I'm interested in this as well - I have the same chain and I'm waiting to install it, was supposed to tonight but found out that the piston I ordered isn't going to work.
Something weird with LT1 double roller timing chain conversion
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Portland Oregon
Something weird with LT1 double roller timing chain conversion
I am swapping out a LT1 timing set to a standard double roller chain setup using a Cloyes 9-3145 True roller set. I have a problem with the cam sprocket hitting the cam retainer plate bolts. The back of the cam sprocket doesn't seem to be releived enough to clear the cam retainer plate bolts. These are the two small 1/4" torx head bolts that retain the cam retainer plate to the block. Has anyone else ran into this problem?
I thought this was going to be a peice of cake, as I had figured that the front of the block with the exception of the water pump drive was the same as any small block with a factory roller cam. I am going to call cloyes tomorrow to see if they can shed some light on this. I am hoping that the set I got was mis-packaged or something.
I thought this was going to be a peice of cake, as I had figured that the front of the block with the exception of the water pump drive was the same as any small block with a factory roller cam. I am going to call cloyes tomorrow to see if they can shed some light on this. I am hoping that the set I got was mis-packaged or something.
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St. Jude Donor '03
TJ I am also doing this swap on my Lt-1 right now and running into the same issue right now. It seems like you almost need a spacer between the timing chain and the cam. I have also though about filing one the cam plate retaining bolts but I really didn't want to do that.
Also I have the cam plate in place and the distributor shaft (or oil pump gear (LT-1)) in place and the cam will still move back and forth a smidge (new hot cam) this also makes me nervous. When the cam has shifted forward the timing chain clears perfectly......
I have some pics I will upload soon.
Also I have the cam plate in place and the distributor shaft (or oil pump gear (LT-1)) in place and the cam will still move back and forth a smidge (new hot cam) this also makes me nervous. When the cam has shifted forward the timing chain clears perfectly......
I have some pics I will upload soon.
Last edited by VR'92; Apr 8, 2005 at 10:31 AM.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Originally Posted by VictorRussell'92
TJ I am also doing this swap on my Lt-1 right now and running into the same issue right now. It seems like you almost need a spacer between the timing chain and the cam. I have also though about filing one the cam plate retaining bolts but I really didn't want to do that.
Also I have the cam plate in place and the distributor shaft (or oil pump gear (LT-1)) in place and the cam will still move back and forth a smidge (new hot cam) this also makes me nervous. When the cam has shifted forward the timing chain clears perfectly......
I have some pics I will upload soon.
Also I have the cam plate in place and the distributor shaft (or oil pump gear (LT-1)) in place and the cam will still move back and forth a smidge (new hot cam) this also makes me nervous. When the cam has shifted forward the timing chain clears perfectly......
I have some pics I will upload soon.
Your cam will move a little bit, which is normal. I always thought that the LTx engines as far as cam retention and demensions was the same as any SBC with a factory roller cam. But if you are having problems then it is not that I have the wrong sprocket. It maybe that the there are some demensional differences between the LTx engines and a standard SBC as far as the cam retention goes. I am going to call cloyes this morning to see what I can do.
I just spoke to Cloyes, and they said in some situations the part number 9-3145 will hit the cam plate retention bolts. One solution is to use a smaller or thinner button head screw to get additional clearance. But the real solution is to use their part number 9-3157 which is the identical chain set as a LT4 extreme set but does not have the water pump drive. This set was made for the late model 305 and 350 Vortec engines using a crank sensor. It is a single roller chain which has a 1/2" pitch chain which is every bit as strong as a double roller chain!
Last edited by tjwong; Apr 8, 2005 at 10:54 AM.
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St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by tjwong
Your cam will move a little bit, which is normal. I always thought that the LTx engines as far as cam retention and demensions was the same as any SBC with a factory roller cam. But if you are having problems then it is not that I have the wrong sprocket. It maybe that the there are some demensional differences between the LTx engines and a standard SBC as far as the cam retention goes. I am going to call cloyes this morning to see what I can do.
Possibly could we use flatter bolts in the retention plate? I am also using the Cloyes 9-3145.
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St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by Timmy!
Nathan has this done - did he run into problems? That's the same part # he gave me as well. Did Cloyes change the part????
I think we need some different bolts. Any ideas for a source on those?
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St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by Timmy!
I'm glad I'm finding this out now instead of at build time, next week now. Looks like we need to order the other part # then or find new bolts?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
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From: Portland Oregon
Originally Posted by VictorRussell'92
Well since I'm in the middle of this now, I'm going to find some new bolts. I guess I will ask the guys at the machine shop when I go today. I'd like to see what the other timing chain TJ was talking about looks like though.
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St. Jude Donor '03
Dammit. Maybe I'm going to be sending my other one back to summit then..... I was planning on getting this all buttoned up this weekend. 
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St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I've been running the Cloyes 9-3145 set for about 12K miles now with no problems. I'm wondering, do you have the end play on the cam set to spec? The manual gives a spec but is not real clear on all the details if I remember right. Anyway, I set it when installing the rear cam plug. Even if you haven't disturbed it, it may be off enough that it worked with a stock set but won't work with this one.