Upgrading cam and heads. Car has 89,XXX miles think I should replace/upgrade timing chain and gear also or the old one still usable?

 

Personally with high mileage I like to replace the set because the sprockets will wear and tend to wrap the chain more. The set is not that expensive so I would go that route myself.

 

Ok. Do I need to get a proformance set or can i just got to the dealer and get a stock set? Because I am doing the install tomorrow and it will takes a few days to get the set in the mail.

 

look up Yank in the parts classifieds. can get the whole set with LS2 chain cheap. FYI will need a 3 jaw puller that has deep fingers on it to pull the crank sprocket off. the one i had the fingers didnt have enough bit to them and would slip off the sprocket.

 

a ls2 set from a dealer will work fine.

 

So go to dealer and get an LS2 timing chain/gear set? That would replace stock one from an LS1? Same fit?

 

yes, or order online from Yank in the parts classifieds and save some money, your call

 

You want a LS1 timing set. It'll have the LS2 chain, because GM don't make the old wimpy LS1 chain anymore.

 

Ok thanks guys. I'll look into it.

 

I know this post is a few months old, but I am curious to know if anyone has any instructions on how to replace the timing chain. I have been looking and can't find anything. And trust me, I always search first. I thought this was relevant to the original poster. I replaced my water pump a couple months ago, and I'm wondering if it should have been done then if there isn't much work involved beyond that point. Any help would be appreciated.

 

yes, you should have replaced the timing chain when you did the water pump.
it will all have to come off again...

 

Yeah, I figured. At least it isn't too terrible taking the water pump off. Are there instructions somewhere explaining how exactly to do the timing chain/gear replacement?

 

Scan through this and figure out what parts pertain to you.

http://ls1howto.com/index.php?article=23