Timing chain tensioner

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mopowers

mopowers

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Are timing chain tensioners worth the added expense? I'm in the middle of a cam swap and am wondering if I should add a tensioner before I button it up.
 
(shrugging) I like and use them. Even good chains have a little play in them and they'll keep solid timing longer. For $30 I figure it's one of the few cheap upgrades you can do.
 
I'm no engine guru, but the centerline from cam to crank is almost 2 inches longer on a Mopar smallblock (6.12 I think) compared to a chevy smallblock (4.5 I think) for instance.

That being said, it only makes sense to use one.
 
Cloyes makes the tensioner for Mopar. If you get the Cloyes brand tensioner, they are a little cheaper. I have also read where some brand chains other than Cloyes don't ride correctly on the tensioner shoes. I've never experienced that, because I run the Cloyes chain with the tensioner and it's always worked well. I like the tensioners so well that I modified one to bolt on my 331 Hemi.
 
Cool. Thanks! I didn't realize Cloyes made one. The MP one was the only one that popped up on summit's site.
 
I am using tensioner with a Cloyes True set. The original chain from the set was loose so I bought the Mopar P. True replacement chain, and it's a good fit. The tension-er makes it a little harder to install, since the play is gone. Three hands are needed to slip it together.
 
Mines been in for about 12k miles no problems, I did open the hole on the oil bolt a little larger.
 
mopowers said:
Cool. Thanks! I didn't realize Cloyes made one. The MP one was the only one that popped up on summit's site.
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The MP is the Cloyes. They just rebox it and jack the price up.
 
Be sure to soak lube your chain well with some extra-anti wear lube.
 
daliant said:
Wont the double roller chain eat into the tensioner shoes?
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Sure they will.....sorry to annoy anyone by saying that. I've raced a couple of engines that use them stock and they always wear. It all depends on how many miles and the materials. Syntheic oil helps cut the wear down a lot. We're talking many 10's of kmiles of miles for a stock engine though. You just replace it then.
 
It just seems like the links on the double roller would eat up the shoes after a while, the stock chain that gets used with the tensioner looks like it has a smoother surface on the back side. Not trying to set off a heated debate with this.
 
daliant said:
It just seems like the links on the double roller would eat up the shoes after a while, the stock chain that gets used with the tensioner looks like it has a smoother surface on the back side. Not trying to set off a heated debate with this.
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Then don't run one.
 
I've run several and never had an issue. All the problems I've heard about are from people running something other than a Cloyes chain. There's a difference.
 
I'm certain they wear. That being said they are in a constant splash of oil and oil vapor which I'm also certain minimizes wear. I don't expect a performance engine to see more than a max of 50K miles in a specialty car. Where I am people can't easilly drive them daily all year round. If a car gets 5K a summer that's substantial. So for my customers I'd still rather have the cam and ignition timing not affected by the wear of the shoe and chain vs. the timing issues that come with just wearing the chain and having no shoe taking up the slack.
For $30, it's a no brainer for me.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I've run several and never had an issue. All the problems I've heard about are from people running something other than a Cloyes chain. There's a difference.
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This. Don't over think it. Run it,have it on my 360 Mag....
 
Modern engines with timing chains use tensioners made out of the same material. With double roller chains a lot of times. You don't see a bunch of piled up chain tensioner failures. Run matched parts. Make sure you do the oil through the bolt trick so there's plenty of oil on the chain. You'll be fine.


OR just don't run one. It's really as simple as that.
 
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