I have searched for this, but I can't find any solid information. I am looking at replacing my timing chain/gears when I do my opti, and I haven't been able to find any good info regarding a good replacement. The engine is mostly stock, and I am not looking at using any extreme duty/gear drive setup, I just want something to replace the factory setup, and maybe even a roller.

 

stock replacement from gm is what i recommend and use, along with alot of other guys here, you very rarely hear of them breaking

 

Any idea on where to get this beside the dealer? I have looked at my local places as well as at Summit/Jegs, and haven't found anything. I was able to find a Cloyes on Rock Auto though for around $90.

 

the total for all three parts from gmpartsdirect.com is $93. i have never personally ordered from them so i can not attest to the service there though

 

I used this roller style for the LT4 from GM Performance rather than the stock LT1 butt link style. More money but in theory it is stronger and less resistance. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-12370835/
The water pump drive gear on this set is a little different (the gear edge is cit at an angle so there is less contact surface on the cam gear) though I think the LT1 gear will work; I think this was done to reduce resistance and hp loss a bit. If you want to use the LT4 gear, it needs to be pressed onto the water pump shaft which requires a blind gear puller to get it out of the bearing recess in the block. I was unable to find one at "autozone" that worked so I bought the special tool kit that GM made on eBay. J-39091 and has the puller, seal tools, etc to do the timing cover and timing chain job.

 

It appears GM left all that metal in the LT4 cam sprockets to help dampen the various LT4 cams. At least that's what the info on the Grand Sport Registry site indicates. If you are using the Extreme Duty set for anything else, some of the mass can be removed. This is what I did:

http://www.injuneer.com/images/photo.../newfront.jpeg

 

I did some searching, and Autozone sells the Cloyes set for $60.00. This isn't a hi-po engine, it's pretty much bone stock, and I am replacing the opti and timing cover gaskets, so I figured that after 15 years and 100K miles, I should just to the timing set while I was in there.