Ok, I know I ask a lot of questions, but when I do my timing chain, I know that it gets installed dot to dot, but I've heard other people say not to move anything and just slide the gears and chain on and off. What to you all recommend? I would imagine dot to dot would be better.

 

The way I have allways done it line up old one .on engine then pull off.then line up new one .and put on dot to dot.can use a straight edge ruller to line up new chain .do the crank seal also .on timing cover.

 

+1 Without lining up the old one first, there's a good chance you could be a tooth or two off and not know it.

 

1) spin the engine by hand to make your current dots line up dot to dot (chain on). Take off chain and sprockets. DONT MOVE CRANK OR CAM when chain is off. Put new chain and sprockets on with dots lined up dot to dot. Golden.
2) the other way is to just take chain and sprockets off the way the sit (again don't move crank or cam) then slap your new one on. Golden.

 

They are gears. They Dont care if dots are lined up or not.

You can line up dots then remove and put new on with dots lined up. This is the "correct" way to do it and won't confuse someone later on tearing into the engine.

Or take old off and put new one up in whatever orientation you want.

The important thing is to NOT move anything AT ALL when the chains are removed.

 

I aligned mine, not sure it mattered or not. slipped old gears off, slipped new ones on. One of the easier things I've done for my truck. Runs great.

 

Oh yeah, the other guys are right, don't rotate the cam or crank at all when you slip off the old gears. I guess this is where having the dots lined up might be a good thing, if your number one cylinder is at tdc in the firing stroke when you pull off the old gears, it would make it a smaller pain to realign in case of a goof.

 

Ok, gotcha! That's very helpful! I think I'll align it, then slide the old timing components off and then put the new one on, not moving anything when it's off!

 

Line up dots on new chain on bench.

Remove old chain/gears.

ROTATE new chain before installing until keyways line up and slide on.