Is it possible to remove oil pump pick up tube bolt without having to lower the oil pan? Has anyone tried this? I'm finishing a first time cam swap and am now considering changing the timing chain. I only have 28k miles and a mild cam; 212/216 .535/.539 115LSA and am wondering if this should be done.

 

Can't answer your question. However, I've never heard of a timing chain breaking. Has anyone in the modern LS/LT era have a story, not a friend or a cousin but first hand experience with this?

 

I haven't heard any stories personally of a chain breaking, especially with that low of miles, and am not really convinced that you should change it out. However, if you are going to change it, it is possible to get the bolt out if you really don't want to drop the pan, it's just more of a PITA than it is even with the pan dropped a bit. You're chancing it though by creating more of a risk with dropping the bolt into the pan. But, if for whatever reason you don't want to drop it, it can be done.