different timing gear and chain?

That is what I thought but wanted to make sure in case he knew something I didn't. I will enlighten this wizard :tool: of the parts counter.

Did he know you were running a double roller chain set? If not he was advising you correctly. The reason you need to run something better than stock is the load that's on it with a roller cam. A stock timing set won't generally last long with that kind of load.