Timing chain advice please!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 208
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Timing chain advice please!!
Hello all,
My 84 vette has 97,000 miles. I'm going to be removing the radiator this spring to clean up the front of it and replacing the upper / lower hoses and heater hoses. I was wondering, since I'll have more room, should I tackle the timing chain and water pump? As far as I know neither the timing chain nor water pump have ever been changed. I've heard that it should be changed between 90,000 and 100,000 miles. I only put about 1,500 to 2,000 miles on the car per year... So should I do it now or hold off a little longer? I've never changed a timing chain before... how difficult is it? How long should a timing chain and water pump last?
:confused:
Pete.
My 84 vette has 97,000 miles. I'm going to be removing the radiator this spring to clean up the front of it and replacing the upper / lower hoses and heater hoses. I was wondering, since I'll have more room, should I tackle the timing chain and water pump? As far as I know neither the timing chain nor water pump have ever been changed. I've heard that it should be changed between 90,000 and 100,000 miles. I only put about 1,500 to 2,000 miles on the car per year... So should I do it now or hold off a little longer? I've never changed a timing chain before... how difficult is it? How long should a timing chain and water pump last?
:confused:
Pete.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: Timing chain advice please!! (84whitevette)
Yes.. change the timing chain. They don't just fail at some point... some will last for 300,000 miles and just get sloppier, some will break at 60,000 miles. It's really a matter of how much you want to push your luck.
Having the radiator out won't really make the other stuff any easier though. The timing chain takes a lot of time to get to, but isn't too difficult. You'll need to pull off all the accessories pretty much, and replace the water pump while you're in there... and drop the oil pan. And if you have that off.. you might as well check the main bearings! I did a timing chain for the first time on my vette, and enjoyed the whole process. Just get some razor blades, and some good rtv...
Do you have any oil leaks? Or anything else that would justify tackling all this stuff?
BTW, make sure you throw that plastic cam timing gear in the trash and put in a steel one.
[Modified by CentralCoaster, 1:38 AM 2/10/2004]
Having the radiator out won't really make the other stuff any easier though. The timing chain takes a lot of time to get to, but isn't too difficult. You'll need to pull off all the accessories pretty much, and replace the water pump while you're in there... and drop the oil pan. And if you have that off.. you might as well check the main bearings! I did a timing chain for the first time on my vette, and enjoyed the whole process. Just get some razor blades, and some good rtv...
Do you have any oil leaks? Or anything else that would justify tackling all this stuff?
BTW, make sure you throw that plastic cam timing gear in the trash and put in a steel one.
[Modified by CentralCoaster, 1:38 AM 2/10/2004]
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 208
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Re: Timing chain advice please!! (CentralCoaster)
Centracoaster,
Well, since you asked... If the car sits for a week or so, I can smell a little bit of oil burning off of the manifold or exhaust and see a little smoke coming from under the hood. Once I drive the car for a few minutes, the smell and smoke is gone. However, saying that... the car has been stitting fot the past 2 months in the garage (hell of a winter in the northeast this year!) and there is only a dime size spot of oil on the ground! So yes, there is an oil leak but minimal. I get the feeling it may be coming from either the valve covers or that dreaded rear intake leak that everyone is mentioning. I have to clean the engine well, and then see where its coming from exactly.
Pete
Well, since you asked... If the car sits for a week or so, I can smell a little bit of oil burning off of the manifold or exhaust and see a little smoke coming from under the hood. Once I drive the car for a few minutes, the smell and smoke is gone. However, saying that... the car has been stitting fot the past 2 months in the garage (hell of a winter in the northeast this year!) and there is only a dime size spot of oil on the ground! So yes, there is an oil leak but minimal. I get the feeling it may be coming from either the valve covers or that dreaded rear intake leak that everyone is mentioning. I have to clean the engine well, and then see where its coming from exactly.
Pete
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: Timing chain advice please!! (84whitevette)
That sounds like a valve cover leak to me. I say that especially because you have perimeter bolt VC's like my '85. They're a pain to get to seal, which is why Chevy switched to the centerbolt. Intake oil leaks usually run along the seam where the block meets the head.. which doesn't make it onto the stock headers.
Sounds like you're good as far as oil leaks go. :thumbs: My oil drain plug leaks more than that! :smash:
But, if you're stuck in winter and have a garage heater... now's as good a time as any to freshen up the vette... If nothing else, it'll put your mind at ease and you'll feel better about flogging it. :auto:
Sounds like you're good as far as oil leaks go. :thumbs: My oil drain plug leaks more than that! :smash:
But, if you're stuck in winter and have a garage heater... now's as good a time as any to freshen up the vette... If nothing else, it'll put your mind at ease and you'll feel better about flogging it. :auto:
