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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 11:33 PM
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is the ls1 engine in my 2000 an interference fit engine. in other words, if the timing chain breaks will the pistons hit the valves that are open
causing further damage?
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Old Apr 12, 2022 | 12:06 AM
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You are correct if timing chain skips or snaps it will bend valves, damage pistons. By
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Old Apr 12, 2022 | 10:26 AM
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Originally Posted by ncali
is the ls1 engine in my 2000 an interference fit engine. in other words, if the timing chain breaks will the pistons hit the valves that are open
causing further damage?
You will be in a HUGE minority if you break a timing chain!! I'm sure what I'm about to say will bring out some small number of cases where it has happened. I've never had the problem myself, and in talking to a lot of guys at the strip, I've never met anyone who has. It's about as likely as Covid being cured today......
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Old Apr 12, 2022 | 06:50 PM
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Bad news: you're right that the LS family of engines are interference engines, and a failure of the timing chain will cause "undesirable" outcomes.
Good news: Timing chain failure is a very rare failure mode for these engines. There are plenty of LS family engines out deep into the triple digits (especially if you include truck engines) and timing chain failure is nearly unheard of. They'll stretch and wear and get noisy, but outright failure almost never happens.
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