Les Curren
U.S.A.
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My Mh has the 454 chev. engine and it has 124,000 miles on it. The block was built in 1995. Right now it runs just as good as new, with no abnormal noise's. Starts most times before you hear the starter turn over and the timing is right on.
But I'm hearing these stories about timing chains failing around 125,000 miles. I have taken it to several legitimate shops and they say that the timing chain on large block chevrolet engines will outlast the engine. And the engine if taken care of should last easily 200,000 miles. I have had 454 engines exceed 200,000 miles.
But what has happened in the past is not necessarily what is the norm.
Tell me what you think and maybe your experience with chev. 454's.
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Jim83Itasca
La Quinta Calif
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Joined: 09/16/2003
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The chain with our slow revving 454s get suspect at around the 125,000 mark but since we don't flog them at the higher RPMs it should be ok...
The main culprit is the "Plastic" on the cam gear which when it wears down the chain gets sloppy, Drive it nice and perhaps you can reach that 200,000 miles on it...
Jim
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blackf3504dr
Leesburg , FL. .Lake
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Although not a Chevy, I had my 460 Ford in for a coolant leak between the block and timing chain cover and told the tech to go ahead and replace the timing chain set while he had it tore apart. It only has 72000 mi. on it but figured it was cheap insurance .
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msjdbman
SW Michigan
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From my experience, the 454`s that were destined for heavy duty use had factory double row roller timing chains. I may be wrong but I don`t think so. If a doublw row...it will run forever.
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Les Curren
U.S.A.
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Ok, now i've heard of extra main bearings on the heavy duty 454's, but I've have never heard of double row roller timing chains. Can you explain how that works?
Can anybody explain how that works?
I'm not trying to be a smart ass I just can't wrap my mind around the idea.
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dons2346
Sioux Falls, SD, formerly of So. CA
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Jim 83 Itasca has it.
The chain will go "forever" but the el cheapo aluminum timing gear will wear all the teeth off. It will happen all of a sudden, without warning. The aluminum gear with the plastic fillers is used to keep gear whine down.
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smkettner
Southern California
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The double row roller chain looks like a double bicycle chain. It is mated with new gears to mesh properly and should easily outlast the OEM chain that is designed primarily for low cost and quiet operation. Although the double roller you will never hear and is not really very expensive. The double roller is pretty standard on street performance rebuilds and should be available about anywhere.
454 double roller search on google
Standard chain looks more like a steel belt:
Although OEM might have aluminum or plastic teeth on the large gear. This top gear is often what gives up.
* This post was
edited 07/03/10 11:00pm by smkettner *
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smkettner
Southern California
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If you ever get half the front apart for say a water pump, go ahead and replace the chain.
You can also get a gear drive:
I am not sure on the longevity of the gear drive. True racing will skip the idler gears and use a reverse rotation cam and two gears that directly mesh. You will probably get some noise from these straight cut gears.
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sc3283
St Louis
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1st off..your timing chain will last a very long time if you have not neglected your oil changes. If you have then you may want to think about chain replacement
Your 454 is either a gen 5 or gen 6 (I can't remember for sure exact yr of change)
the gen 5 and gen 6 engines are different than the old tradition 454 that was used from 1970 to 89-90.
There are internal differences between all 3 versions of the 454.
I do not know of them ever coming with double row timing chains from the factory
you DO NOT I repeat DO NOT want a gear drive...why that was suggested to you..I haven't a clue
timing chain slop can be checked without engine disassembly...remove dist cap...rotate crank back and forth to see how much movement is in the crank before the rotor turns...if major movement then chain is sloppy and should be changed..along with both gears
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1fastdad
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msjdbman wrote:From my experience, the 454`s that were destined for heavy duty use had factory double row roller timing chains. I may be wrong but I don`t think so. If a doublw row...it will run forever. This is what I recall. The nylon toothed gears are made to make the engine quieter in passenger cars and pickups.
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