when replacing a gear drive timing set up with a chain drive will the timing marks on the gears always align or depending on cam duration would they be set a tooth or two off the marks bought a 67 vette motor and would like to remove the gear drive with no idea of the cam specs
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Re: timing chains
If you know that the mill is running a stock cam, then you can go ahead and buy a stock gear and chain set, line up the marks, and your up and running. If you don't know, then it's a crap shoot.
If your unsure of what you have, the cam should be degreed to see just how far off you might be. It's all about having near dead on mechanical geometrys.
This would require purchasing and installing (if you haven't already done so) a gear and chain set, a degree wheel, and a magnetic base dial indicator.
I put an aftermarket cam in my engine hoping to hit the marks, and found out that I was better than five degrees off! I then had to drill out the cam gear and install degree bushings to bring it back to timing reality.
There are kits out there with the gear pre-drilled with several different degree bushings included in the kit. If you already purchased the gear set, you can also pickup just the bushings and if your handy with tools, drill out the cam gear yourself.
It's just not as simple as jumping a tooth and expecting all the other related internal components to be happy about it.
Regards,
Chuck 32205
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