Timing Chain Tensioner 318/360

rebel said

I ran one for a couple of years, the timing was very stable. The issue I have with the mopar performance tensioner is that the material is soft, the tensioner had a wear area where the cam is contacting it. The original cam plates are hardened and ground flat,these ones are not.

Click to expand...

That is the big question in my book. Good point.

OEM has a hardened cam plate - very important since its takes all the camshaft thrust loading.

I'd like to know how a plain, stamped steel one works.

Now: better to have slop and a ground plate? no slop and the non-hardened plate?

What's your choice:

1) forget the tensioner, a little slop won't hurt the timing in a street engine.
2) put in the tensioner, its better for timing, the non hardened plate isn't an issue
3) forget the tensioner, it would be good to have it, but I'd rather keep the hardened retainer plate.

I'm leaning #3.