I am putting a stock short block in my car and want to use the stock timing chain if its in good working order but I dont know how to tell. I assume you go buy how much slack is in it...how much is to much? I have a elec. wp, vented opti, and cloyes timing chain but dont want to put it on if I dont have to as I will be changing the cam shortly. Thanks, Brad

 

It might be hard to tell, since stock LT1s seem to have a lot of slack even with new chains.

 

i would not take the chance on an old factory chain,i think you can pick up a chain from chevy for 20.00.

 

Why would you not take the chance? The motor has 74K miles...plenty of LT1's last well over 100K. I had a caprice with 225K on the original chain and full long block. I only want to leave the chain in until I can put my Hotcam and Cloyes in around spring time.

 

I don't get it. You ask if you could tell if a timing chain is good, thus you are skeptical. Some tell you it's not a good idea and you contradict yourself by arguing with those who tell you it may not be a good idea.
By all means if engines last that long with stock chains then why ask the question?
If it were me, the engine is out, stock timing sets aren't ungodly expensive and easy to do, I would put a new set in. I go by the motto that not all similar engine parts are created equal. You would be punching yourself in the dick if you put the original one back in, broke it and end up damaging valves and pistons.

 

I was only wondering if there was a certain amount of slack that is ok. Explain this more to me. How am I contradicting myself and arguing? I was only asking if there was a certain amount of play that was acceptable not if I should just replace it just because its fun and I "should" do it. I think its kinda stupid to just replace something that takes a decent amount of time and extra money I dont have if its not needed.

 

If the block is out of the car it takes no time to do. You were contradicting yourself by asking the question and then trying to counterpoint someone who told you it'd be a good idea to replace it.
As said, I would replace the entire timing set. Gears and chain. The stock LT1 unit is not ungodly expensive and for me it would be the assurance I need. As stated it's hard to say how much slop is acceptable since most stockers are sloppy to begin with.

 

Sorry I did not see it as contradicting myself. The original post asked how to tell IF it was bad, not if I should change it. I didnt ask if I need to change it or not sight unseen just because its used. No counterpoint, I was just asking him why should I just change it without actually knowing it was worn out. Seems like a waste of money to me espicially since I have a Cloyes sitting right here and a hotcam. I just dont wanna have to deal with pulling the old crank gear off and then degreeing the hotcam in...or installing it. I already have a crap ton of other stuff I need to do before the weekend is up. It also wouldnt be bad to be able to keep my stock tune now and 87 octane while its a daily till my Mark VIII is truly roadworthy again. Thanks, Brad

 

I would guess a worn chain could cost some small change in cam timing, but not much, and I don't know if I have ever heard of one of the chains breaking, even though I assume it probably has happenned to someone.

 

Leave the original chain in. Most likely you'll be fine.
Is that the answer you were looking for?

Shawn 97 Z28 M6 (Texas Moderator) had to slam on his breaks to avoid getting hit by a couple of punkasses throwing rocks and his stocker broke. Engine only had 30K miles on it.

 

My LT4 ED set has some slack in it but I'm just re-using it. It had the same amount of slack as the 1st time I pulled it off with 10k miles on it as it does now with ~30k on it. I don't see any point of putting a new chain on if it will just stretch right back where it is in a few thousand miles. And when I degreed my cam it was only off by .25 degrees so I didn't want to mess with it.

 

That would be fine especially since it's a roller. I don't like stockers at all. You get my PM, dufus?

 

Yep. Already did it before you sent the Pm though.

 

if you can take it off the sprockets without undoing any bolts or anything, it would be a good idea to change it.....well, thats what I did!

 

If the timing chain did not originally come off of that motor with those gears, then dont use it. It is that simple. Do not, Do not, Do not put a new timing chain on with out replacing the timing gears. You are asking for nothing but trouble. The timing chain will break and the lt1 is an interferance motor and then you are going to bend valves and possibly tear up some pistons. Not to mention do a whole lot of work just to have to tear it all back down and start over. Do not half *** any thing when you are building a motor. In the timing chain their will be about a 1/4 in of play in it. For some reason they are a little lose. They arent tight like a dodge or ford.