MY CAR WOULDNT START,SO I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THE GUY SAID I NEEDED A NEW TIMING CHAIN...WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? ?? AND IS IT AN EXPENSIVE JOB?? MY CAR WAS RUNNING REALLY ROUGH INSTEAD OF FAST LIKE IT USED TO RUN IT JUST GOT TOTTALY SLOW...I THOUGHT IT WAS THE CONVERTER BECAUSE IT WAS BACKFIRING AND ALL... LMK ANY INPUT IS WEEL APPRECIATED

The timing chain is a chain that goes from your crankshaft to your camshaft. It is what controls valve timing, so if it is worn out, it gets sloppy and throws your valve timing out. Stock GM timing chains don't last very long. I am assuming you own a '86 Camaro with a 305 in it from your screen name. Replacing the timing chain isn't that big of a deal on those cars, but insist on a full roller or even double roller timing set rather than a stock GM unit. Prices are pretty cheap; I think I paid $60 CAN for my last double roller.

OH, don't just replace the chain either, the set comes with the sprokets, which get changed out too. Some fast-job mechanics will just slap a cheap chain on your old gears which is only a bandaid and won't truely solve your problem.

so thats probably why my car wouldnt start at all huh? but would that be the reason i smelled gas when i kept trying to start it?

The stock replacement chain and gears is all you need. Most shops forget to grind the front of the block, which needs to be done on most late model Chevy V-8's when installing a roller type chain. If you engine has that many miles on it that it jumped the chain, its not worth investing any more money on a roller type chain. The stock ones last 200k miles in a properly maintained engine.

That is nonsense! A stock GM timing set might last you 100,000 miles if you happen to get one that was built on a Wednesday. For the extra few bucks, get a decent set, don't sell your arse short and take the cheap way out! Trust me!

I think the last new SB, el-cheapo, three keyway roller set was, what, $17.00??

Don't think I will ever use a stock nylon timing set again

pdq67

i have a cloyes true roller set that costs about 68 bucks now,it has been on 4 engines and seen some hard use without the slightest sigh of wear.
not a good place to get cheap imo.
Eric

on a car like that with that many miles, i'd get the cheapest chain i could get just to get me by until i could build my "real" engine- even then, i wouldn't get the most expensive chain setup available- the mid range stuff is good enough for 99% of all performance applications, and the money saved can buy a couple of gallons of gas.
if you don't know anything about working on cars, find a car guy friend (maybe someone on here that lives in the area) and a good manual like a Chiltons and do it yourself.

Breathweapon -- I think you are talking about the mid-late 70 timing chain sets with nylon teeth. If I remember correctly the 84 LG4 305 I had came with a set that had metal teeth. The metal teeth factory sets will last like Bill said, the nylon teeth die at 80k miles or so like you said.

Does anyone know for sure what years/engines the nylon teeth sets cams in and what years/engines the steel teeth sets cam in?

PS. and regarding the original poster's question, get the cheapest set you can. It will last longer than the rest of the engine.

Like I said, less than $20....

pdq67

I had a '79 350 that I put a cam and timing set into when I needed a fast replacement. It had over 230,000 Km on it at the time of the sawp, and it served me for another 228,000 some odd Km until it swallowed a bolt and bent a valve. I bet it would have lasted many more years if not for the bolt incident.