I thought we were talking about installing the chain, not re timing it

 

I counted 74 links, meaning 148 positions for the gear cogs to reside. 23 cogs on the crankshaft gear. 23 is a prime number. I think you have to have 148 full crankshaft revolutions for them to line up again.

 

You are correct. I was afraid that it was generic for several engines and it depended on which engine to use one of the three links.

 

Thank you for the math I was concerned, my 71 alpha spider did not have that problem. Thank God for kids.

 

Thank you 14 is the magic number I was looking for. That makes the magic link the one in the middle colored black.

 

That is k.i.s.s. darn spell checker.

 

Mine is a vvt, so on the intake shaft my book shows the link like this diagram. My link will only go one cog to the left or to the right not center. But there is a diamond to the right so I think I can assume it should go there.

 

I want to thank all for the help, I had been fighting it all 3 day weekend. My car has 240k miles on it. I am an Uber driver and I have two hhr's. Everyone who helped is wonderful. I am not afraid to complete this prodject! I am sure I will have more questions later. Most I find answers quickly here. Thanks again!😃

 

Get into the wayback machine and look at the attachment in post #3. that's for VVT

 

So the exhaust cam gear and the crank gear get the matching links and the intake cam gear gets the unique link.