Thread: timing chain question

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i was going to buy a timing chain the other day but i didnt know if a 1980 302 had a big .250 keyway or a .200 keyway. does anyone know? i looked in a book and one book said 65 to 78 had the .200 but the other said 65 to 78 had the .250 so i'm stuck.

i thought about buying a gear drive timing set but i was just wandering how loud they were. some were labled "noisey" others were "quiet"

I have never heard of the two different keys. Every time I order a timing set I just specify the year. Here is how Summit lists one set:

Make FORD
Engine Type V8
CID 302
Liter 5.0
Engine Size 5.0L/302
Beginning Year 1968
Ending Year 1995
Engine Family Ford small block Windsor
Block Align Bored No

And the general consensus is that you really don't want a gear drive. They cause more problems than they solve. (premature wear, noise gets on your nerves, etc.)

Don

I don't know about the fords in any great detail so no help here, but gear drives are noisy, no matter if you get the quiet or noisy variety. Ex straight cut or bevel cut gears just like a manual trans whine.Thing is, and correct me if I am wrong, wouldn't you loose the chain driven harmonics elimination.

i dont know about the keyways but i just thought a gear drive would be good because you wouldn't have to worry about chain stretch. can you hear a gear drive whining over the fan, loud exhaust, etc. while driving?

I wouldn't waste money on a gear drive, a good true roller is all you'll ever need.