I just installed a new LS2 timing chain in my LS1 engine. Its part of a cam swap. The crank and cam gears are properly aligned. I noticed more play in the timing chain than I expected. This is my first cam or timing chain swap so I'm not sure how much play there should be. Unfortunately, I didn't notice how tight the original was before I removed it.

I can move the chain about half an inch on each side. There is no movement up or down and the chain does not hit anything. Does that sound about right? I'm being cautious before I put everything back together. Thanks.

 

Put the crank bolt on the crank and turn the engine over just a little bit, not even 1/4 turn. I bet you all of your slack will be gone then.

 

I was told that aluminum engines such as the LS1 have a slight bit more play in the chain when cold by design.

 

Doesn't sound right to me. Mine just had a little bit of slack with the cam gear bolted down, nowhere near what the OP describes. It sounds like he didn't get a new timing set. Is it possible your gears are worn? Also put your old chain back on and see if you see a difference. If it's tighter I'd maybe look at exchanging that chain.

 

I noticed this also when installing a brand new LS-2 chain. Much looser than the old SBC. Probalby has to do with the growth of the aluminum.

 

They have slop from the factory, nothing like an old SBC. Alot of people use the Rollmaster/JP 0.005" under chain or a tensioner to tighten them up.

 

My '04 LS1 came with a LS2 chain stock and it was fairly tight. If it had that much slop I'd for sure put a LS2 chain dampener on it. My newer LS1 block came with the correct holes but someone (Tick maybe?) makes an adapter for older ones.

 

Did you buy a quality chain or the cheapest?

 

Trickflow makes the adapter.

 

Thanks. I tried this with the car in neutral and it didn't tighten up. Am I supposed to do it with the car in gear?

The LS2 timing chain is a factory chain from GM.

 

unfortunately its designed with slop built into it for reasons that Aluminum Blocks stretch quite a bit when they get hot

GM also makes a damper and a tensioner that is designed to be installed with the LS2/LS3/LS7 Timing chains(application dependent) to remove the cold slack and still allow for expansion of the block

 

Not sure if it has been line bored? LS motors have a reputation for having overly loose timing chains. I have used one from comp cams that is supposedly .005 shorter but it seemed to have the same amount of slack as a regular one. I bought a hex adjust from cloyes that is .010 shorter but I havn't installed it yet. My block has been line bored for billet caps though. Also a good idea to run the dampener. I am using the one from trickflow and it fits good.

 

Hate to revive an old thread, but this might help... and my question is the exact same.

This is an untouched factory LQ9 shortblock. It had a lot of play on the stock chain. Ordered a new Cloyes chain from Rock Auto. New chain has the same amount of play. Took a quick video of it:

Is this too much play? should I pony up and buy a double roller set, and will that be any different?

http://vid162.photobucket.com/albums...pssqzffwau.mp4

 

link doesn't work for me.
i have been told not to sweat .500" chain slop by a major cam mfg
as long as i degreed the cam in only one direction
too tight will eat the front cam bearing too

 

Ok. Good to know.

Try this link. Had to make it public.

http://vid162.photobucket.com/albums...pssqzffwau.mp4

 

oh man that's more than i've seen before
what did the cam bearings look like?

 

Was at the machine shop the other day and they had a 6.0 iron block ( stock rebuild ) and they had a new timing set ( not sure what brand ) that was loose like that! They said it was common and they replaced it with a cloyes ( I think ) that was much tighter! As long as these engines have bin out I'm sure a quality aftermarket timing set should account for this!

 

They looked brand new. Its a stock shortblock with 80k. I don't have a bore meter, but they showed to be perfectly round (at about 2.165") with calipers. I know that isn't the accurate way to measure, but the cam doesn't have play and slid in like any other cam I've installed.

Put it this way... if I grab the cam sprocket and lift, neither the cam nor the chain moves, which indicates that the bearings are at least not trashed. At least not enough to cause that much play in a brand new Cloyes chain.

 

You need to change the gears with the chain.