golfmiser

I know the answer is on here somewhere and trust me I have searched a few hours and have found various answers, but none has convinced me of what route to take. I am rebuilding a 4.0 and have many hours in this with all the porting, polishing ,boring and so on. So I have tried three brand new timing chains . I have the factory service manual and I seen on here also there should be no more than 1/2" slack. The Duralast timing chain had right at 9/16" slack. 1- cloye's had 3/4" slack and the 2nd. Cloye's had just under 1/2" slack. The old one that came off there it only had 1/2" slack with 170,000 miles. I realize it probably will work with that slack. My question is has anybody else run into this and if so what did you decide. I know I can purchase the high end dble roller chains and all those but I'm not sure it would be any better as far as the slack.
Appreciate any comments.......

87Warrior

The Cloyes double roller that came with my Mopar cam fit real tight and had very little chain slack. Sorry I am no help with the stock replacement chain and sprocket.

golfmiser

Thanks, I looked at those double roller chains. I didn't want to order something and it be the same way. I think the stock single roller chain would have enough longevity. I just don't like that much slack starting out. I know how chain stretches. Where did you order your chain from?
Thanks Again

87Warrior

www.moparpartsdiscounted.com

But I ordered it with the cam. You may need to call them to order as there are few performance parts listed on their website. Really nice folks. The chain/sprocket is to be used with the 98 and older 4.0 with the spring/pin cam retainer. To use it in a 99+ motor you will need the older style cam and the spring/pin retainer.

Firestorm500

Did you replace the cam and crankshaft gears?

golfmiser

Yes it has a new comp cam. I have got three brand new sets of gears and chain. 2-Cloyes and a Duralast. They all have right at 1/2" or more. The old one has 9/16" slack at the most.

freegdr

What year motor ?

Firestorm500

Try a timing set from NAPA or O'Reilly's. I do not like Autozone stuff at all.

freegdr

there is 2 different chain sets and a tensioner..

golfmiser

It has '91 stamped on the block. When you look up the part for a 91 or 92 is comes up with the same part number.
One of the cloyes came from O-Reilly the other from autozone. They both have same cloyes part number. Summit Racing has the same number.
I have noticed some of the suppliers on the internet ask about the 8th digit in the VIN number being a S. Not sure yet what that it is about.
Thanks.

freegdr

Are you just replacing chain...? Not gears ?

XJRed96

The 8th vin digit usually designates which engine is in the vehicle. each manufacture uses a different code for each engine. Some cases a company may swap engine versions half way through the year, so (not saying this is the case, but strictly as an example) say an early production year 1996 Jeep Cherokee came with the 4.0L engine and vin code S but half way through the year the manufacture introduced a high output 4.0L engine with slightly different tuning and maybe a different cam they would then change the code to say W or whatever they want to use.

XJRed96

i always recommend people bring a registration card with the VIN of your vehicle when you are ordering parts

golfmiser

Replacing gears and chain. I three complete sets of new ones. Two complete sets of old ones. Both new and old have close to the same amount of slack.
Appreciate all the comments.

freegdr

What about the guide are you installing a new one also ?