Timing chain
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 0
From: Mayfield kentucky
Timing chain
Replacing heads and cam this weekend should I use a factory timing chain or a double roller chain and how much more work is it to replace the timing chain and gears. will I have to pull the motor or remove the oil pan to replace the chain and gears. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 892
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
I would replace the chain with a double roller setup since you are there. All you will have to do is pull the oil pump and slide on a new crank sprocket, the new chain, and then reinstall the oil pump. Before you pull the oil pump, you will have to disconnect the pickup tube at the bottom, make sure you got a good hold on the bolt for that so you dont drop it in the oil pan and also, when you go back together, make damn sure the o-ring is on the pickup tube before you reinstall it. My chain, which is in my sig, came with a couple of shims to push the oil pump out a little to make clearance for the thicker lower sprocket. Also, since I was there, I took the oil pump relief valve out and installed an 1/8" shim inside it and bumped the oil pressure up an additional 15 pounds. Also make sure you use loctite on the cam gear bolts and tighten them good.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,851
Likes: 1
From: San Bruno Ca
Originally Posted by vettes4fun
Replacing heads and cam this weekend should I use a factory timing chain or a double roller chain and how much more work is it to replace the timing chain and gears. will I have to pull the motor or remove the oil pan to replace the chain and gears.
Make darn sure to "pin" the crank pulley after re-installing. This will save you LOTS oh hours of labor just in case you decide to go F/I later on. It's a good idea anyway if you are pulling more HPs and turning more RPMs.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Euless TX
A single roller will be just fine. I went with a rollmaster single roller. I always pull my motor when messing w/heads and cam. I like to have engine on the engine stand when tourqueing to specs and degreeing in the cam. It is much easier to clean and you can flip it over. I also did the rod bolts while I had it on the stand. To each their own.
Last edited by kendo347; Jul 8, 2005 at 04:59 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 0
From: Mayfield kentucky
Ok! but if I use a Ls2 chain must I replace the gears or will the Ls1 gears be ok. This motor should have about 575 hp with Nos. What are you all talking about when you tell me to pin the gears. thanks! You guys have been a lot of help. 
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 10
From: Monticello MN
Originally Posted by vettes4fun
Ok! but if I use a Ls2 chain must I replace the gears or will the Ls1 gears be ok. This motor should have about 575 hp with Nos. What are you all talking about when you tell me to pin the gears. thanks! You guys have been a lot of help.
The LS2 chain is much heftier than the standard LS1 chain, is cheap (about $30-35...got mine for $25 actually) and is a direct replacement for the standard LS1 chain. Don't even hesitate.
Ed
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
The pinning process is the damper. Go to the Magnacharger web site, download the Magnacharger installation manual, and read through it. The first step is pinning the damper. You can also buy the pinning kit from them. Based on the number of dampers that seem to back out after a cam change that I have seen, I would pin the damper if it were my car.