I'm with ya there. It's just nuts that the aftermarket is so slim for what was the most popular truck on the continent for so long. I'd buy a gear set this instant if one were available.

 

I'm with ya Unreg, 'cept the fact that I'd have to tear that thing down again, and it's unlikely I could afford the gear-set AND therapy...

You are actually the one that brought it to my attention that there wasn't one available..

 

Would this work? Granted, it is a 'noisey" drive.....

 

too funny...

It's not that much more than the set I put on... I wonder if it's decent quality- why they would use exposed bearings is beyond me- today's sealed bearings rock.. but dang it.. it would almost have been worth at least trying..right?

 

Keep in mind, there is oil being tossed around under the cover though, so, an open bearing would actually last longer than a sealed bearing. I think you also need to drill a hole? for lubrication? Don't know on that.

 

ive heard of the drilling a hole....but where

 

I would assume it is a specific sized hole, in a specific location, that goes into the oil system somewhere, so oil sprays out in the right places.......

 

josh - as said removal of the timing cover is only 6 more bolts, plus removal of harmonic balancer. for that you'll need a puller (you can rent/borrow it) a 1-1/4 socket for the crank bolt, and an impact wrench to remove it.

it you don't have an impact wrench, you'll need to come up with a way to hold the engine from turning when you put a long pull bar on the crank. it's torqued at about 150-200 pounds.

here's mine at 125K. wore slap out.

 

my trucks are keeping the timing chains they have till they break at which point i will change them

 

I used a ratchet, and just whacked the end of it with a hammer a couple times, and it broke right loose.