TIMING CHAIN VS. GEAR DRIVE VS. BELT DRIVE. WHICH IS BEST? ANSWER AT END OF VIDEO. 

This all flashed me back to the days of my youth, in the -70’s. Dealing primarily with Chevy V-8’s, we speculated many of the issues being attributed to crank - camshaft backlash. The Jessel belt drives were a welcome innovation at the time. I personally put a fair amount of time into distributors, and distributor/ oil pump drive gear back lash. Ultimately, I ended up making a eccentric sleeve that a reduced diameter distributor housing, slipped into, making it possible to adjust camshaft - distributor gear engagement- backlash, and additionally, modifications to reduce housing and breaker plate deflection. You brought up a important point with regard to timing marks. It has always amazed me, the number of times I’ve seen people who should know better, not verify TDC, and rely on factory timing marks.

You sir, are my new favorite RU-vid channel for fresh information. I've been telling all of my buddies to watch your videos. Keep up the great work! 👍

Great video Ford power forever baby keep on pulling the knot out of them bow ties

Great video sir. Chop suey chains 🤣🤣🤣 made me laugh buddy. But you are correct sir. Im going with a hyvo chain set.

Great video Ben. I have been told by a friend that tried gear drives in 426 Hemi in Super Stock and they lost 10hp over a timing chain. So with many engines it is a chain for me. Belts are nice, but expensive and not good for all applications. Thanks for sharing. Take care, Ed.

Ben, great upload. Loved the improved picture quality. Looking forward to the next installment. :)

thank you for another valuable video, lots of great knowledge, thank you for sharing

Thank you Ben for all the informative information about engines. I never learnt so much about engines thank you

Ben, you are answering some questions ❓🤔 I had 40+years ago! Thank You!

I had a 1968 ford galaxie with a 390, I drove home one day shut it off, when I went to start it; all it would do is crank over, ended up being a sheard nylon factory camshaft timing gear.

Wow I thought belt drive was all the rage. I've never seen one of those chain drives before. Awesome video as usual Ben

That modified HY-VO sprocket at the end is how they should come from the factory!! I always wonder about the aftermarket... What some people are thinking? Like why a man would design a better component, in this case a highly robust timing set, and then neglect to take the next logical step, reduce unneeded weight. Drilling and channeling to improve oiling seems like something that would have been done. Or at least after handling the prototype.... Hmm, revision A, remove weight, improve oiling. So many aftermarket parts over the years for me have come real close, but required that final massage in the garage. It's like a "good enough" mentality, versus, "that's perfect!"

Ben I met you at the SuperFlow deal way back when you talked about tapping on bolts or studs. I was at FEL-PRO HP then I under stood and I learned that when I was 14 from an old guy who raced Caddy’s 331-365’s Haa. Mike Caruso

Ben said he built the occasional Chevys, but he does his best with Fords..

HY-Vo is a Morse Borg-Warner chain Difference with double roller is that roller chain has rollers and morse is sliding chain that require more energy for rotating -so strength into small volume isn't for free

Great info. Thank you!

V-tech by stretch, love it... Ben, thank you so much for everything you do.

I have watched this video 2 time's and still love it. And really love the story time. My daughter and I are thinking of going with the gear drive just for the sound and be different than the others guy's.

I learn something with every video . Thank you Mr Alameda !!!

I believe that is a Simplex chain in that Hy-Vo set. That type of chain is used in Modular Fords and many other timing chain OHC and DOHC engines. NASCAR engine builder Keith Dorton says to heat up a timing chain submerged in a moly oil additive to 200 degrees for 2 hours to virtually eliminate chain stretch.

Thank u ben, for ur knowledge again

Ben I ran Summers Bros USA made 3 gear drives for yeas back in the 70’s when cams where much smoother profiles. Stuff made today all different as you are sharing. M

I was listening to your story about ice on the intercooler. I know of a racer that used to dump his CO2 fire suppression extinguisher over his intercooler when he needed more power. Was interesting to see how many times they changed out the fire bottle because he accidentally tripped the fire suppression system 😳 🤔 😬 😆 🤣 😂

Nice chain

Burinin' people down on the line will cause fist fights today! ROFL!!

Thanks Ben. More great information for my next engine build.

Wow makes sence. Thanks for sharing your expertise really helps

Innovative Dampers I think could be good with a gear drive?

Hi Ben the last information I heard about Kenzi was that he moved back to Hawaii , but since then I heard he had passed away. But I don't know the exact date.

Thank you for your experience your intelli enjoy watching what you have thank you very much

Educating us and good stories ! Thx Ben

Raising your idle speed above 600 rpm to around 700-1000 might help with timing chain wear, as my GM Holden 308 had a very worn/slack timing chain making ticking noises around 600 or below rpm,basically slapping the side of the block, due to valve springs/cam action,but as I raised rpm,noise went away due to less effect from valve springs stressing the chain

I agree, i hear cars pull timing all the time. Pass after pass and they dont fix it

Yes he was pretty crazy but really cool. He put together a Kawasaki Z1r which he built from scratch and he was selling it, so I bought it from him.

Borg Warner makes that chain (Hy-Vo) for drive systems. My 1995 Ford F250 has one but it is in the Borg Warner transfer case for the 4wheel drive. Borg Warner still makes the chain but for a ohv timing chain set I don't know if the do. They sell it for overhead cam engines.

The gear setup in a 300 inline six is amazingly reliable even when revved past 7000 rpm, like the Frenchtown Flyer does. The gear setup in a Cummins diesel are equally reliable, even when revved to 5000+ . The issues arise when they use those stupid aftermarket gear sets that make all kinds of noise and suck. I've seen more than a few of those pete jackson style sets fail miserably, ass and guts flying everywhere. I never used them, I'm not into the squealy rat sound, but other guys seem to love those things.

Thanks Ben! Great info as usual!

I have always wondered why does no one have a harmonic damper on the cam gear? I know there isn't a lot of room, but seems a damper bolting on a damper with the cam sprocket, about the same size as the sprocket, with it being about 1/4 the thickness, it seems it would dampen the the vibration from the crank it may require a different timing gear cover, but we'll worth it possibly! Maybe use an aluminum hub, with a heavy steel or inconel something heavy and dense, with a Viton band connecting the two! Or maybe use a fluid like the fluid damper technology, It can likely be built into the sprocket, fitting behind a traditional cover!

Thanks for the great videos and stories. My friend that is an engine builder quite using gear drives along time ago. Have you used the chains made in Germany? I can't remember the name even looking through my notes. I know Big Chief swears buy them. I do know if a chain is way too tight it will loose a few HP.

You could used a Tube in a Tube like Marine water cooled Exhaust but on the Turbo Boosted pipe to cool air some what.

VETC BY Stretch that’s funny Ben

Please explain to me why all NASCAR engines and all pro stock engines use timing belts? I think it’s because the crankshaft has tons of harmonics in it, and with a chain to transmit these harmonics to the cam and valve train. And it also could be the fact that they are infinitely adjustable not 4 degree increments. Just saying

Ballon country haaaaaa

Thanks for video!

I didn't hear him talk about belt drives....

Ben do you build any Cleveland or Boss Motor's???

On my ls I am using the iwus German chain, I'll see next time I have it down.

Couldnt find a HY - VO Time chain kit

Went wth javel belt drive

What do you recommend for chevy sb 350, p.jackson gear drive or belt?

I wonder If balloon country makes high quality balloons if they suck at motor parts maybe their good at balloons ya think ???🤣😂🤣 i need to buy a used hy-vo from ya 😅 I bet your used one is still in better shape than the one on beans (347 pinto ) at $750 bucks it should be

How is it sweetened?

Hi Ben, i was wondering are you going to be at the 4Wide Nationals this April? Thank you, Richie

Ben i was told that u cant run a billet cam gear cause u need a torrington bearing, is this true on a sbf

How about the 3 gear Milodon grear drive, its not cheap!

so in theory of the harmonics from a gear set, it could cause detonation also?

What class do u race Mr. Ben?

What timing chain for a Chevy 🤷

How much for porting heads.

Probably need to go to dinner 😊 you're not old, just wise 😊

Hi-Vo?

They use those timing chain design on certain transfer cases hyvo design I had a set years ago could not fit it under the timing cover could of been a Cleveland design never really checked I was tryin to use it on a 351 Windsor