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Does anyone make a template to drill your LS1 LS6 block to install a chain dampner ? Not that I have found and trust me I have worn google out .....guess necessity is the mother of invention
( pay no attention to the holes already in the block ....thats how I reverse engineered the template )
Last edited by sjsingle1; Feb 5, 2026 at 10:25 PM.
it has taken me over a month and a few $$$$ to get this sucker right....I dont have a 3D printer so I had to pay for a pile of plastic til I finally got it right
This is a 2002 block I have...seems all ( most ? ) 02s have the dampner holes already drilled.....I have a 2000 block I want to put a chain dampner in....I think the chain dampner is a must have item
Last edited by sjsingle1; Feb 6, 2026 at 05:10 AM.
If you can't find a template, install the cam, gears, and chain. Then position the damper where it has close, equal distance to the chain on each side, and use the damper itself as a template......
I know you missed it....just like I did....the holes are not level with each other and not equal distance...doing it that way would have not cut it
I found a blueprint of the front of the block on the vette forums....but it references the centerline of the cam and crank ....I used the middle 2 bolts of the cam retainer plate as my reference ...and that print on the vette forums was not entirely accurate to the dimensions I ended up using
What I was talking about was placing each end of the guide equal distance from, and parallel to, the chain. Wouldn't matter if the bolt holes are equal distance from anything. As long as the guide was in proper location, that's where I'd have drilled the holes. Hard to explain exactly what I'm trying to convey, but glad you got it....
this is the LS1 LS6 dampner available from RDE.....NOT the more common and cheap LS2... LS3 ? dampner still available from GM
The “cheap” LS2 damper has the correct offset built into it for chain slack and whipping. This one you have pictured, has no offset. It’s virtually doing nothing for you. As a builder, I prefer the LS2 damper all day.
The “cheap” LS2 damper has the correct offset built into it for chain slack and whipping. This one you have pictured, has no offset. It’s virtually doing nothing for you. As a builder, I prefer the LS2 damper all day.
Sure. Notice the left side of the damper (pass side of engine) has more material from the outside of the fastener, to the outside of the damper. That side of the chain assembly is not in tension, and will whip causing harmonics. This offset is designed to reach out and help contain or control the whipping. This is the GM LS2 damper. I took this pic 5 years ago or so in my shop.
from my understanding....correct me if I am wrong....the LS2 dampner has different hole spacings ....the necessary holes that would need to be drilled in the LS1 LS6 block are a bit shy of the available space on the pad where LS1 LS6 holes are drilled....this is my memory from reading past threads on using the LS2 dampner on LS1 blocks because GM discontinued the old tan LS1 dampner... and people were still wanting to install a dampner on their LS1 blocks...until RDE started making the LS1 style again there was no source for LS1 style dampners
There's no need to drill the block if the holes aren't present. Melling sells an Engine Timing Damper Kit for LS engines without the holes BD417-DBRKT ($69.99 complete) & Trickflow Timing Chain Adapter Bracket for GM LS TFS-30675600 ($41.99 w/o damper + $19.99 for damper)
These timing chain damper adapter brackets allow for the use of LS2 timing chain dampers on any GM LS engine block. The brackets use the three lower cam/thrust retainer plate bolts for attachment. The brackets can also be used with aftermarket LS2 timing chain dampers with the included hardware.
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Template to install chain dampner....come on in ! 
