Anyone know why replacement timing chains come with one black/dark metal link on them? I'm currently doing a SBC 327 build with Edelbrock timing chain. It has one black link. Noticed the same thing with a recent Ford FE build I did. I Can't see how it would make any difference. where I place that link as long as the timing marks are right, but why is it there in the first place? Am I missing something? .
it might be where they spliced it, to make a single loop from a long length of chain. It does not matter, though.
Like squirrel points out it's probably the coupler that was made from a different supplier than the chain. It probably has a different finish on it.