Will the stock GM timing chain be reliable when used with the Hot Cam kit? I have a '94 LT-1 and found out that GM does not make a full roller H.D. timing chain and sprockets that will work with out changing the opti to the vented style. I have just replaced my opti and hate to spend $$$ to change it again. Cloyes makes a chain and sprokets $350. I am considering installing a fresh stock GM chain and calling that good enough. Anyone have any experiance using the stock chain with the hot cam? The kit instructions recommend a heavy duty roller chain and say the stock chain is only good for 5500rpm. Are they just trying to sell the performance parts chain?

 

From what I understand GM does offer a Heavy Duty Timing Set that is a direct replacement for you. I know for sure they do for 96 or newer.

All the research I have done, everyone recommends replacing the stock timing set with a Heavy Duty Set.

The Cloyes set is definetly quality.

 

Yes it will be fine, a better chain is the LT4 HD timing set, just make sure that you swap all three gears (idler gear is the third) if you go with the HD stuff because it can trash the timing set if the gears are not all swaped.

 

Theirs a timeing chain in the summit mag for like 240$. Its the GM Performance parts one. Im going their tomorrow to pick up the headers, timeing chain and hot cam. Will that timeing chain work the the hotcam or is their a better less expensive one?

 

cms has a dubble roller kit for 70 dollars, thats the one i have for my 847 cam

 

the cms and cloyes double rollers require the use of an electric water pump

 

I have the stock water pump. Looks like im spending 250$ for a timeing chain, unless i take everything off and its still in good shape. Then ill take it back and get a shifter or something.

 

I may be wrong on this but i don't think you can run the LT4 ED chain on 93-94 non vented opti cars.

 

I believe that's correct. This has been discussed alot on here so a search may give you really good info. I have a stock chain w/ my set-up, even though I have an electric water pump, and haven't had any problems. If I'm not mistaken it has everything to do w/ the opti (vented vs unvented). This spring we'll see how it handles a 100 shot.

 

A new stock chain should be ok for the hotcam, as long as you dont make 5K rpm a VERY routine habit. However, I woudl NOT simply take my advice. If it were me doing this, I would redo the opti, and get the HD kit, but thats just me. And yeah, you definetely need to switch to the vented opti to use the HD timing kit, no ifs ands or buts about it.

 

Didn' even notice you had a 94, yes you need to update the timing cover and Opti to run the LT4 HD set

 

In my 94 A4 ive taken it to over 6k(over 90 mph in second gear) with no problems. Its completley stock too. Im going to call autozone and see how much a stocker is.

 

Well, going 6K+ with an all stock motor is not necessarily going to ruin a chain or the motor, but for most people, its not recomended, cuz lots of people will break something going that high often. The HD chain is used because of the added stress that the hotcam puts on a chain. The HD chain is just an extra margin of safety. My $.02

 

stock chain will be fine.

 

I ran a stock chain with my HOTcam, but I also had an electric waterpump to take some of the load off. I ran the thing to 6200 rpm often. Everything held together just fine and it ran great, but the chain felt a little loose when I took it off again. I'd recommend that you spend the extra money and get a heavier duty chain/sprockets than the stock one.