Posted this yesterday in the performance section and got no answers so Ill try here. Ive been researching the timing set info while Im replacing my water pump. I cant tell if this is a stock pre 72 timing set or an aftermarket single roller or if its pre 72 at all. It is set tdc on cylinder one and I noticed the mark on the crank is aligned with the keyway. Anyone recognize this set?

 

It's not a roller chain. A roller chain looks like a bicycle chain with the little round silver rollers in the middle. I see no offset bushing capabilites either, so it looks like a run of the mill replacement timing set. The factory one may have had a plastic gear, this one is metal and is what most people replace the plastic coated gear with.

As far as it being the "retarded" timing set or not, I don't know that.

 

Thanks for the info, I know it isnt a roller but it looks like a pre 72. Anyone else have an opinion?

 

If the key-way on the crank gear is aligned with the tooth, then you have a pre-72 set, or "straight up". If the tooth is not aligned, it's the retarted gear set (8 degrees retard on the cam).
It's kind of hard to tell in the pic being at an angle. A pic straight on with the crank would be easier to see.

 

its straight up so good news there. Thanks.

 

You're lucky if it is, most places only list one set for 429/460 non-EFI blocks. The logic is that the number of 68-71 engines vs 72-87 is small.

FWIW, the 88-97 roller set is straight up.

 

Yeah because its FI and didnt need the retard for emissions. The guy I got the truck from said he spent 5K on the motor so Im not surprised it has the early gear set. I do wish they would have put in a double roller though.