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Im about to swap out the cam in my LS3 and realized I never did order a new chain and guides... is there anything that is considered better than stock?
In regard to the chain guide/tensioner, I've reviewed many threads that highly recommend the LS2 timing chain guide/tensioner. I'm doing a cam swap soon and thats what I'm going with. The posts explain that the LS3 unit has a spring that pops out sometimes whereas the LS2 unit has no springs. I'm also going with a Katech C5R chain and 3 bolt sprocket.
I had a clients engine get wiped out by a broken OEM chain (2006). My 2007 had the springy-version, I replaced it with a non-spring version. I like the IWIS chains. As mentioned above, a lot of cams are 3-bolt so plan accordingly
Im about to swap out the cam in my LS3 and realized I never did order a new chain and guides... is there anything that is considered better than stock?
SPEED SAFE, NICK
It looks like I am following in your footsteps bud. lol
I am a couple months behind you and just getting all my things ordered shortly
From what I have read its a good idea to just ditch the LS3 tensioner and just go with the LS2 chain guide/block.
TBH I was just going to use my factory timing chain and at 80,000 miles I think I will just replace it with a new GM factory chain just to tighten things up.
Are you going to use the Single bolt factory cam or changing to the 3 bolt setup?
Dont forget the oil pump pickup O ring while your in there. Apparently if they start to leak, you will lose oil pressure
It looks like I am following in your footsteps bud. lol
I am a couple months behind you and just getting all my things ordered shortly
From what I have read its a good idea to just ditch the LS3 tensioner and just go with the LS2 chain guide/block.
TBH I was just going to use my factory timing chain and at 80,000 miles I think I will just replace it with a new GM factory chain just to tighten things up.
Are you going to use the Single bolt factory cam or changing to the 3 bolt setup?
Dont forget the oil pump pickup O ring while your in there. Apparently if they start to leak, you will lose oil pressure
The cam is a 3 bolt cam... I think i am just going to buy the C5R chain and reuse my current factory gears and use the LS2 Dampner. I dont see any reason to replace the gears and cant find anything saying they must be replaced. I would imagine the chain would wear over time however the gears should be fine as they dont really wear as quickly... The GS only has 40,000 miles on it...
The cam is a 3 bolt cam... I think i am just going to buy the C5R chain and reuse my current factory gears and use the LS2 Dampner. I dont see any reason to replace the gears and cant find anything saying they must be replaced. I would imagine the chain would wear over time however the gears should be fine as they dont really wear as quickly... The GS only has 40,000 miles on it...
SPEED SAFE, NICK
I'm not changing my gears either. Here's a link for you
98K miles on my LS3 when I sold it and the OEM timing cover and heads had never been removed. Still ran high 10's at 125 mph.. You really just need to learn how to tune vs throwing parts at it.
I could not agree more, Tuning is definitely a big part of it... but if you're going in, there's no good reason not to use better parts... they cost about the same... it's a no brainer.
The cam is a 3 bolt cam... I think i am just going to buy the C5R chain and reuse my current factory gears and use the LS2 Dampner. I dont see any reason to replace the gears and cant find anything saying they must be replaced. I would imagine the chain would wear over time however the gears should be fine as they dont really wear as quickly... The GS only has 40,000 miles on it...
SPEED SAFE, NICK
If you have a three bolt cam, you need to change the cam sprocket. Unless you've already changed it out, an LS3 comes stock with a one bolt cam sprocket.
If you have a three bolt cam, you need to change the cam sprocket. Unless you've already changed it out, an LS3 comes stock with a one bolt cam sprocket.
from what I understood, the GrandSport came with a 3-bolt... we will soon see...
I have read that the dry sumps come with a 3 bolt gear but take that for what it's worth.We all know how the internet is!
Yeah, dry sump with the forged crank and long snout. My first and third C6's were narrow bodies with LS3's. Middle one was a GS with M6 tranny. Probably spent money I didn't need to spend on the cam sprocket. It only had 5K miles when we added the supercharger, cam, and bolt ons.
98K miles on my LS3 when I sold it and the OEM timing cover and heads had never been removed. Still ran high 10's at 125 mph.. You really just need to learn how to tune vs throwing parts at it.
What's tuning got to do with building your motor correctly?
Shame on you for coming on here and trying to deter people from putting some very cheap parts into an engine while its apart, especially if they can be problem parts and there are better things available.
It would be complete stupidity not to upgrade the LS3 chain guide and replace the chain while having it all apart. Its not like we are talking about big dollar items here.
Some pretty cheap parts for some cheap insurance knowing that these pieces can cause issues.
I have read that the dry sumps come with a 3 bolt gear but take that for what it's worth.We all know how the internet is!
Yeah, mine has the dry sump... texas speed is the one who put the kit together... I remember this topic coming up and they did not try to upsell the sprocket... so im assuming that's why...
the GrandSport M6 with Dry sump come with the 3-bolt cam sprocket and the LS2 style tensioner...
**ADD** also I noticed that the timing chain is black... is that typical of all LS3 engines? Doesn't appear to have much slack in it after 40,000 miles...
interesting the Dry Sump LS3 would have a different cam than the wet sump? Similarly a 2006 LS2 in my shop had the 3 bolt, my 2007 LS2 had the1 bolt. I stole the pulley out of the 2006 for my engine.
btw here is the broke 2006 LS2 chain.....the broken link jammed into the block, causing half of the pistons to hit
valves.
interesting the Dry Sump LS3 would have a different cam than the wet sump? Similarly a 2006 LS2 in my shop had the 3 bolt, my 2007 LS2 had the1 bolt. I stole the pulley out of the 2006 for my engine.
btw here is the broke 2006 LS2 chain.....the broken link jammed into the block, causing half of the pistons to hit valves.
also... I'm not sure if it's different for the LS3 or not... but the timing chain is black... is that typical of all LS3?? Perhaps the dry sump LS3 has a different chain?
i'm just curious, there may be no difference at all...
Im about to swap out the cam in my LS3 and realized I never did order a new chain and guides... is there anything that is considered better than stock?
SPEED SAFE, NICK
No need to change the timing chain or guides if there is no wear. And if your engine has only 40K miles, the chain and guides will still be perfectly new.
And if you have the manual GS with the dry sump, you already have the better guide/damper. All dry sump cars (manual GS, ZR1, Z06) have a 3 bolt cam and the LS2 style dampener. Auto LS3 cars have the spring loaded.
Probably not too relevant for the short timing chains in our LS engines but in a lot of Mercedes V8's, it is better to re-use the "old" timing chains when they do an engine refresh even if the engine has over 100K miles. As long as the chain has no stretch (and they usually don't), the old chain has less friction as all its surfaces have been smoothed.
Timing Chain/Guide... whats everyone using?
