I did a search but came up with some contradicting info. I have a 94, and am about to do a cam swap. Do I have to use a 95 opti and cover to use the cloyes double roller and an electric water pump? Is there another chain that would suffice, that is in the same ballpark as the cloyes? I have a fairly new 94 opti and would rather not have to buy another one. Thanks!

 

I don't think you can use a double roller with the Opti (I could be wrong).

You can get the LT4 Extreme duty timing chain for $199 from Sam Taylor (#12370835), but this may also require a 95+ Opti.

 

I would also be very interested if anyone has installed a cloyes double roller on a 94. I heard that some material may have to be removed from the inside of the timing cover. I have my motor out and it is going to the machine shop tomorrow to be bored and stroked. I will be installing a new cam soon and would like to install a cheap $80 Cloyes timing set at the same time.

 

you CAN of course use the cloyes with a 95+ opti, but I have never tried with a 94. in theory, with some machine work you could tho..

 

As Jordan said, it is possible to run a Cloyes Double roller with a non-vented Opti, but would require some machine work to their cam gear to make it work, and perhaps clearancing the timing cover a bit.

But.....why? If you are still running the stock cam, whats the point? If you are swapping cams, THEN is the time to convert to 95+. The cost of machine work is probably gonna offset the cost of converting to the 95 Opti (figuring if your 94 opti is bad/old/or old enough that replacement is wise), it is a more expensive unit than the vented Opti. If your non-vented is newer, sell it to make up the cost.

Converting to the double roller was pretty straight forward. Had to pull the waterpump drive gear and shaft, which isn't a big deal. Sealed the hole in the timing cover for the drive gear; again a simple affair. Otherwise, the timing chain goes on like normal, and the vented Opti bolts right up. Not a big deal.

 

The 93/94 opti is driven off a shaft which goes thru the middle of the cam gear. The double roller won't have the spline for the shaft to run the 93/94 opti and neither will the LT4 extreme duty set. You will need the entire 95+ opti conversion for either of these timing chain sets (opti, opti harness, and timing chain cover). Plus will need electric water pump for the double roller (can use the stock water pump on the LT4 set). The 95+ opti is driven off the cam dowel pin. The 93/94 timing chain set is expensive but, cheaper than doing the 95+ conversion. Some people will just replace the timing chain when they do the swap due to the cost. Welcome to the world of LT1s