Help finding replacement timing chain.

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LovetheA's

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I did some research on my own but am at a loss. I know the gurus on this site will have a solution. Ok so I posted another thread explaining that I’m taking out my cam to get it notched then putting it back in my 383. I’m also upgrading the heads, geometry kit for roller rockers etc. I thought that replacing my timing chain with a similar model and make would be less likely to cause a problem when reassembling the engine. I took some close up photos of the markings on the double roller chain and cam gear. The manufacturer appears to be KCM a company out of Japan that specializes in quality roller chains. The problem is that the motor was assembled back around 1999. As you can see by the date on the cam gear. If I can’t find the same chain can I use another high grade manufacturer and are the cam and crank gears all standard size for the 383? So if it fits a 383 it doesn’t matter what manufacturer and should slip right back on to the gears?

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"S-380", Cast into that gear is a Cloyes part#, The whole kit # used to be C-3044 and just the chain # is C-168
 
Pardon my ignorance... Why not change out gears and chain as a set?
 
Why are you having the camshaft "notched"? Can you expound on that, please?

As has been said, simply purchase an entire set. One of the Comp billet sets would be nice.
 
Time to invest in a modern pattern cam while you are in there. Did you just bolt the heads on out of the box, or did you have a quality shop check them?
 
Thank you for the info. To answer some of the questions. Yes I had the edelbrock performer rpm heads totally gone through by my machine shop guy. The heads did need some work, just minor, but weren’t bolt on ready. He also suggested that while I’m upgrading the heads and bought new geometry kit, new rocker shafts for the Harland sharps, why not notch the cam for better oiling to the heads. He said it is an easy mod and assured that rockers and valves get plenty of oil. I noticed when I took off the old rockers shafts and roller rockers that the hold downs had slightly galled spots in the rocker shafts. The rockers shafts were garbage pieces I think old ones that were thrown together with the Harland sharps. My Harland sharps are older pieces but are quality aluminum with needle roller bearings and are in great shape. I think I’m going to order the new Cloyes chain and gears and install them and be done with it.
 
Does everyone think by upgrading to a newer profile cam I’ll gain that much over my mopar performance cam with .484 lift 284 duration? My rockers are 1.6 ratio rockers.
 
LovetheA's said:
Does everyone think by upgrading to a newer profile cam I’ll gain that much over my mopar performance cam with .484 lift 284 duration? My rockers are 1.6 ratio rockers.
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They think they do but most don't. Want most guys call an updated lobe isn't really an update at all.


And I'm still not sure what the OP means by notching the cam for more oil to the rockers. Only thing I've done to increase oil to the shafts is to groove the cam. And I don't call a groove a notch.

I also don't make a groove in the front cam bearing to oil the chain. I drill a hole in the cam retaining plate.

I may be considered eccentric by some though. Wierd by others.
 
I didn't read all the posts but I just did a chain and gears in my Dakota with a Magnum. I got Sealed Power parts from Rockauto. The double roller set was made in the USA . Not adjustable like the Cloyes units though.
 
So everyone here is where I’m at. I took off the old timing set and I’m putting on the new Cloyes timing set. I noticed some differences between my new set and the old one. I took off the old set when I was lined up dot to dot on compression stroke of #6. Then I’ll reinstall my new timing set and chain, move the crank one revolution then install the distributor at TDC #1. It was easier to install timing set dot to dot. But as you can see in the photos I’m unsure of some things. The new cam gear has three holes in it older cam gear did not? Lower crank gear is adjustable. If I just install that at zero degrees I should be good? Do I need to install the enclosed camshaft thrust bearing?. If so does the rubber side face face in or towards the gear? How do I get to it? I don’t see the camshaft thrust bearing? I also don’t remember having a timing cover cam button? What do I do?
Carl

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Wrong timing set with that cam you need a single bolt cam gear
 
So I should just send back the Cloyes timing set and order one that is for a single bolt? Also why wasn’t there a cam button for my timing cover when I disassembled the cover? Is it not needed in this application? I also can’t see where the camshaft thrust bearing goes on my single bolt cam. I didn’t see one behind the cam gear when I pulled the old one off.
 
LovetheA's said:
Does everyone think by upgrading to a newer profile cam I’ll gain that much over my mopar performance cam with .484 lift 284 duration? My rockers are 1.6 ratio rockers.
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Not IMO, no. Those old outdated MP cams work better than most people think. I don't think it would be worth all the extra money to change it. If you were points racing and lookin for every tenth of a horse power, maybe. Damned if I would change it.
 
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