Re: Dummy Timing Chain Install Question

Posted by fred kanter On 2010/11/11 2:27:05

To CORTCOMP:

I see you took some time to examine what has been said by you and others and you have obviously learned a lot. There have been several who said the chian/sprockets were no good because the chain did not seat at the bottom of the sprocket. As you found out, IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO.

Yes,as you found, the O is on the face of the crank sprocket on the originals and ours ( AND SO INDICATED ON THE ORIGINAL PACKARD BLUEPRINT WE USED TO MAKE IT). It is the same on Buicks, Lincolns, Caddy, etc etc despite teh fact that others say it's not. We have a rather complete set of NOS sprockets to prove it, others must have a poor memory.

I see some members have told you how to determine if a chain is worn out (stretched) with it on a bench. If it were only so easy. Without sophisticated equipment the only way to tell is to install it with NEW SPROCKETS and see if it is loose/floppy (the infamous thumb test).

Early car chains were up to 2 inches wide and wore out soon, as Packards got newer the chains got narrower because the metallurgy and oils improved. Modern V8's (80's) I've taken apert with 100,000 miles still have good chains and some have sprockets with nylon teeth

You've noted a difference in construction of the orig and our replacement, again a "lighter" construction chain is used adn is superior to the original due to improved metallurgy. Think cotton cord tires from the 30's vs. steel belted radials, which will last longer, which is safer??

Much of the information given on this subject, to be polite, has been ill advised sowing doubts and fears into some readers. We are the only source, I believe, of these replacement sets and have been selling them for 20+ years We have sold well over 1000 sets and with our lifetiem warrantee have had no claims.

The man hours spent on writing and reading these 8 pages could restore the entire drive train of a '53 300, the '53 400 with 4 more main bearings would take and extra 5 minutes (equivalent to 2 more paragraphs)

Whew!!

Fred Kanter