Do you still have the timing set that you removed from the engine around? I'd be laying sets out side by side to see where the problem is coming in. Almost sounds like an early head on a late block (96 link too tight and 98 link too loose).

Im wondering if your new timing kit had a mix of old and late parts. Earlier sets used a passenger side guide that didnt curve quite as much as the later.

More background needed!!!!

~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

Either the long chain is too long, or, I wonder if the gear on your CAM is too small? Check it against your old one.

>>>*I am thinking this engine has the wrong cylinder head on it.

The early engine has the tall block and thicker head, and takes a 98 link setup.

The late engine has the short deck block and thinner head, and takes the 96 link chain.

An early engine with a late head, or a late engine with an early head comes out smack dab in the middle, neither one works.

So unless I am missing something here, most likely the block is 11.080" tall with the early head, that would be low compression but the piston doesn't hit. *Like maybe a round port 20R head on there...?...*Hmmmm...?

Now if she is an early tall deck block with a late head, same problem with the chain but the piston would hit the head chamber unless someone did some combustion chamber cutting and fitting (I saw one about a year ago where the installer did exactly that.)

The other one I can bring to mind is if the head is correct but has had the dickens shaved out of it..wow that would be a lot from looks of the tensioner in the pic.

And there is always the wild chance someone had a Monday or a Friday at the chain company and you have a 100 link chain there, but I have never seen that one. I say this because we DID get some in that had only 80 links and I still don't know how that one happened, just that it embarrassed me because a half dozen got shipped.

So here is what to try: First, count the links, we already know the 96 link chain can't work so be sure the long chain is 98 links.

Then look at the head, is the exhaust port round or pear shaped? If it isn't pear shaped, we now know the head is NOT 1985 or later. Then measure the block height, this will determine early or late, too. If it's 11.280" then it is early, if it is 11.080", then it is late. I am guessing it has to be the late block with a 20R head on there.

*Except: It seems the guiderails fit??...That would suggest the early block again.

In which case, I have no idea how anyone made the original chain work at all.

This is stange and I want to know what is the problem, too....*EB