timing chain
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 785
Likes: 6
From: Iowa
timing chain
How long does the timing chain normally last on our trucks? 1994, 302.
How difficult is it to replace? Very mechanically inclined here, but for sakes of simplicity, is it worth having someone who does this for a living do this? Have a VERY reputable shop nearby, not a dealership, just a privately owned out in the country shop, has several guys who used to work in dealerships, they opened and run the shop, do great work ad a decent price, trust them more than anyone to do anything right, and not screw you in the process.
For someone who knows what they are doing, how long would it take to replace the timing chain and whats involved? Just one of those preventative maintenance things Im thinking of doing.
How difficult is it to replace? Very mechanically inclined here, but for sakes of simplicity, is it worth having someone who does this for a living do this? Have a VERY reputable shop nearby, not a dealership, just a privately owned out in the country shop, has several guys who used to work in dealerships, they opened and run the shop, do great work ad a decent price, trust them more than anyone to do anything right, and not screw you in the process.
For someone who knows what they are doing, how long would it take to replace the timing chain and whats involved? Just one of those preventative maintenance things Im thinking of doing.
Mother Trucker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 887
Likes: 8
From: Roggen, Co
It's a simple job...I've done it enough I could prob do it in an hour or two. But give yerself an afternoon. I would say if you've got 120k on I'd do it. I'm sure you can go way more but I'm the same when it comes to preventative maintainence. I'd say do it yerself and save a few bucks. Change the water pump while yer at it.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 785
Likes: 6
From: Iowa
Originally Posted by dr_bowtie
you can very easily check timing chain wear with just pulling the distributor cap and watching the rotor and timing mark on the balancer.... no more than 8 degrees deflection
Hi-Rev Motorsports
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,898
Likes: 65
From: Northern Indiana
simple.... pop off the dizzy cap so you can see the rotor button... you will want to watch it turn...
take a socket, extension and ratchet for the BIG bolt on the Harmonic balancer....now with the ratchet turn the motor over clockwise until the timing mark just goes past the tab about an inch....its Important to take the mark past the tab to get an accurate stretch reading....
Now reverse and go counterclockwise and turn the engine so that the timing mark lines up with 0 degrees.... now start the ratchet in the clockwise direction once again but BEFORE you actually turn the engine WATCH the rotor.... while looking at the rotor start to turn the engine clockwise... STOP once you see the rotor start to move...
count the degrees the timing mark has moved from 0... thats the degrees of chain stretch.... 2-4 degrees is normal
take a socket, extension and ratchet for the BIG bolt on the Harmonic balancer....now with the ratchet turn the motor over clockwise until the timing mark just goes past the tab about an inch....its Important to take the mark past the tab to get an accurate stretch reading....
Now reverse and go counterclockwise and turn the engine so that the timing mark lines up with 0 degrees.... now start the ratchet in the clockwise direction once again but BEFORE you actually turn the engine WATCH the rotor.... while looking at the rotor start to turn the engine clockwise... STOP once you see the rotor start to move...
count the degrees the timing mark has moved from 0... thats the degrees of chain stretch.... 2-4 degrees is normal
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 785
Likes: 6
From: Iowa
Originally Posted by dr_bowtie
simple.... pop off the dizzy cap so you can see the rotor button... you will want to watch it turn...
take a socket, extension and ratchet for the BIG bolt on the Harmonic balancer....now with the ratchet turn the motor over clockwise until the timing mark just goes past the tab about an inch....its Important to take the mark past the tab to get an accurate stretch reading....
Now reverse and go counterclockwise and turn the engine so that the timing mark lines up with 0 degrees.... now start the ratchet in the clockwise direction once again but BEFORE you actually turn the engine WATCH the rotor.... while looking at the rotor start to turn the engine clockwise... STOP once you see the rotor start to move...
count the degrees the timing mark has moved from 0... thats the degrees of chain stretch.... 2-4 degrees is normal
take a socket, extension and ratchet for the BIG bolt on the Harmonic balancer....now with the ratchet turn the motor over clockwise until the timing mark just goes past the tab about an inch....its Important to take the mark past the tab to get an accurate stretch reading....
Now reverse and go counterclockwise and turn the engine so that the timing mark lines up with 0 degrees.... now start the ratchet in the clockwise direction once again but BEFORE you actually turn the engine WATCH the rotor.... while looking at the rotor start to turn the engine clockwise... STOP once you see the rotor start to move...
count the degrees the timing mark has moved from 0... thats the degrees of chain stretch.... 2-4 degrees is normal
Thanks!