I'm going to be putting a cam in my car coming up soon and I am curious what timing chain to go with. Since I/m not going with an electric water pump that pretty much limits me to LT1, LT4 or XD LT4. I'm on a tight budget for this, and I'm wondering if the stock LT1 chain will work OK or if there is a better option that I can go with?

Thanks!

 

Alot of people run the stock timing chain without issue but galling of the lower timing gear is common.

If you are going to upgrade at all, your money is best spent with the extreme duty timing chain.

 

just curious as to why u dont want a electric water pump. b/c u can get an awesome cloyes "true" double roller and CSI electric water pump for less than the LT4 extreme duty after it is all said and done.

 

i would go with the extreme duty. You can get them new for about 200. I went with one. I had decided i didn't want a electric pump when my friend had his quit on him for the 3rd time. It has now happened a 4th time too. I can't wait until he blows a head gasket then it will be i told you so.

 

yeah I don't really like the on/off fail mode...if it dies your next clue is the car is busily warping your heads

 

I would highly recommend the GMPP Extreme Duty Timing Set. It is a quality, beefy designed chain that should serve your purpose very well.

 

But isn't the stock water pump really expensive? And, when it goes out, it dumps all over your Opti. Does the electric ones do this as well?

 

If your too dumb to pull over when the check engine light comes on that could happen.....if your like me you keep one eye one the road and one on the gages and would notice the rise in temp before the light comes on, especially at the track.

It it does fail it only takes about 30 min to replace and cost about the same as the GM replacement.

Electric pump and cloyes double roller is the best way to go...if you dont want to do that get the xtreem duty set.

 

considering where the gauge is on the Firebirds, I am not going to rely on my ability to catch it in any sort of decent time. If I did it I would probably go with some sort of LED failure light.

I think the CSI + Cloyes is still more expensive than an LT4 XD set which I can get for $220...

 

Lunati has a new chain in Summit that retails for $115 or so might be something worth looking into.

 

Ha I wouldn't rely on watching my gauge every second, which is what it takes before that thing skyrockets given the right circumstances, such as pulling inside a parking lot structure which happened to me. I think I was lucky to notice my gauge going up cause I was waiting for the cars to pass, usually I am not looking down at my gauges inside a lot because everyone drives like an @ss, which pisses me off since there is usually no room to move, why people get the inclination to speed in these places is beyond me. Anyway if you hook up some sort of red warning light I guess the electric would work, I don't like the fact that it just goes and your done. Almost have to carry a spare in the trunk to be safe, especially if you drive many miles a day like me.
To answer the question My stocker dumped coolant out of the hole for 10,000 miles before I fixed it, and since then I've taken off the pump twice dumping coolant on it, and I haven't had any problems yet. I would get the heavy duty one and call it a day, and thank GM for engineering the engine to not accept the true double roller without the electric option.

 

The arguement about the electric water pump is a valid one, but why would you thank the GM Engineers for making it harder to install a double roller? Just curious.

 

I would interpret his comment as being sarcastic

 

Agreed.....and Im going to do that.

 

combo motorsports came out with their own double roller timing chain with a lifetime warranty...........not sure on the price, but im willing to bet its cheaper than the cloyes............id give combo a call and find out.