i want to replace the timing chain on the car. im trying to decide if i want to do the cloyes double roller, or the 103$ autozone one. i know the cloyes would be less risky, but from what i understand i have to change my timing cover, and buy a vented optispark...is this true?
how likely is it that im going to break an autozone timing chain?

 

The LT4 timing chain is the one you need to convert to vented opti/cam style. Cloyes isnt, to me knowledge, neither is Lunati's timing chain from summit. Although you dont hear much about the Lunati one, although its pretty cost effective. I'd stay away from anything Autozone if it were me.

-Dustin-

 

You also have to change from the stock cam to be able to use a vented opti, so there is a little more involved. As posted seemingly daily on this board, here is the page with the swap info.

 

Can anyone confirm or deny the fact that Cloyes and Lunati dont need different optis/cams? Or has anyone used any of these?

-Dustin-

 

I dont see why the double roller would need anything different if you eliminate the mechanical waterpump.

 

The Lunati will work but it hasn't really gotten rave reviews[ and isn't a true roller chain]
No others will work, due to the way the cam gear is cogged for the unvented opti drive..
The vented opti drives off the cam pin..
Noone makes a double roller that has the needed cogs in the center to drive the unvented opti..
Therefore the conversion [to vented opti] needs to be done..

 

The only cam gear you can use with a non-vented opti, is one that has the opti drive splines in the center. The Cloyes does not have this. If the Lunati set is not specifically for 1993-1994, it won't either. Most people have said the Lunati set is the same as stock, anyway (even has GM stamped on it).

Non-vented opti users are very limited in timing set selection. The only people I know of that make a high performance set for non-vented opti users is Doug Rippie Motorsports, but the set is $450 . Swapping to the vented opti give you more choices (Cloyes, LT4ED, etc.).