Generation III Internal Engine - new timing chain for new cam is it nessesary?

i'm doing heads/cam swap and i'm putting a new TSP 233/239 cam in, is it OK if i use the old timing chain?

thanks.

It's possible to use the old one. If you can get an LS2 chain, it bolts right up and is noticeably thicker. If not, people reuse the stock one too.

depends on if you drive it daily and how many miles you have on it. i have the same cam you have and i reused my old chain, of course i only have 41k miles on my car and drive it less than 1500 miles a year. i think using the old chain will be fine, usually people change them out because youre allready there anyway so you might as well throw in a beefier chain.

what heads you going with? what valves and are you having them milled? sorry for all the questions im just trying to figure out what i want to get for heads in the future. im leaning toward the 5.3's.

I vote for a cahnge. When I did my swap the first time I had 6K on the car. The chain had noticeable slack in it. It was about a degree or two. When I did my second swap I threw on a double roller. But the LS2 chain will work perfectly. Its a small price to pay for such an important component.

is it OK to use it? depends, if you have anymore than like an eigth of an inch of play, i would say no go with an ls2 chain. slack is not your friend. Also, to save future trouble go with the ls2 chain.

i'm doing heads/cam swap and i'm putting a new TSP 233/239 cam in, is it OK if i use the old timing chain?

thanks.

I wouldn't :)

when your spending hundreds on a swap, whats another hundred for a new chain? good piece of mind and cheap insurance in my eyes...

thanks for the replies. looks like i will go with the old timing chain. the reason i'm going with the old timing chain because i tried to lower the oil pan (and i couldn't) to remove the oil pump to put the new timing chain in and i couldn't so i said to my self maybe it is OK to go with the old timing chain as some of you stated it is OK to go with the old one.

Good luck! I would change the chain, especialy with an M6 and the way you guys drive in Kuwait :jest:
Eid Mubarak

it is cheap insurance but i think youll be allright.

Dont go lazy on the timing chain. If you dont want to fork over the money for a double roller, at least go with the LS2 chain for 30 bucks. 30 bucks now, or a new engine when your slamming gears and the chain breaks? Your choice i guess

dumb question I guess, but do you reuse the stock gears when switching over to the LS2 chain?

dumb question I guess, but do you reuse the stock gears when switching over to the LS2 chain?

i think yes, they reuse stock gears when switching to LS2 timing chain.

I vote that you change the chain especially since you are already there. Cheap insurance.

And since you are in Kuwait, pick up a couple of extra o-rings for the oil pump just in case you pinch one. Might save a lot of aggravation and they are cheap.

thanks for the replies. looks like i will go with the old timing chain. the reason i'm going with the old timing chain because i tried to lower the oil pan (and i couldn't) to remove the oil pump to put the new timing chain in and i couldn't so i said to my self maybe it is OK to go with the old timing chain as some of you stated it is OK to go with the old one.

It's your car :)

thanks for the replies. looks like i will go with the old timing chain. the reason i'm going with the old timing chain because i tried to lower the oil pan (and i couldn't)

looks like you need to spend some more time on the oil pan bolts and get in there

I've been to Kuwait twice, I remember traveling some of those highways, LS2 chain is looking good now