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OK, planning on a CAM later this summer. I already have the Summit Harmonic Balancer/Pin ready to go, however curious what other OEM preventative maintenance/part replacements should I consider as long as I'm in there. Over the last year, I installed a new Dewitts Aluminum Radiator/Fan Kit, new water pump, new t-stat, new belts, new coolant reservoir, new plugs and new hoses.
New chain ( i like the Cloyes with the additional bearing behind the cam gear), new cam plate cover and a new front cover gasket. You could go with a new oil pump while you are in there.
Cam chain and sprockets, add a RDE chain dampener, change the pick-up tube o-ring for sure. I also added the extra bolt on the tube from Sac City Corvette.
OK, planning on a CAM later this summer. I already have the Summit Harmonic Balancer/Pin ready to go, however curious what other OEM preventative maintenance/part replacements should I consider as long as I'm in there. Over the last year, I installed a new Dewitts Aluminum Radiator/Fan Kit, new water pump, new t-stat, new belts, new coolant reservoir, new plugs and new hoses.
What else? Timing Chain? Pullys?
Thanks!
How many miles are on the car? If you're over 30,000 miles, I'd put a timing chain AND gears in it. NEVER run a new chain on slightly worn gears. Also, never put new gears on a used timing chain. Always replace both gears and chain as a unit assembly. As for trays and lifters, again, how many miles? If 50,000 miles or less, they're fine. It's a whole another level labor wise to change trays and lifters on an LS engine. You must pull the heads to access the lifters. This is the one area I have a big problem with GM engineers lifter and tray design. You shouldn't have to pull heads to access the lifters, but they broke what didn't need fixing on that one......
Cam chain and sprockets, add a RDE chain dampener, change the pick-up tube o-ring for sure. I also added the extra bolt on the tube from Sac City Corvette.
The second bolt on the pickup tube isn't needed, and could lead to big servicing issue down the road. It's easy to install on the engine stand. But after that second bolt is added, it's next to impossible to remove the oil pump while the engine is in the car. My .02.....
How many miles are on the car? If you're over 30,000 miles, I'd put a timing chain AND gears in it. NEVER run a new chain on slightly worn gears. Also, never put new gears on a used timing chain. Always replace both gears and chain as a unit assembly. As for trays and lifters, again, how many miles? If 50,000 miles or less, they're fine. It's a whole another level labor wise to change trays and lifters on an LS engine. You must pull the heads to access the lifters. This is the one area I have a big problem with GM engineers lifter and tray design. You shouldn't have to pull heads to access the lifters, but they broke what didn't need fixing on that one......
Car has a little over 30K miles. Not a garage queen, but splits fun time with a C7Z and since I'm the original owner of both, I killed two business sedans with over 500K miles during the same 19 mile stretch, thus the 30K, well-driven and well-maintained miles.
Any recommendation on best timing chain and gear set? I see some options at Summit but prefer recommendations. I thought I read earlier that the timing chain/gear set from the C6 or C5Z is a good OEM option?
Bumping this up as I'm trying to finalize the shopping list. Appreciate any additional feedback
- Replacement Balancer (Summit w/ARP Bolt)
- Replacement Oil Pump (OEM/AC Delco)
- New Timing Chain/Gasket/Gears - What set is recommended? OEM or Aftermarket?
- Upgraded aluminum rear Engine plate and rear main seal (C&S Corvettes)
- Upgraded starter with heat shield - OEM or other?
Oil pump only because you have the early more failure prone style pump. On my 04 I'll inspect my pump. If it looks good, and I see no reason why it won't, then I'll port it and reinstall. I'm reusing lifters at nearly 130k miles as well, given the questionable nature of the replacement parts available today. I may switch over to some Johnson lifters down the road when they're (hopefully) back in charge of their supply chain. But for now stock seems the safest bet to me. I can't say if 98 lifters were more failure prone than the 04 stuff, but I do know the rocker bearings were more problematic. You may look into a bushing kit for that.
[QUOTE Any recommendation on best timing chain and gear set? I see some options at Summit but prefer recommendations. I thought I read earlier that the timing chain/gear set from the C6 or C5Z is a good OEM option?[/QUOTE]
Cloyes or Melling, I've used them both. Both are acceptable quality, I currently have Melling set on my C5Z, no issues.
Oil pump only because you have the early more failure prone style pump. On my 04 I'll inspect my pump. If it looks good, and I see no reason why it won't, then I'll port it and reinstall. I'm reusing lifters at nearly 130k miles as well, given the questionable nature of the replacement parts available today. I may switch over to some Johnson lifters down the road when they're (hopefully) back in charge of their supply chain. But for now stock seems the safest bet to me. I can't say if 98 lifters were more failure prone than the 04 stuff, but I do know the rocker bearings were more problematic. You may look into a bushing kit for that.
Mine is also a 2004 so I think we have the same pump. I already replaced the water pump and stat, so thinking new oil pump as well.
Supposed to prevents chain wrap on decel/downshifting, thus less wear. I put one on my car. It's actually made by RDE and from my research the guy is/was a forum member who came up with the design. https://briantooleyracing.com/rde-ti...rde-62188.html RDE Dampener installed. Purchased from BTR
Nothing wrong with the Summit brand LS2 chain. That is what I used, its made in the USA and is substantially beefier than the stock one (see pic below). I also used a Summit brand oil pump, stock pressure and volume also made in the USA and I'm assuming made by Melling as the Summit pump had the same 295 casting number on it as the Melling.
You can prime your new pump rather easily:
If you get a new cam plate, depending on which one you buy you may need the tapered bolt/screw that holds the plate in place. These parts are availble from any of the parts houses....
Plate: https://briantooleyracing.com/btr-ca...-btr89016.html
Tapered Screws: https://briantooleyracing.com/chevro...-11561455.html
I cleaned all the threaded holes with brake clean/compressed air and used blue loc-tite on every fastener that didn't have the orange GM patch lock on the threads. I also cleaned every bolt, including the new bolts as they had some preservative oil on them. Stock on the left, Summit brand LS2 Timing chain on the right
CAM Install - Preventive Maintenance Question
