Broken Timing Chain!!!???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Broken Timing Chain!!!???
Saturday night i thought i blew my 382 LS1 Stroker. I was at WOT in 3rd gear at about 4500 rpms when wham i herd a noise and the motor just shut off.
I coasted to a stop and tried to start the motor with no luck. It was like the motor was seized. Today i got it to the shop and the valvetrain is frozen. They are guessing that the stock timing chain broke.
Was the stock chain not up to the task of a X1 cammed stroker?
What chain should i go with?
What kind of damnage occurs when a timing chain breaks?
I coasted to a stop and tried to start the motor with no luck. It was like the motor was seized. Today i got it to the shop and the valvetrain is frozen. They are guessing that the stock timing chain broke.
Was the stock chain not up to the task of a X1 cammed stroker?
What chain should i go with?
What kind of damnage occurs when a timing chain breaks?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 21,396
Likes: 1,011
From: Various places in Southern California.
Re: Broken Timing Chain!!!??? (Mike TexaSS)
Can't comment on the strength of the LS-1 chain, or any replacements, but others will get you that info.
However, the broken chain likely resulted in bent pushrods at least, and probably a few bent valves. This would be from the pistons hitting the valves that got stuck open. Those impacts could also pop holes in the pistons, although that's a little less likely. (I had a timing chain failure on a small block chevy motor--I lost all 16 pushrods and 14 valves. The pistons survived, though.)
However, the broken chain likely resulted in bent pushrods at least, and probably a few bent valves. This would be from the pistons hitting the valves that got stuck open. Those impacts could also pop holes in the pistons, although that's a little less likely. (I had a timing chain failure on a small block chevy motor--I lost all 16 pushrods and 14 valves. The pistons survived, though.)
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
Re: Broken Timing Chain!!!??? (Mike TexaSS)
Depending on RPM and P/V clearance and quality of piston and luck, you'll have destroyed at least pushrods - possibly valves - possibly fragged a piston or two. If you lost a piston, you might've lost the whole bottom end.
It seems everyone has their own opinion regarding timing chains. Personally a double roller seems to make sense. Even though the stock one might be super strong - if it breaks, it's OVER. I like the idea of redundancy. Same with valve springs.
Dope
It seems everyone has their own opinion regarding timing chains. Personally a double roller seems to make sense. Even though the stock one might be super strong - if it breaks, it's OVER. I like the idea of redundancy. Same with valve springs.
Dope
Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeland MS
Re: Broken Timing Chain!!!??? (Dope)
I just replaced my timing chain when I had my new cam installed. I replaced it with a stocker as I didn't have time to get a double roller in before the install.
Anyway, we held the old (41k miles on it) up to the new one. The old one was stretched so much it looked like it had an extra link in it. I had no idea metal could stretch like that. Blew my mind.
Anyway, we held the old (41k miles on it) up to the new one. The old one was stretched so much it looked like it had an extra link in it. I had no idea metal could stretch like that. Blew my mind.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 1
From: Stockholm
Re: Broken Timing Chain!!!??? (Mike TexaSS)
Sorry to say but it's most likely the chain broke. I ruined my DRM 382 stroker because of a broken stock timing chain. It's a very cheap insurance to get a high quality timing chain and gears when upgrading your engine from stock, no matter if it's only a cam upgrade or a full stroker upgrade.
If you search the archives yo will find a lot good info about timing chains.
:cheers:
If you search the archives yo will find a lot good info about timing chains.
:cheers:
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,607
Likes: 1
From: San Francisco CA
Re: Broken Timing Chain!!!??? (vette.se)
I do not think you can find any better timing set than the Rollmaster double row set. Billet gears and heat treated with a Torinton cam gear bearing. All for as little as $85 if you shop around.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Re: Broken Timing Chain!!!??? (SFVetteman)
Thanks for the replys. This motor doesnt even have 2500 miles on it and it makes great power! Dammit! I even asked my engine builder about timing chains and he said dont worry about it. :mad
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 1
From: Stockholm
Re: Broken Timing Chain!!!??? (Mike TexaSS)
I know DRM and I'm sure most of the other engine builders have learned their lesson and always uses a high quality chain when building a engine. It have been so many failures so there is no reason to not change the chain.
:yesnod:
:yesnod:
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 21,396
Likes: 1,011
From: Various places in Southern California.
Re: Broken Timing Chain!!!??? (Carsnob)
I had no idea metal could stretch like that. Blew my mind.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,613
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From: Winston Salem NC
Re: Broken Timing Chain!!!??? (ScreaminDemon)
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, FL USA
Re: Broken Timing Chain!!!??? (jfpilla)
I you do a lot of off throttle, in gear, from high RPM, as in autox or roadracing, change the timing chain. :chevy
Cloyes Hex adjust true roller is a good choice. Set is +2 degrees ;)
[Modified by 1fastdog, 10:17 AM 10/22/2003]
Cloyes Hex adjust true roller is a good choice. Set is +2 degrees ;)
[Modified by 1fastdog, 10:17 AM 10/22/2003]
