Mill new keyway
 

This may be dumb but I have to ask. I have a brand new cloyes timing set here but it's the smog Era set. Only one keyway and it's 8deg retarded. I have access to a machine shop and the machinist said no problem cutting a new slot.

What are the collective group thoughts on this? Do it, don't over think it or Not worth it. New one are $30 don't gamble?

Sure why not, but if the new slot costs $50 then it's not gonna pencil out.

Govt. Job where I work, might cost me a lunch..

If you are sure he can get it cut exactly in the center of one of the teeth ? What happened to your old chain & gears ? If you have it and it's a zero maybe the teeth aren't too worn so you might be able to use that gear.

I'm sure he can, the old gears are like new but the nylon coated and smog timed not at zero.

It's probably not worth the risk unless the machinist worked for ford, and has done it before. It is worth buying a new 88-97 double roller set that is already timed straight up.

So unless the machinist worked for Ford, he doesn't know how to cut a keyway? It's not like Ford; or whoever made the timing gears for them, has a machinist broaching each piece on an arbor press, you know.

I realize that, but for the price of a new timing set, why bother. If you could do it properly for $10 or some beer, I'd say giv'r all the way. The precision needed is at a little higher level than what I would trust my local machinist with. In that small diameter gear center bore, it would be pretty easy to be off by a degree or two. I don't cut metal, so I'm just pointing out a potential flaw in that plan. It might work great.