As long as we are discussing this, I wouldn't mind hearing from others on this site regarding advantages of the adjustable timing set and timing cover with the removable front plate. I have my own opinions on this, but at $249 for the timing set, or $469 for the timing set plus the timing cover, it wouldn't qualify as an inexpensive option for most folks. I build them because I think the combination is worth it, based on my own experiences. Here is what I've found over the years that led me to build these parts:
- Crank gear fit on the crankshaft: On all the Ford crankshafts I've used, the bottom timing gear slides into place fairly easily. However, when the aftermarket cranks started coming out, everything changed. Every single aftermarket crank that I've had, including cast stroker cranks, forged stroker cranks, and billet cranks, seem to have an oversized front snout, making it difficult to install the crank gear. It usually has to be pounded into place using a modified crank sleeve, a block of wood and a hammer, etc. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing, especially if it leads to a more solid installation. However, if you install this gear and then degree the cam and have to change the cam timing, you are stuck with removing the gear that you just pounded into place on the crank, and reinstalling it in a different keyway. This is a huge pain, and if you're not careful you can damage the timing chain or the gear with the puller (ask me how I know this
). With the FE Power timing set, this is not necessary, just loosen the bolts on the cam gear, rotate the crank to get the correct cam timing, and tighten the bolts back up. So in terms of engine assembly, I see the adjustable timing set as a big advantage.
- Compensation for too much compression: One scenario that really resonates with me is you put the engine together, get it in the car, and then find out you have too much compression and it pings under load. The normal course of action there is to retard the ignition timing. This costs horsepower all across the RPM range, plus you lose vacuum. If you have the adjustable timing set and the timing cover with the removable front plate, there is another option, and that is to retard the cam timing. In this case you will lose some low end torque, but in most cases you will actually pick up top end power. Also, my experience has been that retarding the cam timing 2-4 degrees does not affect engine vacuum. If you have a power brake car and you are on the edge of having too little vacuum, this can be important. Similarly, at the drag strip the adjustable cam timing may allow you to pick up some ET or MPH (or lose it, if you go the wrong way). Adjusting the cam timing is another tool in the tuner's toolbox, to help optimize performance.
Now, you can argue that the same adjustment can be done with a standard adjustable timing set, where the crank gear has multiple slots for the key, but that is a big, big job with the engine in the car. Since you may need to make 2 or 3 adjustments to dial everything in, it's just too much work. With the adjustable timing set and timing cover with the removable front plate, you only need to pull the water pump to expose the six bolts holding the front plate in place. Pull those and you have access to the cam timing adjustment. If you are fortunate enough to have a CVR electric pump with the FE Power adapters, you don't even need to worry about gaskets and sealer, because the timing cover front plate seals with an O-ring, and so do the adapters on the CVR pump.
- Compensation for timing chain stretch: Over time, every timing chain will stretch. I've noticed the chain being a little loose when taking apart nearly every engine I've disassembled. The one that I remember the most is when I got back from Drag Week in 2007 with my Mach 1, and pulled and tore down the motor. There were about 2500 miles on it at that point. I had installed one of those expensive Rollmaster timing sets, with the German Iwis timing chain, supposed to be the best chain available. That thing was loose as a goose when I got the timing cover off. My first thought was that the gears most have worn; it couldn't be the chain. So, when I reassembled the engine I bought another Rollmaster set, and installed it with the old chain to check. Still loose as hell!
Even a loose timing chain probably doesn't affect cam timing by more than a degree or two. But we try to build these engines precisely, and setting up the cam timing is part of that. I personally like the idea of checking the cam timing on my engines, and adjusting for chain stretch if necessary.
- Cam changes: Let's say you've got your engine together, and its not running the way you want. You think a cam change will help, but that's a big job you really don't want to undertake now that the engine is in the car. But if you have the timing cover with the removable front plate, it's a lot easier; you don't have to do anything at the front of the engine to get to the cam except remove the water pump and the front plate on the timing cover. My timing covers also ship now with a cam dowel that is internally threaded, making it easy to pull out so the top timing gear comes right off. If you are lucky enough to have one of my intake adapters, then you don't even need to break the water jacket or pull the distributor, all you have to do is remove 12 bolts to pull the 351C intake, then another 10 to pull the center plate off the intake adapter, and you can get right into the valley to remove and replace the lifters.
There are other advantages as well, but I've probably gone on long enough. Sorry if this has sounded like an advertisement for my parts; it is not meant to be. All the parts I build are designed to either fill a hole in the market, or improve the performance of our FE engines, and the timing set / timing cover does that very well. I think a lot of folks don't really understand all the advantages that this combination offers, but as a guy who has been building these motors since the late 1970s, to me they are a big improvement over stockish components. I'm biased, of course
