timing chain

good morning guys , how hard is it to change the timing chain on a 98 z?:confused:

Not real easy but not horrible. While you're there you might as well change the cam and upgrade the oil pump. Get an LS2 chain. They're much beefier than the LS1, fits right on the cogs and costs ~$35.

You'll need to pull the water pump and crank pulley off to get the timing cover off. I'm trying to remember if anything else is in the way of the cover or not. If there isn't you'll be looking at the oil pump and timing chain at this point. So thats basically all the work besides removing the chain itself, I'd upgrade oil pumps while being in there.

thanks 4 the info guys

Oil pump has to come off to change the timing chain, so it's probably a good idea to replace it. The bolt holding the pickup tube and the o-ring can be tricky. Be careful.

can I just use the ls2 chain or do i have to change the whole assembly?

Stupid question I know. It doesn't require a puller to pull the balancer off right? If I remember correctly....just the center bolt. Thanks

Stupid question I know. It doesn't require a puller to pull the balancer off right? If I remember correctly....just the center bolt. Thanks

Yes it does and to install it properly you should have a balancer installer tool.

And you'll need a new bolt.

And you'll need a new bolt.

for the timing chain? which bolt? just curious, taking notes for when i do mine.

The bolt for the balancer that you'll have to remove to get to the cover.

Why would you need a new bolt for the balancer?? That's probably one of the biggest bolts on the entire car!! (it takes what, a 22mm socket I think, right?? :think: ) ... why would you need a new one of those if you pull the balancer off?? :shrug:

Supposedly it is torque to yeild.

The bolt for the balancer that you'll have to remove to get to the cover.

ok, i have new one only 3k miles old (came with h/c) should i replace it again then?

If you torqued it, yes.

To swap the timing chaing you might as well get a cam change gasket kit and IIRC it comes with the gasket kit.

ok, i have new one only 3k miles old (came with h/c) should i replace it again then?

Not necessary, I have done about 25 local cam swaps and have reused the stock bolt several times and have never had one come loose.

Not necessary, I have done about 25 local cam swaps and have reused the stock bolt several times and have never had one come loose.

Just because you do something wrong and get away with it doesn't make it the right thing to do.
It is a torque to yeild bolt. That means that when it's properly torqued it's stretched. When you loosen it up it doesn't spring back. If you use it again and torque it properly again there is no more stretch and it will not have the proper clamping force.
It's a $3-4 dollar item. There's way better places to corners like skipping your next Big Mac.

There's way better places to corners like skipping your next Big Mac.

BLASPHEMY!!!!!! :D

So torque it up a few more pounds! :shrug:

;)

[/backyard mechanic] :D

Just because you do something wrong and get away with it doesn't make it the right thing to do.
It's a $3-4 dollar item. There's way better places to corners like skipping your next Big Mac.

Did I say it was the right thing to do? Show me one thread on here that someone reused the stock bolt and had problems. It will not hurt anything. Do you buy new gaskets when you do a cam install also?????

Did I say it was the right thing to do? Show me one thread on here that someone reused the stock bolt and had problems. It will not hurt anything. Do you buy new gaskets when you do a cam install also?????

I just explained it. Torque to yeild means, stretched to the point of almost destroying it, that the bolt can only be properly torqued once. If used again it can, not will, fail.
If you're to thick to understand it then oh well. For the price of that bolt it not worth taking a chance on the bolt coming loose.
I suppose that you'd reuse the stock head bolts too?:(

Reusing a gasket you take a chance of a leak and yes I inspect the gasket for damage and reuse it if it's not hurt.

So torque it up a few more pounds! :shrug:

;)

[/backyard mechanic] :D

It's got to do with metallurgy Pete. Steel has some elasticity. Regular torque values tighten a bolt until it stretches, causing the clamping force to hold the 2 parts together, within it's ability to return to normal shape and size when unbolted. Torque to yeild bolts go just beyond that, just to the point of no return. If used again they can permanently stretch which lessens the clamping force.