timing chain or timing gear
 

hello, i have a 1966 302 coupe and right now i am tring to decide to put on timing gears or a timing chain, i would rather have timing gears because i like the blower sound, but i do not want to hurt my engine so should timing gears be fine?

timing chain is easier.. most of the gear drives that I know of require you to do some drilling of the block and oil passages to mount it..

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84 convt,'95 302,AFR's, performer
3.55's, underdrives stock shorties
stock cam, 1.7's
14.06@100.21, 255RWHP on a hot day
265 on the mph/weight chart

Dark Knight is correct......my friend just got done building a blower motor and to go with the gear drive, you need certain machine work done to the block. His is so loud I think it would get annoying. Stick with the chain.

thanks, now i know not to get one

you can quiet them down..depends on how tight you set the gears..the one I had was adjustable... you set it till the teeth just cut a piece of newspaper..

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84 convt,'95 302,AFR's, performer
3.55's, underdrives stock shorties
stock cam, 1.7's
14.06@100.21, 255RWHP on a hot day
265 on the mph/weight chart

Well, i am the type of person who likes the gear sound because it sounds like you have a blower under neith the hood. but if i have to do machine work to get the timing gears put on i am not going to do.

if any one has timing gears on, is the machine work hard to do? and if so how much do you think it would cost?

P.S. it is a 1966 302 , not the new 302s

I didnt have to have machine work done.. but I had to tap the front 2 oil galleries that are normally plugged at the front of the engine, drill 2 holes in the front of the block and grind off the oil deflector thast cast into the timing cover... btw, mine a milodon gear driver... others are different

oh yeah, this was on the 289 in my 68...

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84 convt,'95 302,AFR's, performer
3.55's, underdrives stock shorties
stock cam, 1.7's
14.06@100.21, 255RWHP on a hot day
265 on the mph/weight chart

I have a Pete jackson on my 65. Did have to do some machining on the inside of the timing cover to clear. Pete Jackson can also supply you with a shorter idler gear axle, which eliminates any grinding having to be done.

Stick with chain, unless you want that noisey whine. On the street and light racing I don't see a big advantage with the gear set up.

will timing gears increase stress on the engine?

I doubt it. Possibly on your ears !!