Question I'm rebuilding LA 273 I'm going to be using a double roller timing chain , do I need to or should I use the chain tensioned ?

Help sos multiple choice
No	33%, 5 Votes
Yes	67%, 10 Votes
Total Votes: 15 Voting on this poll ends: 11/21/13 05:35 PM

I've done it both ways. I don't see any practical advantage to using it. It can be used with a double roller, but the chain will cut grooves in the plastic tensioner. Once it cuts deep enough for the chain links to ride on it the cutting will end. The tensioner was designed to be used with standard link chains. In theory the tensioner should help keep the timing more stable and thus make more power. MAYBE you might see this on a dyno, but you won't see it in normal driving and I doubt that you'll see it on the track either.

I have a tensioner with a double roller chain. I've taken a 1400 mile round trip and why I love is the timimg mark is steady when I put a light on it. I can't say if the performance is improved because this is a new engine. 410" with a torquer designed cam. I shift a 6000 and so far it has run 107 mph and 13.347 with 3.23 gears in my 67 Barracuda. All previous engines had roller chains and the light was not steady.

It is especially helpful if the engine has had the crank tunnel align-bored, moving the cam and crank centerlines closer -- increasing slop.

Rick

With a fresh engine I wouldn't expect the timing mark to jump around either. Rick's comment about aligned bored engines is valid, but most quality timing chain sets are available with chains for align bored engines as well as the standard set.