Timing chain set differences

[Justin S.]

Besides cost and advance/ retard specs, what is the difference between Cloyes 9-3110 and C-3024x?

[Joe L.]

Re: Timing chain set differences

Besides cost and advance/ retard specs, what is the difference between Cloyes 9-3110 and C-3024x?

Justin------


The 9-3110 has a higher quality, true roller chain. It also has a hardened, ductile iron camshaft sprocket which is balanced to 10,000 RPM. It also has precision, hand-matched cam sprocket, chain, and crank sprocket.

[Duke W.]

Re: Timing chain set differences

The term "true roller" is just marketing gobbledygook. A roller chain is a roller chain - like any motorcycle drive chain.

The C-3024X is the OE replacement truck big block roller chain, built to the GM print with the addition of the two extra indexing holes that allow cam indexing +/- four degrees from as ground and is adequate for any service including racing according to the seventies vintage Chevrolet Power Manuals.

There is also a non-adjustable version, but they are both about the same 35 dollar price. The small block versions are about 25 bucks, and these prices are for the complete sets - the chain, crank and camshaft sprockets.

All have steel crank sprockets, cast iron cam sprockets.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: Timing chain set differences

The term "true roller" is just marketing gobbledygook. A roller chain is a roller chain - like any motorcycle drive chain.

The C-3024X is the OE replacement truck big block roller chain, built to the GM print with the addition of the two extra indexing holes that allow cam indexing +/- four degrees from as ground and is adequate for any service including racing according to the seventies vintage Chevrolet Power Manuals.

There is also a non-adjustable version, but they are both about the same 35 dollar price. The small block versions are about 25 bucks, and these prices are for the complete sets - the chain, crank and camshaft sprockets.

All have steel crank sprockets, cast iron cam sprockets.

Duke

Duke------

The chain on the 9-3110 is a much higher quality chain than that on the C-3024x. They used to be manufactured by the British company Renold but they now use another source. The rollers on this chain actually rotate. The rollers on the C-3024x do not. I confirmed this. While both cam sprockets are cast iron, they are not the same.

There definitely is a large price difference between the two sets. In my opinion, the 9-3110 is absolutely worth the price difference. Is the C-3024x adequate? Absolutely yes. Is the 9-3100 better than the C-3024x? Absolutely yes. Is it worth the price difference? In my opinion, absolutely yes. Others may not think so, especially those on very limited budgets.

[Duke W.]

Re: Timing chain set differences

Duke------

The rollers on this chain actually rotate. The rollers on the C-3024x do not. I confirmed this. While both cam sprockets are cast iron, they are not the same.

There has to be relative motion as the chain wraps around the sprockets. Any roller chain such as a motorcycle or bicycle chain has rollers that rotate around a "pin" or bushing. If there was no relative motion here then it would have to be between the roller and the sprockets, which would rapidly wear the sprockets.

On a new chain it may be difficult to actually "roll" the roller due to the tight clearances between the pin and side links and the smooth roller makes it difficult to grab with your fingers and roll. Oil splash in the timing housing migrates into the tight clearance between the rollers, pins,and links and creates full hydrodynamic lubrication between the roller and pin, just like plain bearings in the engine. Oil between the roller and sprocket teeth is squeezed out due to the large clearance between the sprocket teeth and links, so hydrodynamic lubrication is not possible. It's the hydrodynamic lubrication between the roller and pin that allows the chain to go multiple hundreds of thousands of miles before significant wear occurs.

I and I'm sure many others have had or known someone that had a Chevy truck with a Gen I small block or maybe a Mark IV big block that went a quarter million miles or more before needing an overhaul and it wasn't because of a worn timing chain.

Most have some sort of budget in mind when restoring an engine, but using the three times more expensive aftermarket chain set offers no benefits in terms of durability and longevity, so the funds are better spent on something that adds performance or durability like massaging the heads and upgrading connecting rods. It's like using premium gas in a car that operates detonation-free on regular. You pay more, but get no benefit.

Even the later narrow silent chain (narrower than the fifties/sixties version) with metal sprockets is more than adequate for any Corvette engine restoration. The chain set that was clearly junk was the silent chain that had the nylon cam sprocket that became OE beginning in the mid/late-sixtes, which is no longer available from any source that I know of, but it seems that it's common for many to disrespect all OE design timing sets because of that one bad actor.

Duke

[Justin S.]

Re: Timing chain set differences

Thanks guys. Are both parts American made?

[Duke W.]

Re: Timing chain set differences

I believe they are... visit the Cloyes Web site.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: Timing chain set differences

Thanks guys. Are both parts American made?

Justin------


The 9-3110 is made in USA. The other one, I don't know. You would probably have to look on a package to find the country of origin.

[Gary R.]

Re: Timing chain set differences

If memory serves me, there was an issue with the cheaper sets and they were not made in the USA. That was about 12 years ago when I was going through my 72 and the imported stuff was starting to show up everywhere. At the time the good USA sets were about $60.