Timing Chain Cover Question

Hey folks! I’m new here.

I was going to put in a gear drive in my 68’ Chevelle but took the advice of those here and I’m opting for a good double roller timing chain. What brands do you recommended for this type of chain? Also I’m doing the work with the engine in the car. How much does the oil pan have to drop to get the timing cover off? I heard just loosen the first three bolts on each side of the front and work the timing cover out. If you don’t loosen all the bolts how does the pan come down? My engine is only 10 years old with about 2500 miles on it; there is nothing wrong with the current chain. I just need to put a new water pump on and harmonic balancer and I figured I would upgrade the timing chain while I’m at it. It has a nice thick 1/8” rubber oil pan gasket on it so I don’t think it will tear when I drop the pan a little. It was a GM Goodwrench crate motor stock 260 hp 350. Thanks for any replies.

Loosen all the pan bolts about 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn and GENTLY pry the pan down (it won't move far) then loosen the front four or five on each side another 3/4 turn. Now gently ease the timimg chain cover off. To reinstall I use gorilla snot (3M yellow weatherstrip adhesive) on the rubber gasket at the bottom of the TC cover and ease it back into place and tighten everything back up!

Good luck, take your time and it will go smooth as babies butt.:D

2500 miles in 10 years, why change it? :confused: just to maybe cause an oil leak! :HMMM:
Of course if it has a factory nylon gear type, then I would do it, their junk.

Pat

Whatever brand you buy, get a top of the line set with true rollers. When we built my Son's 455 4 years ago we were in a hurry to get it together and simply bought a readily available Summit brand double roller setup. Never started the motor in 4 years. We just went through the motor and redid lots of things and noticed a lot of slop in the new, never run timing set. Ordered a brand new Cloyes setup that cost about $ 150 vs the original that cost about $ 60 and the difference is dramatic. The new chain has zero slop and the rollers are true rollers.

This is one area where you get what you pay for.

Don