Know about timing chains? Get in here!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Made In America
St. Jude Donor '10-'11
Know about timing chains? Get in here!
I got an 86' corvette early style with cast heads. Timing chain broke....Can somone tell me:
a timing chain to get?
how long it would take to replace one?
What causes them to break?
ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!
I have heard about cloydes but don't know what model I need.
a timing chain to get?
how long it would take to replace one?
What causes them to break?
ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!
I have heard about cloydes but don't know what model I need.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,838
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From: Database Error Indiana
You can use any generic old style SBC timing chain. They just wear out after a lot of mles. It will be a weekend job. One day if you know what you are doing. A week if you dont. While you are there replace the water pump and dont be surprised if the harmonic balancer is shot.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Cloyes is a good brand as is Edelbrock or Comp Cams. For street use, any good parts store can provide a chain or chain and gear set. Try NAPA or CarQuest before places like AutoZone, O'Reillies, or Kragen.
Summit Racing and RockAuto are good online places to order and get good prices.
There are both chains only and timing chains and gear as a set. It sounds like you haven't got the front of the motor torn down yet? You will need to check out the cam and crank gear to see if there's damage to either one or both.
Chains can break from just years of wear but they usually stretch to the point where the engine runs bad or does not deliver the same power levels. They get noisy too as they wear.
Everything on the front of the motor has to come off to access the timing chain cover and that includes the balancer. Once you have the chain exposed, you can see what damage there is. If the crank gear has teeth broken, it would probably be best to pul the entire motor and go thru it. You didn't say what mileage is on the car, but it might be worth considering.
You have to find out what caused the chain to break. It can break from old age and high RPM, but it could also be from something that stopped the cam from turning.
Summit Racing and RockAuto are good online places to order and get good prices.
There are both chains only and timing chains and gear as a set. It sounds like you haven't got the front of the motor torn down yet? You will need to check out the cam and crank gear to see if there's damage to either one or both.
Chains can break from just years of wear but they usually stretch to the point where the engine runs bad or does not deliver the same power levels. They get noisy too as they wear.
Everything on the front of the motor has to come off to access the timing chain cover and that includes the balancer. Once you have the chain exposed, you can see what damage there is. If the crank gear has teeth broken, it would probably be best to pul the entire motor and go thru it. You didn't say what mileage is on the car, but it might be worth considering.
You have to find out what caused the chain to break. It can break from old age and high RPM, but it could also be from something that stopped the cam from turning.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,966
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From: Made In America
St. Jude Donor '10-'11
You can use any generic old style SBC timing chain. They just wear out after a lot of mles. It will be a weekend job. One day if you know what you are doing. A week if you dont. While you are there replace the water pump and dont be surprised if the harmonic balancer is shot.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Texas
When a timing chain breaks on a SBC, pistons smack valves and you get to do a complete rebuild. It's a pretty obvious and at times spectacular failure. Did you break the chain or are you guessing?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Made In America
St. Jude Donor '10-'11
Oil pressure was fine and the oil level is up to spec.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Glenbeulah Wi
There is no rev limiter in a 1986 vette, if you really broke the chain the engine will need a complete rebuild.
Race Director
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From: Texas
Need more info to know what might be wrong.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Palm Beach
As was mentioned, It is not the timing chain. When a timing chain breaks, the engine dies immediately and depending on the engine, will probably clean off a few valves. There will be no oil pressure because the cam stops turning which turns the oil pump and distributor.
Guess again.
Guess again.
Race Director
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From: Database Error Indiana
If it had oil pressure, it was still running. Timing chain is not broke then. Sounds expensive to me though.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Merritt Ils Fl
Not to worry about a chain. From what you say there is a better than even chance you are in for a complete rebuild.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
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From: Made In America
St. Jude Donor '10-'11
Im to scared to start it. Im trying to pin down whats wrong without starting it. Im taking off the water pump today to see if I can get the chain out. Will keep you updated. If it's not the chain,....I think the car is just worn down from age. Will post later about the chain if I have time to get to it.
Thanks everyone.
I have spun a bearing before in this car and it does't sound like that. A friend spun a bearing in his car recently so I can take those out of the list of possiblities.
Thanks everyone.
I have spun a bearing before in this car and it does't sound like that. A friend spun a bearing in his car recently so I can take those out of the list of possiblities.
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Im to scared to start it. Im trying to pin down whats wrong without starting it. Im taking off the water pump today to see if I can get the chain out. Will keep you updated. If it's not the chain,....I think the car is just worn down from age. Will post later about the chain if I have time to get to it.
Thanks everyone.
I have spun a bearing before in this car and it does't sound like that. A friend spun a bearing in his car recently so I can take those out of the list of possiblities.
Thanks everyone.
I have spun a bearing before in this car and it does't sound like that. A friend spun a bearing in his car recently so I can take those out of the list of possiblities.
Why are you not heeding the advice posted above? The timing chain connects the cam to the crank. The starter turns the crank, chain turns the cam, cam turns the distributor, the distributor turns the oil pump. If you crank the car, and it has oil pressure, it is not the chain, cam or distributor shaft.