DC 155

1986 Z51 Corvette, 92,000 miles.
Ok, mechanic tracked down a coolant leak at the timing chain cover. My plan is to do the timing chain while he's replacing the gasket. Pretty sure I'm gonna do the water pump. Even thpugh it looks like its been replaced, I don't know how long ago.
My questions are:
1. Are there any preferred brands of timing chains or water pumps rather than doing stock replacement.
2. Should I consider doing any other services while I ave it apart?

Thanks in advance. My guy is starting on monday.

antfarmer2

Coolant leak from timing chain cover?

Patsgarage

Might be time to find a new "mechanic".

antfarmer2

or just ask for help and change the water pump your self.

cv67

Dude is trying to screw you replace the water pump and motor on

If you decided to do the chain the cam is right there may as well.

DC 155

Ok so I'm guessing no coolant would be coming from the timing cover? I've done water pumps, radiators, and thermostats before but not in corvettes and I'm no mechanic. He did say that it was coming from the right side and he couldn't see all of the right side of the water pump. He thought it was coming from behind the water pump and thats where he came up with the timing cover?

cv67

He is either taking you for a ride or a complete idiot
Telling you what he did sounds like hes testing you to see if you say "Ok" or call him on it.

Only oil is behind the timing cover.

antfarmer2

Time to do another water pump. Any trouble help is just a finger away.

ghoastrider1

I suppose water(coolant) could be leaking from the pump and onto the cover, but that's the only way coolant can be comming from the cover.

antfarmer2

might just be a hose.

Hot Rod Roy

Is there any possibility there has been a misunderstanding here? No mechanic would say that. If the waterpump was recently replaced, it might be a coolant leak of a waterpump gasket near the timing chain cover? You might not need a new waterpump if the previous replacement wasn't done right. The bolts go into the waterjacket, so you might only need the bolts to be sealed properly!

antfarmer2

Good catch might just take each bolt out and seal and replace. Saved hundreds of $$$$$$$.

RICHARD TILL

Cloyes double roller.

RedCorvette1988

Look at the harmonic balancer -- I had one start coming apart on a 86.

Joe C

BINGO!

BINGO! (and, IMO, best band for the buck)

,but be careful, one might fall into the "while i'm at it, might as well fix this...." I started out replacing rear sway bar bushings and ended up doing a valve job and top end rebuild -

if one does replace the timing chain, personally, I would automatically, bite the bullet, and replace the HB - especially on a 30 year old car. HOWEVER, unless I suspected issues with the timing chain, i'd leave well enough alone, and just fix the WP leak.

DC 155

Thanks for all the responses. I must have misunderstood part of what my guy was saying. He's worked on my stuff for a few years now and on more than one occasion has given me advise on a repair that saved me money when he could've shut his mouth and made much more money on labor.

Maybe he was asking about doing the timing chain while he was tearing into the front of the car? I'm dealing with a very recent family death and don't know my own name sometimes so I very well could've missed part of what he was telling me.

Thanks again guys, I appreciate it.

mtwoolford

92,000 miles; yeah it's time for a new timing chain; double roller is best bet; try summit house brand if money is an issue

ex-x-fire

Well, coolant leakage at timing covers are a common problem on some engines, just not the SBC.

antfarmer2

they will last over 200 thou.

ddahlgren

The while I am here might as well attitude is what makes the car expensive to own. It is easy to check the timing chain. Take the distributor cap off grab the shaft and check the clearance in the distributor gear and make a note of it. Now turn the crank in one direction until the rotor moves and mark the damper now turn the rotor against the gear in the other direction to take the lash out and move the crank in the opposite direction than the first time and mark again. The distance between the marks is the play in the timing chain.