...+50012+2012037

Napa Cam Gear: http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Mul...+50012+2012037

Napa Chain: (looks to be the same style as the rest of the aftermarket chains) http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Mul...+50012+2012037

[bob442]

I have to appologize, i thought this thread was started a few months ago, not 2007. I'm sorry.

Bob

[3400-95-Modified]

When I was building my motor the TCE was not avilable yet, it was in production and not fully designed, and is currently out of stock with no ETA of arrival...

When it finally came out we were told it would take crank AND timing cover machine work to ensure proper clearance. At that time I did not want to tear into my bottom end.

If I were to replace the chain again yes I would go with the TCE. And at first the search was for the best timing chain other than GM but we are slowly finding out that the Cloyes set is similar to almost all of the other aftermarket sets out there, so the GM or TCE are really the best two options.

[bob442]

i thought you guys were going after inter changing parts with 40$ TC sets to make one as strong as a GM
and why wouldnt you just get the crank cut and stick it back in for 40-80$ plus the 240$ TC, it might be twice the price, but the piece of mind.... ahh yeah

[3400-95-Modified]

How has it not gotten anywhere.

I stated my findings with Cloyes timing sets. It's come to our knowledge that a sealed power set is now the same components... so stay away from that.

You have two choices, GM which is around $150 in parts and needs no modification, OR you can pull your crank send it to Ben and Buy his double roller kit for $450.

Currently I'm happy with the $150 that I spent on the GM chain and it's holding up just fine. If I find that the chain is showing significant wear or other problems arise after 2 years of use... then yes maybe I'll invest in the TCE setup to make it last. But currently the GM set is proving to be good enough for my application.

[bob442]

So whats easier, pulling the timing cover every year, or pulling the motor and bottom end out once? I'm just looking at this thread pile up to 13 pages and not getting anywhere lol

[Mars]

Haha nope it's not coming out for a while. Pretty cool how a 400HP 3400V6 just requires regular oil changes and 2 new transmissions a year and keeps on chuggin. haha. It's basically as reliable as stock.

[Alxsmt]

yeah you wouldnt think they would just repack it tho. all I have is the newer 3400s

I wanna see the NAPA one too, maybe someday he will tear it down. it cant last forever.

[3400-95-Modified]

Fuk... That sucks ass... Figures you would be paying for the name.

I still want to see this Napa kit and I'm ready to just go buy one for the hell of it to see whats in it. I would also love it for Mars to physically inspect his chain for wear and whatnot, but I really cant ask someone else to take their side cover off their engine to look at their chain, that is their decision and he seems happy with what he has.

Do you have any older 3100's or 3400's lying around? if so just snatch the crank gear from that... I'm not positive on how the chain itself will hold up though.

[Alxsmt]

shitty. my sealed power crank gear has the same part number. hmm only cost twice as much as cloyes..

I guess that confirms sealed power sucks too.


yeah I agaree with ya, next time I build a 34/3500 the crank is getting machined for the double roller