Timing chain slack
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul MN
Timing chain slack
I've got my cam in now and the timing gear and crank gear dots lined up. Seems to be more slack in the timing chain than I would expect. The car has 40k miles. I aquired it from a 78 year old man you took very good care of it at 30k mikes. I've never really driven the car hard and I know that the previous owner didn't as well. Is a "fair" amount of slack normal?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul MN
The dots look to be aligned up perfectly. Is there any "gotchas" here that I should be aware of. I don't know why I'm stessing so much on this, I've done this numerous times on my old '71 chevelle. Maybe because I was young and stupid and didn't care. 
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I'm doing the same install plus a few more things.
I up-graded to an LS2 timing chain and intended to install a damper. Knowing that I had to drill and tap the block, I was willing to take that project on. When I removed the cover, I saw that GM did the drilling and tapping for me!
Here is the damper installed:
I got the damper from Gene Culley:
Don't forget to use RED high strength lock tight on the cam retainer bolts and cam bolts and make sure that you clearance your Oil Pump using 0.002" - 0.003" feeler gages or shim stock around the crank drive hub.
Bill
Bill
I up-graded to an LS2 timing chain and intended to install a damper. Knowing that I had to drill and tap the block, I was willing to take that project on. When I removed the cover, I saw that GM did the drilling and tapping for me! Here is the damper installed:
I got the damper from Gene Culley:
Don't forget to use RED high strength lock tight on the cam retainer bolts and cam bolts and make sure that you clearance your Oil Pump using 0.002" - 0.003" feeler gages or shim stock around the crank drive hub.
Bill
Bill
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Oh,,,,yea,,,,you should CHECK CHECK and DOUBLE CHECK 
your timing marks!
After i posted that picture, i said "self,,,that looks FUBAR. Went out and rechecked and sure as hell, I was ONE tooth off. Its fixed NOW!
I also turned the can gear all the way to one side to take all the slack out of the chain to show you how much slack is on the other side on a new LS2 chain.
Here is a picture of the old LS-1/6 timing chain compared to the LS2:
BC
your timing marks! After i posted that picture, i said "self,,,that looks FUBAR. Went out and rechecked and sure as hell, I was ONE tooth off. Its fixed NOW! I also turned the can gear all the way to one side to take all the slack out of the chain to show you how much slack is on the other side on a new LS2 chain.
Here is a picture of the old LS-1/6 timing chain compared to the LS2:
BC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,352
Likes: 103
From: In the pit, trying to love someone.
Bill did you use an LS6 dampener or an LS2 dampener? I have an 04 LS6 block in my 99, and I'm thinking about stabbing a different cam in my stroker. While it is apart I wanted to swap my TSP pump for a Melling, and a dampener was something I thought about. I have the holes there, but I think an LS6 dampener was significantly more than an LS2 dampener?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,134
Likes: 1
From: Arlington Texas
The LS1/6 timing chain damper is tan in color and has a 2.187" bolt center. The LS2 timing chain damper is black in color and has a 1.762" bolt center. Unfortunately, some of the '04 LS1/6 blocks were drilled for the narrower LS2 bolt center so the only way to know which is correct is to measure. You should hope it's drilled for the narrower bolt center due to the lower cost of the LS2 damper. The '07 LS2 motors have an even newer timing chain damper that fits the narrow LS2 bolt centers, see below:
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Mine is an LS6 tan damper and yes it was expensive as is everything else in this project!
I hope the HP/TQ increase increases as much as the price of this project!
Bill
I hope the HP/TQ increase increases as much as the price of this project!
Bill
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Man,,,I bought that chain and damper and my heads over TWO years ago.
Have not had the time to rip into the engine until now. So,,,,I really cant remember. Just call Gene Culley. That is who I got most of my stuff from.
Bill
Have not had the time to rip into the engine until now. So,,,,I really cant remember. Just call Gene Culley. That is who I got most of my stuff from.
Bill
