timing chain

[Jitse]

Hi Tommy, sad news about your guide. But luckily it looks like there no big damage to the engine.
Like Phil is mentioning look at the tensioners, those guides can become brittle because of aging. Maybe high revs/ shifting to low gears for speed driving can cause this too?

I don’t now how handy you are but with help from us you are able to overhaul the engine yourself....

Regards Jitse

[tommy]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

How many miles on that engine?



Actually it is good news as you caught it before serious damage

What got you to remove Cam Covers (engine installed)? That alone is not so easy but I have done that and have even removed Heads Engine in car but like Hans suggests....You cannot really do a good job timing the engine without engine removal.



Chance to do some serious reconditioning possibly replace all 4/6 chain guide facings (two on cam covers).



I have no idea what would cause a chain guide facing to break off but it happens (rarely) and I think Jerry of Jerry's Gaskets has insight as to why that might happen (Marc Haibeck I am sure has seen it before and would also have insight). There are two issues (chain guide facings breaking and chain guide facings wearing).



It is the inspection of the Chain Guide Facings that is difficult and some inspection of the chain guides is possible through the passenger side oil cap. Marc has also addressed the Chain Guide Facing Inspection issue on his web site.



I have been trying to figure out the longevity of chain guide facings but seems to have considerable variation possibly depending on type of engine oil used, environmental temperatures, and other variables (maybe firing up the enigine in sub zero temperatures would contribute to chain guide facings breaking). A figure of 150,000 miles has been mentioned but then I recall there are 200,000+ mile LT5s with original chain guide facings



Marc Haibeck and Jerry are two individuals (and others that have dismantled high mileage engines) that would definitely have the experience to expand on that issue of chain guide longevity

That engine has only 64 000 miles, fortunately, my cam cover leaking, so I decided to fix it. As you wrote remove cam cover is not easy, I removed servo, brake pump, power steering pump, left side of the intake and left control arm. In base corvette it is so easy but not in zr1. i want to check all timing chain and their guides, but at the first look, i saw damaged this one and guide who is on the back of cam cover.

Could you send me a link to Marc website ?

All parts I ordered from Jerry`s, I think this is the best shop specializing in zr1.

[tommy]

Originally Posted by Jagdpanzer

As plastic chain facings age they tend to become brittle and break a lot easier. Recommend also inspecting the cam chain tensioners to make sure they are functioning correctly.


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

Thanks, I check this.

[tommy]

Originally Posted by Jitse

Hi Tommy, sad news about your guide. But luckily it looks like there no big damage to the engine.
Like Phil is mentioning look at the tensioners, those guides can become brittle because of aging. Maybe high revs/ shifting to low gears for speed driving can cause this too?

I don’t now how handy you are but with help from us you are able to overhaul the engine yourself....

Regards Jitse

Hi Jitse,

Fortunately, I saw this damage because my cam cover was leaking, so my engine worked normally, have power and didn`t have strange symptoms, but i will remove oil pan too and check what is in it (for example plastic parts of guide).

About my handy, many things I do by myself, but I have a small garage and I will have a problem with engine remove (no space to lift).

[tommy]

Jerry works fast, parts ordered on Friday, just arrived

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by tommy

Could you send me a link to Marc website ?

All parts I ordered from Jerry`s, I think this is the best shop specializing in zr1.

Marc Haibeck

Originally Posted by tommy

About my handy, many things I do by myself, but I have a small garage and I will have a problem with engine remove (no space to lift).

If you can raise your hood in the garage with a couple feet clearance you should be able to lift the LT5 out.

Post 15 - Lifting The LT5

Post 88 - Installing Engine In ZR1

[tommy]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

Marc Haibeck



Post 15 - Lifting The LT5

THX!

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by tommy

THX!

Welcome

This is (installing which is same as removing for the most part) in low clearance garage (see garage door opener just above hood fully open)



Post 88 - Installing Engine In ZR1

[tommy]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

Marc Haibeck




If you can raise your hood in the garage with a couple feet clearance you should be able to lift the LT5 out.

Post 15 - Lifting The LT5

Post 88 - Installing Engine In ZR1

I have a slim garage but I will try to do it myself

[rkreigh]

I just pulled out my 95 lt5 myself and it's not as hard as I thought it would be.


a few tips


one you get everything lose double check that all wires have been disconnected.


you can jack the front up just a bit if you don't have a lift and pull the wheels off. get a cheap harbor freight two ton lift and a tilt harness with the big chains.



make sure you support the pan, pull the tranny out, and then you can lift up and forward to get the harmonic balancer to clear the front cross member.



put a thin board behind the head and watch that the engine doesn't hang up on the studs sticking out of the firewall It's easy to damage the AC cover (ask me how I know) if the engine hangs up on the stud coming up.


it's a good idea to just unbolt the AC cover and set it aside to get a bit more room, comes off ez!!


(anyone have one to sell :>)


unbolt the plenum and you can use some nice lift plates and pick up the engine with the flywheel and headers still on the car and lift it straight up after going forward just a bit.


the really good guys can have them out before you blink. I took my time and still goofed up a few things, but not too bad.