FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: 427HISS on September 03, 2018, 03:24:22 PM
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I've only used a stock or Cloyes timing chain and sprockets ( I'll be using a mechanical cam and stacked EFI in my 428)
Mostly street driven with some track days.
Which brand set do you prefer and why ?
Number of keyways, 3, 9 ?
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I've always liked the Ford Racing 9 ways because I like having the extra adjustments. For an FE look at part FMS-M-6268-A390.
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Jay Brown's FE Power timing set. top notch. roll-master and JP both have some nice billet sets as well.
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i bought a timing set back around 1990-92.its a Hamburger billet steel set with 9 keyways.i heard they went out of business after that,but not sure.real heavy steel gears,i had it on 2 different FEs with no issues,but im not sure if available anymore
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Cloyes makes the Ford sets.
Edelbrock, Comp, and others do not make timing components.
If the chain says "Rolon" throw it away.
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Thanks Chris & Barry.
On Summit's site, a few buyers of the Cloyes say the TDC mark is 180 off ?
https://www.summitracing.com/search?SortBy=BestKeywordMatch&SortOrder=Ascending&keyword=Cloyes%20timing%20chain%20set%20ford%20fe%20
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X2 on Rollmaster - I have one on the 393C, required because of the 351W style snout on most 351C stroker cranks.
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The last Ford Racing timing set I bought for an FE had enough slop in it that I couldn't bring myself to use it. I actually tossed it in the garbage because it had been on the shelf a while and couldn't return it.
I ended up using an Edelbrock branded set.
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Well that sucked Jim.
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Jay Brown's FE Power timing set. top notch. roll-master and JP both have some nice billet sets as well.
I wish I could afford Jays, it's a work of art, along with his cover.
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You only need a 9 position key when you need one to dial in intake centerline.
The problem is, you don't know if you need one until you degree a cam, and at that point you need the timing chain, so generally most of us start with one.
I used to use Rollmaster and there was one in my 427 that was just as tight 9 years later and no wear on the gears, so I put it back in my 489, but in my 445 I used a Ford Racing chain and it worked great too. We put an Edelbrock in a 400 Poncho, it worked great too and came in perfectly with a custom Comp Cam Brent had ground for me.
Cloyes is easy too, they just work and they actually make timing sets, so I have been happy with them. So, IMO, unless you have an oddly machined block, Ford, Cloyes, or Rollmaster work well, and I have also had many friends happy with Edelbrock.
Not a tough decision nowadays
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Jay's deal is the ticket if you want easy adjustment. I did up a couple prototypes (one for me and one for him), proved the concept running solid roller cams in EMC entries, and tried to get Cloyes to make them. When they repeatedly turned down the opportunity Jay went elsewhere and got the job done.
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I had a lot of fun with timing chains on my 428 ::) http://fepower.net/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=313.0
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I went with the Ford piece with the 9 keyways, and while it was very helpful in getting the cam timing where it ran best, I wish I'd had the foresight to go with Jay's piece. Taking the timing cover off the engine in the truck was a difficult process, getting clean surfaces and reinstalling it and the oil pan was more difficult. Getting the timing gear off wasn't much fun either.
At least I can now say I've done it.
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Why is there a concern with timing chains with solid roller cams and sounds like a belt is best with them ?
Because of vibrations ?
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I generally use Cloyes for everything but had to go through multiple billet sets to find something for the last FE that fit correctly. Crank to cam centerline was stock on that however I recently went through a basic Jasper SBF rebuild that was line honed a bit. In that case the Ford Motorsports chain had quite a bit of slack on a fresh engine but the STD Cloyes double roller I replaced it with was actually a touch tight. We've always had to fit and verify timing sets but there seems to be a wider range of variation now. Another thing is that the "premium" IWIS chain on the FE sets I returned also had formed (split) rollers that were not quite round and some even had a step between the sides prompting me to contact Cloyes directly. The bottom barrel roller again was fine and featured one piece rollers and pins with even press. I'm not intending to deter anyone, simply suggesting careful inspection of any set you buy.
With the set Jay makes I'd like to hear about it's use in any such high mile situation vs needing the retainers retorqued. Not a big deal as once set a simple spacer could be made to help retain position. I'm mostly just curious how it's faired in such a situation vs being checked and reset from time to time.