Evaluate Timing chain sets

One thing to remember about a tensioner. They were made to run on the flat side of a silent chain because of the slack in those chains due to cam to crank tunnel issues at the manufacture on the V6's
The spring pressure is different on every install due to slack in a cheap chain or a narrow cam to crank tunnel for which they were designed due to poor machine work on the V6's.

A properly installed true roller chain fitted to your specific cam to crank spacing on your engine should be slack free. Any constant tensioner spring pressure could cause premature stretch. the stretching of the chain will change the cam timing . Sure there will be no slap but you won't have to worry about chain slap with a good properly fitted chain.


My recommendation would be to buy a gear with the balancing built into it if using the pump eccentric, Most do not. Notice this gear pictured below does. We are now going to a belt drive to eliminated harmonics and reduce reciprocating weight.

Like I said above I would look into a good true roller chain with balance built in for the fuel pump eccentric. Does it mean much for a 7000 RPM street engine? probably not. But if your in there and you want to have something that will last your lifetime this is what I would suggest.

Yes there is politics involved in the tensioner. That is due to some members that have installed them because they took info delivered from others. Now that they have one they have the cats meow. Think of it this way. its just something else that can fail if the chain you install diggs into the tensioner due to it not having a flat surface as silent chains do. Most important is Less friction

Here is a good top gear with balance built in note no slack and was used 6 years. Saving it for another engine build with use of fuel pump eccentric. Most of the chain sets for the SBs made today are for engines using fuel injection and being sold for your old carbureted cars . They don't use a fuel pump or eccentric and are neutral balanced. Which for most home built street engine builders have installed with no issues yet.

Learn something new everyday . The one pictured in the post above looks to be neutral balanced for use without the eccentric. Harmonics/vibration plays hell on things. Wear on cam related issues?

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