Ok I have a 95 Z28. I have to put on a new distributor and water pump. My question is should I put on a new chain and gear set to? Since the work is being done. I now a lil but the set up is behind the distributor right? What's the best thing to do? I'm buying the parts for the mech. To put on, how more is there to do once the distributor is off. My car has 169,000. What do you guys think?confused:

 

The wife blew the heads on my Maro last year with 120,000

I spent a bit extra for cam, headers, etc. I looked at the chain and it seemed fine. AT the last second I though "eh what the hell, it's coming off anyways might as well for only $30"

Glad I did. Got the chain off and on the backside one of the links had broken lol.

If it makes you feel better, do it. But if I had that many miles and didn't know how long the one on there has been on, I'd do it. Peace of mind and all that....

 

It will be more work as you need to take off the front cover, which means dropping the oil pan. My chain stretched so badly by 100K, it was ticking against the cover. (I thought it was the bearing on the water pump drive shaft, but was chain slack.)

The GMPP LT4 chain set fits and is a roller style chain versus link plates but you will need to change the gear on the pump shaft if you go that route as it is a slightly different gear. To pull the shaft you need a blind puller or can get to it from behind if you take off the intake.

Last thing is the water pump shaft seal is a bitch to put on; there are some links on here about how to get it on correctly.

 

Ok it all sounds good. I think I'm going to change it, but again is the cover right behind the distributor. If not where is it and how mush more money am I looking at?

 

The timing cover is right behind the water pump, the Opti, and the crank hub. To remove the cover, in addition to what is mentioned above, you need to pull the crank hub off. Shoebox has excellent info on the LT1, particularly the 95:

http://shbox.com/ci/front_cover.jpg

http://shbox.com/ci/sprockets.jpg

He also has a cam removal and a cam install procedure, which details the specifics of removing and reinstalling the timing cover and timing chain/gears.

4th Gen LT1 F-body Cam Removal

4th Gen LT1 F-body Cam Install

 

GM Performance Parts Timing Sets from Thunder Racing

You can probably find the timing kit cheaper than above plus another 2-3 labor hours to install it but all in i would think $450 to $500 parts and labor.

 

A caution on Thunder Racing. Although they are a site Supporting Vendor, there have been a few complaints posted recently which indicate delays in receiving orders from them. In my experience they have been the most knowledgeable and reliable source of 4th Gen parts. But I have not had reason to do business with them for a couple years.

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/buy...racing-870228/

 

Chevrolet Performance Extreme Duty Timing Chain Sets 12370835 - SummitRacing.com

Since all in front of the timing cover will be off anyway except for the balancer hub. Which BTW needs to be marked since it does NOT have a key way. It's not much more work to change it.

New seals in the timing cover too

 

Theres no Key way but there is a mark built on it a little "notch". My 95 had one. As long as you're at TDC (which you better be lol) then you just point the notch up.