Change 4d56t timing and balance belts to chains?

[Artie Fufkin]

Anyone ever change their 4d56t timing and balance belts over to chains? Is this even possible? Seems like it should be.

Someone suggested this to me after I blew a balance belt.
Any thoughts?

AF

[Artie Fufkin]

no one has attempted this or thought of it?

AF

[FalcoColumbarius]

It's an interesting concept to toy with but I'm wondering how practical it is. Chains need to be changed at some point, albeit not as often. I believe they are quite dear, as well. Also, is the chain on a 4M40 not inside of the engine? Not sure if you snagged some chain sprockets and if these fit the 4D56 adaptors would the chain also fit or would one need to custom fabricate a chain to fit? I know there are people out there that will do this ~ they are also the people that pull the original engine and replace it with a hemi. So to say "I climbed it because it was there"; "I built it because someone said I couldn't" ~ and this would be a cool project for the gear head whom has everything, in which case I say screw the hemi and go with the 27 litre RR Merlin 63 WW2 aeroplane engine .

Falco.

[thedjjack]

chains need oil so you would have to make a sealed cover, sprockets, tensioners, guides....putting a hemi in would be easier...and if you change the belts, tensioners as required they should be trouble free...lots of motors running belts with interference motors...

[Artie Fufkin]

Thanks for the responses guys. Makes sense, I can see it would be a big undertaking!

AF

[FalcoColumbarius]

You could always do it the Fred Flintstone way, in which case the chain would have to run from the pedals to the tranny... wait... he didn't use chains either.
I've often felt that chains work better on the wheels than in the motor, anyway...