Rebuilding engine, timing chain help!

**98goldta** · 05-02-2010, 04:21 PM

I am in the process of putting the engine back together when I got to the cam sprocket I have slop still in the chain. I bought a new ls2 chain but reused the crank and cam gears. now is this because I didnt purchase new gears. Or, is this normal. when I disassembled it I thought I had chain stretch, thats why I got the new chain. The crank can move a little in each direction before the cam moves. I know on small blocks there is no movement, but on ls1's I dont know. Do metal gears wear that much? Thanks for any help in advance.

**Hi-Po** · 05-03-2010, 07:43 PM

How many miles on the original gears? I see a scary number in your signature

The chain will have some slop, which is normal.

**bills98ta** · 05-04-2010, 04:13 AM

Pull all the slack to one side, and 3/8" of slack is normal... Even my double chain had that much new...

**shady milkman** · 05-04-2010, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by Hi-Po

How many miles on the original gears? I see a scary number in your signature

**98goldta** · 05-04-2010, 05:24 PM

Yes that is about how much slack I have. yes the motor had 220,000 miles on it. other then rotted hoses the engine ran fine. it was the tranny that was making grinding noises so while I had the engine out with the tranny I thought it needed freshening up. If they let me post pics I could show you the slack.

**bills98ta** · 05-04-2010, 05:42 PM

You have to use a web host, like http://photobucket.com/
Upload to there, then from there to here !!! LOL

**98goldta** · 05-05-2010, 04:06 PM

Thanks for the help, here are the photos of the slack chain

**Smittro** · 05-07-2010, 02:36 AM

Originally Posted by 98goldta

Thanks for the help, here are the photos of the slack chain

If you're getting more than a couple degrees difference between the cam and crank when the chain is under tension, I'd replace them.. The only way to make things more acurrate is to run timing gears.. But other than that you'll always have some chain lash with sprocket and chain valve train.. You can tell if the chain/spocket is going bad or bad, with a timing light. Bad chain or sprocket makes the timing mark irratic and the motor will have to be torn apart again. Imho, why chance it? just my .02.

**garygnu65** · 05-07-2010, 05:58 AM

will a lose chain effect the knock sensor?

**Smittro** · 05-07-2010, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by garygnu65

will a lose chain effect the knock sensor?

I suppose you could but I'd imagine on a mild cam or stock the difference between the cam and crank position would have to be substanial. By then I would think there would be cam/crank sensor issues.. Just a threory and my .o2 though..

"The tighter the train the better..." imho