Cman01

Ok, last night I was looking in my shop manual to get ready to install my cam. I wrote down a bunch of torque #'s so I have them handy out in the garage when I need to start tightening things.

In the GM SM there is a bolt fastening chart for all the fasteners that are to be torqued properly on the LS7. In the chart the cam sprocket bolts are to be torqued to 18ft./lbs.

After I got the cam in I put locktite on the new graded bolts I have and torqued it to 18ft/lbs. The new bolts also had a lock plate so I bent the tabs of the lockplate over the torqued bolts and I thought all was good.

I came in to the house, cleaned up and was looking through the manual again. This time I looked at the section for cam removal and installation, in that section for the LS7 it mentions the cam sprocket bolts should be torqued to 22ft./lbs.

So which is it? The problem is that I have bent the tabs on the lockplate already and if I bend them back so I can tighten my bolts to 22 ft./lbs. I'm worried that the tabs might get brittle and come off with the engine running which could cause damage.

I can get another lockplate if I have to loosen those bolts and retorque them or am I ok with 18ft./lbs. on those high grade locktite cam bolts?

Tony

OhioC5

I think I used this chart in '09

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?category=1

C6z06man

I would say you're good. I wouldn't take everything back apart to tighten another 4 ft/lbs.

OhioC5

It would make me crazy thinking about it.

Also, I believe my Ls1 had a retaining plate, 18 lbs and the sprocket was 26 lbs? Think you may have mixed the 2 numbers up?

Cman01

Retaining plate on my ls7 has torx fasteners and it calls for 11ft/lbs torque on those. If u have regular bolts on the retaining plate then it's 18ft/lbs.

I did locktite on those too.

OhioC5

Ok thanks, haven't had the LS7 apart yet.

What did you decide?

Cman01

Nothing yet still looking for opinions. If I have to tighten those cam bolts again I'll do it tomorrow.

Front cover and balancer not installed yet.

Bill Dearborn

The torque setting is to prevent the bolts from backing out. Won't the lock plates keep that from happening? Between the LockTite and the lock plates I think you are OK.

I just checked the GM service database on my PC, 2006, 2007 and 2008 versions of the manual say the bolts should be tightened to 18 lb ft the 2009 version says it should be 22 lb ft.

Bill

Cman01

My sm is for my 09Z and like I said in the chart says 18 for ls7 and cam install section says 22.

Bill Dearborn

What is interesting is the 18 lb ft listed in the Timing Chain and Sprocket Installation shown in the 09 manual. It is in the same grouping of On Vehicle Repair Instructions. It looks like the 22 lb ft is only mentioned in one place in the manual.

Bill

OhioC5

In the '09 manual can you check to see if it's the retaining plate? Does the LS7 have one? I'm guessing it does, but I dunno.

Cman01

No lockplate stock I'm using Comp 5461 which has 3 graded bolts with the lockplate.

Dan_the_C5_Man

I would say you are fine - with the lock plate you are not relying on bolt stretch to retain the fastener.

Michael_D

What bolts are you using? GM or some aftermarket bolts? ARP? And I'm confused. Which bolts? The countersunk retaining plate bolts, or the cam gear bolts? Can you take a picture of these tabs you mention?

Cman01

I decided to leave the cam bolts at 18ft./lbs. 2 friends I know and work in the auto industry (one owns his own shop) says it will be fine with the locktite and the plate.

Michael D, I am talking about the cam bolts that attach the cam sprocket to the cam. I did not reuse the stock cam bolts and bought Comp cams 5461



It comes with the lockplate and 3 10.9 graded cam bolts and I also used locktite to install. No way in hell these bolts will back out.

The torx retaining plate bolts were reused with a new plate and also locktite to the factory spec of 11ft./lbs.