Timing Chain

[l98vette1986]

I put a Zoom timing chain on my vette a little over a year ago, and i had to re-adjust mt distributor timing. One of my freinds just called that bought the same chain set, he said the closest he could dial it in was 7degrees off on the degree wheel. He then put a new cloyes chain set on it, and it went to 0 degrees, where it is supposed to be.

My question is what kind of power increase will i see if mine is that far off. I am not asking for a specific number as that would not be realistic, but would it really hurt power, or just make a slight differance? I consider really hurting power around 30-40 hp, and a slight differance around 10-15hp.

My vette has all the basic mods of any street car, and then some.
Edelbrock performer heads, crane came w/ 216 degrees duration @ .050, full roller rockers(stayed w/ 1.5's), TPIS Mini-ram, BBK 52mm TB, Shorty 1-3/4" headers, true duals w/ H-pipe, ported MAF, 48psi fuel pressure, 255lph pump, 125 shot of nitrous, and a lot of other BS.

 

[oldace84]

No way on the HP Increases. I use an Cloydes True roller timing chain and I can't see any HP increase.
tony

 

[JT ZR-Won]

I never notice a power difference either, but I went with a Pete Jackson noisy gear drive instead of a chain.

Jay

 

[l98vette1986]

the question was not "will i get power from chaning to a different brand of chain".. it was "what kind of increase should i expect if the chain i installed was off by 7-15 decrees, and now i am chaning to a chain set that is accurate"

Bassicaly the cam location in conjustntion w/ the crank location are not exactly i "in time". meaning that the intake valve may be opening earlier, or later that it is supposed to be. If it upens early it will produce more top end power, if it opens late it will produce more low end power. all i was asking is what kind of difference should there be if the cam timing is off.

 

[l98vette1986]

No way on the HP Increases. I use an Cloydes True roller timing chain and I can't see any HP increase.
tony

Please re-read my post. you didnt understand what i was asking.

 

[l98vette1986]

I never notice a power difference either, but I went with a Pete Jackson noisy gear drive instead of a chain.

Jay

you also did not understand what i was asking.

 

[Alloydude]

I installed an Erson gear drive on my Elcamino with a the stock profile cam. I advanced the cam timing 4 degrees. Not sure of the exact numbers but I could definitely feel an improvement on acceleration. Then again it doesn't have an ECM either. 7 to 15 degrees + or - sounds like a bit much and could possibly hamper performance

 

[l98vette1986]

cool man. thanks for the assistance. any other logical replies are welcome

 

[wallyknoch]

Cam timing

Most performance timing sets have 3 positions. Straight up, advanced and retarded. Advanced kills top end and retarded kills bottom end. Most race cars because of there tremendous bottom end will more likely than not, run retarded to use the power on the top end. 15 degrees would be an installation problem as about a tooth off. Way too much for a street engine. The racing engines use gear drives for a positive valve timing rather than chains and they also drive the fuel pump. Besides, 15 degrees retarded is really chasing an exhaust valve as the piston is coming up on the exhaust stroke. On a street engine , run it straight up

 

[Hib Halverson]

If your camshaft is seven degress off (you didn't say which way it was off but that's probably irrlevant if the amt. is seven deg), the power will be hurt significantly at the top end.

Chances are your chain went on right because, if the camshaft was seven deg. off, you'd have noticed a large loss in power at the higher rpms.

Nevertheless, if in doubt, tear down the front of the motor and check the cam with a degree wheel.

 

[l98vette1986]

If your camshaft is seven degress off (you didn't say which way it was off but that's probably irrlevant if the amt. is seven deg), the power will be hurt significantly at the top end.

Chances are your chain went on right because, if the camshaft was seven deg. off, you'd have noticed a large loss in power at the higher rpms.

Nevertheless, if in doubt, tear down the front of the motor and check the cam with a degree wheel.

This is the next step, i believe that mine is advanced as i have tremendous low end torque, and i am using a miniram intake.. certainly not charachteristic of this intake. my car seems to level off after about 5,300rpms to 6,200.. i have went over everything but the cam/crank timing. hopefully this will solve the problem.
thanks for all the help wallyknoch, and Hib Halverson.

 

[Ken]

any other logical replies are welcome

People are simply trying to be helpful. One must be very specific when asking for information.

 

[l98vette1986]

I'd say i was pretty specific. i never asked if anyone has picked up power from putting a new timing chain on, i asked about cam/crank timing, and how it affects the power range.

 

[wallyknoch]

I'd say i was pretty specific. i never asked if anyone has picked up power from putting a new timing chain on, i asked about cam/crank timing, and how it affects the power range.

If your running a hydraulic cam, the engine will flatten out at the power range you indicated around 5500 rpms. If that is the case, merely install a solid lifter cam and it will then probably be able to achieve the necessary rpms you would like as long as the valve train is compatible to go 7000+ otherwise, You seem to have most of the necessary parts to do this:cool