i will be installing my hotcam this week and i am going to order a timing chain tomorrow from the dealer, just want to know how the stock timing chain works with the hotcam, and can i just buy a new chain without the cam and crank gears, my car only has 20k on it so im sure the gears are ok,

 

Heck the chain is ok at 20000 miles. But yes you can just put a new chain on and keep the gears if you want too.

 

I would definitely replace the chain and gears when switching cams. I planned on NOT switching, however, when i started my hot cam install i noticed a hair-line crack ALL THE WAY THROUGH a major portion of the gear. I'm lucky it held together, a few more WOT passes and i don't even wanna imagine what could have happened. I would replace it now, since u have the opportunity, and u won't have to worry in the future.

 

im doing this on a budget so ill inspect the gears and if they dont cost too much ill pick up a set...

 

i know you said your on a budget, but go with the LT4 extreme duty timing chain. You won't regret it. Piece of mind, for sure. Cam change is a pretty big job on these cars.

 

Has anyone ever broke the stock timing chain? I've never heard of it so I'd just use the one you have already (unless you have high miles on the car)

Just my $.02

Scott

 

I have the stock chain

 

Ditto....thats what I did. As for the chain breaking....yeah I've heard of it but not with a 20k motor. If your on a budget and inspect it well you should have no problem with it. For me though I would replace just because I'd know it would sit in the back of my head all the time. I replaced mine with the LT4 Extreme duty.

 

LT4 extreme duty is pricey...the Cloyes double roller is less expensive and more durable...only problem is you need to install en elec. WP....which is smart anyways and will give you some small gains in itself...

 

You can't do a Cloyes without running an electric water pump. I doubt that's in his budget (or most of ours). Not to mention the electrics fail after a fairly short time, and it's not like Autozone will have one in stock for you to buy and throw on there in a pinch

At 20k, his chain is probably fine.... But, like others, I'm paranoid. A 20k motor is one you want to have with you for a long time to come, so I'd go ahead and put on a new chain. If you can afford the LT4 heavy duty one, that's cool, but it's pricey.

-Michael

 

Covered that one...

 

I'm using the stock chain that I replaced when I swapped the cam. I do have an electric waterpump, so I reasoned that less stress from having to turn the pump would allow me to run the stock chain with no worries.

 

Oh, one caveat -- I beat the s$@$ out of my cam bearings when pulling the stock cam out, and maybe when putting the Hotcam in.. not sure... With a beautiful 20k motor, I suggest the following:

GET A GOOD PROFESSIONALLY BUILT CAM INSTALLATION HANDLE.... Don't do the bolts sticking out of it method. It's not good enough. Go outside and take your Hotcam out of the box and then hold it by the last 1".... Feel how heavy that is? Now imagine you have to maneuver it through 4 very tight holes, completely blind.....

Believe me, if I have to do it again, I WILL be buying a cam installation handle...

-Michael