what happens

 

A mess happens. Pistons will hit the valves causing minor to severe damage depending on the circumstances of when this occurs.

 

Kinda depends on how unlucky you are.
Sometimes it won,t do anything and you can install a new chain and its all good.
Other times it really F,s things up so you need to rebuild the engine.

Sorta depends on whether the chain breaks at idle or WOT.
The latter can be very destructive.

 

I don't think this is a common occurence on the LT1 though, in all the years I've been on the net (since early 96) I've never heard of anyone snapping their timing chain.

 

Really? I have read of numerous snapped chains, right here in this forum. (though, I would have to agree that it is not that common)

 

Bad stuff can happen. Just ask 1LEThumper.

 

I had it happen twice. The first time I was on it and bent 3 pushrods. The second time I was on it and did a lot more damge to the car. Bent 6 pushrods and 5 valves. I had to have the heads resurfaced. It was not a cheap indevor. The first time it was covered by my aftermarket warrenty but they did not replace a bent valve, I had a really bad hesitation after getting the car back and they told me it was a the K&N air filter, so after many attempts to make them fix the hesitation the new timing chain broke. This time they would not fix it because they said that the 4:10s and the hypertech voided the warrenty. So, around $900 later I had the car back in taken-apart-form, I towed it to AhartZ28's house and he fixed the rest for me. When I got it back there was no hesitation and the car is still running fine. I put in a GM extreme duty double roller timing chain so that this will not happen again. It was a nightmare and I hope that it never happens again.

 

just think of what would happen if it diddnt break

 

Been there done that. Broke the chain, bent valves and pushrods on a stock timing chain.

I suggest a good timing chain.

 

Like what...is the Extreme Duty one good???

 

I've got the LT4 Extreme Heavy Duty on my 396. Cloyes is actually the manufacturer. If you do get the LT4 Heavy Duty the chain has a little looser tolerance since it's made for GM and they run a little looser tolerance. I recommend calling Cloyes and they offer a slightly oversize crankshaft gear that will take up the slack. It's like $30.00. If you want Cloyes # is 479-963-2105 ext 231 and the person is Wayne Gray.

Call him up and he'll explain everything to you.

 

I have the extreme duty on mine. You are playing with fire if you are running the stocker.