Maybe a strange question, but how does the timing chain/gears get oil? Just tore my 460 down to do a check timing chain and it was worn. However, it seemed like it hadn't been getting any oil.

Anybody know how it is supposed to be lubricated? Is there oil passages from the heads or does it splash up from the pan? Sorry for what seems to be a simple question, but I'm used to small blocks, and first encounter with 385 series.

 

splash lubrication when you say worn out do you mean stretched or worn out links there is a oil splash on the crank looks like a disc

 

Both the gears show signs of wear and the chain is stretched. I was having an erratic timing that I couldn't keep set.

I thought is was splash, but wasn't sure. Is there anyway of telling if it splashing like it should. Thanks for the reply.

 

Depending on how many miles is on the engine, it could just be normal wear and tear. All chains stretch and the sprockets will show wear from the chain slapping around. If it wasn't being lubed, it would wear very fast and bad. Erratic timing is caused by one of 3 things. First and most often, stretched chain. Second, worn bushing in dist allowing shaft to rattle around. Third, worn dist gear or cam gear (usually the dist gear).

 

The shop manuel describes it as an "oil slinger". A thin round disk as mentioned above that goes on after the crank timing gear. It would also lube the machanical fuel pump eccentric.

 

That oil slinger is not for lubing the chain. It is there to deflect oil away from the front seal. When you put in a double roller the instructions say to leave out the slinger. I did. If you don't it will catch on the chain rivits and self destruct. The timing set gets oil that returns from the valley indirectly and directly from the front crank bearing leaking the excess oil out the front onto the crank where it is slung outward from the crank timing gear into the chain. On my race engines I drill a .062 hole from the front oil galley in a way that directs it to the chain and front thrust surface. Sorry I don't have any pictures of this mod. My current street engine does not have it and it is fine. his was a fundamental problem 460's would fail left and right instead of being known for their rock solid reliability.

 

Thanks Hired gun. I put a new SVO chain on it and no where did it say to leave out the slinger. But the slinger is away from the chain about an 3/8". The sproket had a raised surface facing toward the disc.