finally doing the cam vvt delete and dod delete. new springs cam lifters pushrods and full vvt delete . couple yrs ago I snatched up a katech vvt delete and had it sitting on the shelf. during the install I opted for the new katech tensioner which is a poly phenolic material in the shape of the oem which is prone to breaking. 49$ over the billet lme unit which was 223$ and I wasnt a fan of the chain slapping against aluminum just seems like a bad idea and noisy. (wear from the metal chain I feel will always win over the aluminum so wear goes in to the oil. ) just my .02. after the install I read from a shop who installed the katech unit I had and it lasted 10 miles before breaking!! now im paranoid and debating what to do when I come across this Texas speed unit. looks similar to the lme billet unit BUT has phonetic ends on it! this is what the chain runs against. in my porsche days this type of material is what Porsche uses for their tensioners and they use 2 timing chains very little noise long life. at 100$ I felt this was a great alternative to all of the other options ie: oem lme or katech. install was simple fitment seems really nice and I love having the non metal material against the chain.
I guess time will tell. degree the cam this weekend ad the other parts and hopefully setting up port injection next week. but heres some pics of the Texas speed timing chain tensioner

 

This is the Katech guide in mine…. https://katechengines.com/i-30498374...ain-guide.html

Has a little under a thousand track miles on it so far.

I have an LS3 cam gear.

 

that’s what I originally was going to use. To paranoid it will break and have to pull tge motor out again!! 100$ peace of mind was worth it for me

 

I was originally going to go with the k-tech tensioner "shoe", but wound up getting the gpi/lme unit for my GS. A little expensive, but It looks quality.

 

Are these more of an anti slap device? They don't seem to be touching the chain.

 

designed to keep chain slack to a minimum resulting in more consistent cam/crank alignment, "timing".

 

A chain guide breaking in 10 miles makes me think something else had gone wrong

 

It uses the good piece of the OEM part and replaces the spring that breaks.

The LME billet piece has the wear pads on the ends. It is not just aluminum. To your point, that’ll trash the engine. I had one that came with my LME front cover and modified LS3 cam gear but sold it.

If someone had the Katech piece and it failed in 10 miles, that’s a mechanic problem.

 

issue can happen. katech oil pumps had a rash of failures for a short period.
I wasnt aware the came tensioner had phonetic material on the ends never saw one in person pics look like bare aluminum that's good to know

 

Not a part out there that hasn’t failed. Nonetheless, a glorified piece of plastic destroying an engine in 10 miles raises questions about assembly. There’s more to the story.

LME part