Timing chain
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 671
From: Northeast
Sorry for your loss 
If you want to know if it is the original engine check the pad in the front. Should have a derivative of your vin number on the pad. Doesnt mean the engine wasnt worked on just whether this was the original block. Good luck. I think you just bought this car?
http://www.nastyz28.com/chevy-engine-code-stampings.php
If you want to know if it is the original engine check the pad in the front. Should have a derivative of your vin number on the pad. Doesnt mean the engine wasnt worked on just whether this was the original block. Good luck. I think you just bought this car?
http://www.nastyz28.com/chevy-engine-code-stampings.php
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
Wow ! That seems a very low mileage for such worn parts. 
How was the engine oil ? Oil pressure ? This sounds like a lack of lubrication, don't you think ?
How was the engine oil ? Oil pressure ? This sounds like a lack of lubrication, don't you think ?
Last edited by 73StreetRace; Nov 26, 2009 at 10:26 AM.
Thread Starter
Acct suspended by request 19 April 2011
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: La Porte In
I blame it on the fine toothed double timing gears. Oil pressure was 20 idle warm to 50 idle cold. 30 to 40 highway. Not a lot of noise.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
Did you check the cam lobes ?
Did you increase engine power, or was it bone stock ?
Last edited by 73StreetRace; Nov 27, 2009 at 01:22 AM.
Thread Starter
Acct suspended by request 19 April 2011
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: La Porte In
I agree with the stock timing gears, it's a weak point. And your oil press was good, too. So, your bearings and crank shouldn't have been destroyed so soon. Or maybe some metal particles from the timing gears went into the oil circuits ?
Did you check the cam lobes ?
Did you increase engine power, or was it bone stock ?
Did you check the cam lobes ?
Did you increase engine power, or was it bone stock ?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Franksville Wisconsin
Wow My L81 has 110,000 original miles except for typical cam problems. I think this is the third cam. Put new oil pump in with most recent cam and the oil pressure went from ok to great 70 psi cold idle 40 hot idle 50-60 cruise hot. Hope this engine can make a year or two before needing rebuild, so I can save up for it.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
I'm going to change my timing chain & gears, timing cover and harmonic balancer soon.
I already know that cam lobes look nice, but I have a little chain stretch.
So, it's better to heal it before it's too late.
I'll post pictures if I find something interesting like you did...
I already know that cam lobes look nice, but I have a little chain stretch.
So, it's better to heal it before it's too late.
I'll post pictures if I find something interesting like you did...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 12
From: columbus oh
I'm going to change my timing chain & gears, timing cover and harmonic balancer soon.
I already know that cam lobes look nice, but I have a little chain stretch.
So, it's better to heal it before it's too late.
I'll post pictures if I find something interesting like you did...
I already know that cam lobes look nice, but I have a little chain stretch.
So, it's better to heal it before it's too late.
I'll post pictures if I find something interesting like you did...
Thread Starter
Acct suspended by request 19 April 2011
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: La Porte In
I'm going to change my timing chain & gears, timing cover and harmonic balancer soon.
I already know that cam lobes look nice, but I have a little chain stretch.
So, it's better to heal it before it's too late.
I'll post pictures if I find something interesting like you did...
I already know that cam lobes look nice, but I have a little chain stretch.
So, it's better to heal it before it's too late.
I'll post pictures if I find something interesting like you did...
I want everyone to be ware. This turned out expensive for me.
Gary
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,462
Likes: 985
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
My 78 L-82 runs about 50 PSI idle oil pressure cold and 40 PSI Idle warm. Highway oil pressure is 60 PSI warm-65,000 miles on the original engine and cam. I have used Mobil 1 since 1986 and most recently 15W-50 Mobil 1. Hope that helps as a reference! So sorry to hear about your L-82!
Thread Starter
Acct suspended by request 19 April 2011
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: La Porte In
My 78 L-82 runs about 50 PSI idle oil pressure cold and 40 PSI Idle warm. Highway oil pressure is 60 PSI warm-65,000 miles on the original engine and cam. I have used Mobil 1 since 1986 and most recently 15W-50 Mobil 1. Hope that helps as a reference! So sorry to hear about your L-82!
Thanks for the reply.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Franksville Wisconsin
I've been using Vavoline VR1 20w50 racing oil with Zinc since I put new cam & lifters in.
Probably will continue using it to hopfully prevent another cam from going out.I won't use synthetic oil unless it a fresh engine just after break-in.
Probably will continue using it to hopfully prevent another cam from going out.I won't use synthetic oil unless it a fresh engine just after break-in.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
If you have enough oil volume you can use one of the oil galley plugs with a small hole in it to squirt extra oil unto the cam gear which in turn will keep lots of oil on the chain assembly.
Certainly won't hurt.
Certainly won't hurt.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
turn the mill by hand to tdc mark...remove dizzy cap ....turn front balancer bolt clockwise and see how soon the rotor moves....once it moves reverse turn the mill till it moves backwards again....note the movement in degrees at the timing tab....if its more than 2 deg. one way or 6 deg. total, you have too much chain stretch....no sense doing something with no gain in mind..some stretch is tolerable and will not hurt performance....good luck
But I think my harmonic balancer must be replaced ( 37 years old ! ) and the front main seal too.
So, once it's removed, the hardest job is done to reach the timing chain & gears and these are not expensive parts...
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Franksville Wisconsin
Its normal to have some slack in the timing chain. The timing cover is difficult to install with oil pan on and the front two oil pan bolts need to be loosened. I found out the hard way. Timing cover came out easy,then two= hpurs to get it back in.
Man was I getting pissed.... Then someone later that day said "did you loosenr the two front oil pan bolts"? I just laughed!
Man was I getting pissed.... Then someone later that day said "did you loosenr the two front oil pan bolts"? I just laughed!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Generally this type of thread laments the disintegration of the factory nylon gear (a known flaw in the late 1970s). A good double-row steel tooth setup (e.g. Cloyes) is the solution. Thus I am surprised that yours failed....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
Its normal to have some slack in the timing chain. The timing cover is difficult to install with oil pan on and the front two oil pan bolts need to be loosened. I found out the hard way. Timing cover came out easy,then two= hpurs to get it back in.
Man was I getting pissed.... Then someone later that day said "did you loosenr the two front oil pan bolts"? I just laughed!
Man was I getting pissed.... Then someone later that day said "did you loosenr the two front oil pan bolts"? I just laughed!
My oil pan is brand new and I used a one-piece Fel-Pro oil pan gasket. I hope it'll help.