question about timing chain....
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
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question about timing chain....
everyone is sayng the 71 400 was best built 400, canI put the timing set from a 71 400 on my 78 and it be set striaght up? or do I need to get a aftermarket set to do that?
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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I had that same question a while back with Cloyes Timing chains. I phoned Cloyes and asked them if their OEM timing chains were retarded and it turned out that it wasnt. There is a way to tell if the timing chain is retarded or not. Look at the gear that goes on the crank and if the mark for lining up the gears is in line with the crank keyway then it is 0°. If the mark is not inline with the keyway then that chain is retarded.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Cloyes is an aftermarket manufacturer. If you go to a parts store and ask them for a chain for a XX year Ford 400 engine you will get the OEM style silent chain that for the Ford 351M/400 engines is retarded 4°. Most of the clerks will not even know the difference. You have to specifically ask for an aftermarket performance set that usually comes with multiple keyways. Just asking for a 1971 set will NOT get you anything different from a 1977 set.
You are correct on the way to tell but most people can not tell the slight difference in the position of the keyway.
You are correct on the way to tell but most people can not tell the slight difference in the position of the keyway.
