Timeing Chain Replacement???

[HotRod929]

How good are these gear drive timeing things? Whats the difference between the "quiet" and "noisy" ones? Need some help on this. THanks

HotRod

[HotRod929]

Oops here is the pic of what im talking about.

[Lippyp]

Never tried them myself but they are very popular over here with Land-Rover owners that off-road a lot. I believe that they are very reliable and there is no chance of slipping out of time or breakage. I had a cam-belt let go on a Mazda a couple of years back and was very lucky to get away without any damage, a friend had a chain let go on a Toyota Landcruiser 2.8 straight six and ended up with a shed load of bent valves and a hefty bill! (sodium filled valves!) How often do you change the chain/belt normally and can you justify the one-off extra cost of the gear set?

I can only imagine that like gearboxes the noisy ones will have straight-cut teeth which are stronger but noisier than slant cut teeth.

[HotRod929]

How often are you supposed to change the chain? I have no idea since this is the first truck I have owned. If the gear drive ones are like a replace and forget type of thing I think that would be nice.

HotRod

[Lippyp]

No interval is specified in my manual for replacing the chain that I can find, as this is my first truck (in fact my first American vehicle) I have no definite answer for you. I'm sure that others on the board may be able to help.

In the past with older British vehicles I've only ever replaced a timing chain when doing major engine work, dependant on it being worn or not. Also note that if you change the chain you should really also change the gears that it runs on as well as they they do wear together. Quite often all an engine needs is a new tensioner as these usually wear out well before the chain.

My personal opinion is that although you do get very precise cam tuning (chains do stretch slightly with age) the real benefit is with a modern engine with cam belts. These are much more prone to breaking and causing catastrophic damage to your engine than chains are.

My 2 cents!

[PanelDeland]

Can't recomend for or against the gear drive but they are prone to be a bit noisyer than the chain.I do know that the belt change interval can be quite important.If you have a non interference engine the valves will not hit the pistons.An interference engine will allow the valves and pistons to meet if the timing belt/chain breaks.F@&d Escorts changed over in about 83-84 to keep from having problems with warranty stuff.

p.s. is Noisyera word???

[Lippyp]

You have F*** Escorts in the States?! I thought they woulda been too small for you guys.... although they are a big part of British Motoring Heritage! (never owned a F*** myself)

I was lucky, by the book my Mazda should have been an interference engine but somehow the valves managed tio avoid getting bent, compression was as good as before the belt snapped so no piston damage either. I was flooring it up a very steep hill overtaking a truck when it let go, two lanes on my side fortunately, so managed to coast to a halt safely. It was only just over the reccomended renewal mileage as well, talk about built in obsolescence.

p.s It's Noisier

[Longhorn Man]

At about 80,000 miles, it is time to start wondering about the chain, they normally don't break, they will streach to the point of running funny, and sometimes, the teeth will come off the gears, but I have never seen a chain on a big block/small block chevy break. Alo, there is no tensioner on these V-8s either.
Most belts are rated at about 70,000 miles now, but I still say do it at 50,000...alot easier to remember when you hit 50, and 100, and maybe 150 and 200...I like the KISS thing...Keep It Simple Stupid.
Escort was the #1 selling car in the US for most of the 80's...that just goes to show how depressing ans a waste of a decade the 80's actually was.

[jku72]

The "escort" over in europe and britain is NOT the same escort we have here, it is only a common name for two different ford vehicles.
Anyhow, timing chains can last forever, but usually are near the point of over stretch by about 150,000 miles, at least that is when my expirience tells me they could be jumping.
A gear drive never stretches, and if somthing happens, it is a very rare case. They are foolproof. I recommend one, unless you drive a farm type truck, or just putt putt around. It really is not a difficult job, the hardest part being sealing up the gasket surfaces against oil leak afterwards. Again, shop manual time.

[HotRod929]

With the gear drive things when they say "noisy" what kind of noise are we talking here and how loud? Does it sound cool or stupid? I just dont want something that clangs along and sounds like my engine is gonna explode. Thanks

HotRod

[kaycee]

Have a friend that has a gear drive n his 4x4 350 it sounds allmost like a blower whine.I did not like it at first but now I'm starting to like the sound. Depending on my $ I might try it the next time.

[HotRod929]

That sounds kanda cool kaycee. But how loud is it?

HotRod

[kaycee]

Well I guess it is loud don't know decible level.It kinda reminds me of a power steering pump on steroids.

[barn9]

I had a timing chain break on another truck 15 years ago while the engine was sitting there idleing. Can you say "valve job"? The motor had a lot of miles, over 150k, and I had an aquaintance that was taking a low miles 305 out of a newer PU, and he sold it to me for $150.00, so I switched, then sold the old motor for $125.00, my kind of engine swap! Actually, it was just a lucky coincedence that worked out for the both of us, wish things like that happened to me more often.