Just as the topic states it. Going to be doing a Hotcam Kit install this summer. Do you need to replace your Timing Chain with the LT4 Heavy Duty set or can you just replace with an OEM set? Also, do you recommend replacing the lifters? I've heard that there isnt really any need for it as long as the stock lifters are good to go, but shouldnt they be replaced while you're already in there?

 

OEM chain will work.

Swap out your lifters. I am in this exact situation. Do it right the FIRST time.

I'm going so far as pulling off my pan to check pickup to pan clearance.... just in case.

 

Great. I'll probably do lifters as well. Thought about going with the Comp Cams "R" Lifters. I think they're like $200 a set. Heard anything good or bad about them?

 

Comp R lifters are the best apparently. They're other set are just like OEM.

Combination Motorsports sell the R lifters for $10 or so more than their regular ones.

GM lifters are nearly double the price of Comp Rs for a kit!

(put the oiling hole on the side ALL one way in the engine)

 

If you've ever seen the stock LT1 chain, I can't imagine you wanting to use it again. At the very least go with the LT4 chain, it's a much beefier unit. Since you have a 97, I believe you could also go with the LT4 Extreme Duty chain with no other changes. Here are the differences:
Stock LT1 chain (10128485): Powdered metal butt link (basically a single roller made out of the cheapest components GM could find)
LT4 chain (12555887): Single Roller (made for GM by Cloyes) Steel
LT4 Extreme Duty is a double roller heavy duty chain if I remember correctly.

 

You absolutely make a good point here.

However, if I replace everything because it looked like the cheapest materials everything would be gone.. then the cam swap becomes a rebuild.

Where does is stop?

From experience, the LT1 chain works well. I know several situations in which owners are running 6400 RPM for extended periods of time.

The stock chain will work well, unless you're going to extreme RPM, and power levels, or adding boost.

 

The Extreme Duty set is a single roller that has a hardened crank and timing gear. It runs from 225-275 dollars depending on where you buy it. A stock replacement is aprox. 70 dollars and will work well with the Hotcam. Rememmber that it will stretch much faster at higher rpm's than the Extreme Duty. Shifting at 6400 rpms mine was really loose after 14000 miles on a stock replacement. Good luck
HVY SS

 

so will the cloyes setup bolt right up with no modifications?

 

The LT4 hotcam timing chain will be the only one that bolts up no probs.

Any other double roller, will require a 95 - 97 opti setup (for the timing cover provisions), AND an electric waterpump.

 

Cloyes does not make an LT1 specific timing set, so there is no provision to run the mechanical water pump. You would have to change to an electric water pump to run the Cloyes. There also may be some slight clearancing of the inside of the timing cover needed.

[edit] See, Doc? You are faster than me!

 

Ok, if the Extreme Duty is a single roller, then I'd recommend the LT4 timing chain. It's much heavier duty than the stock LT1 unit and goes for about $70. As far as the stock LT1 chain being strong enough, I don't agree with that. I had the stock chain break on me in my 95 Formula and it ended up bending two valves. Luckily that was fairly minimal compared to what could have happened. That car had a 214/214 cam with 540 lift with 1.6RRs, and had the revlimiter set to 6200. The stock chain lasted probably 30K miles on that setup before it failed.

 

When I did the kit, I just replaced the 100K timing chain set with a brand new LT1 set, got from Napa.

Oh it's a Cloyes set also

 

I've got a 94 and I'm running the OEM timing chain. Which would be the one that I would want to upgrade to? This definitely sounds like something that I should do.

 

Same question.

 

I have a 94' as well and I would like to know the same question. Is the install any harder with the Extreme lt4 timing chain vs the lt4 timing chain?

Thanks.