Im about to put the LT4 ED timing set onto my motor. Would you guys even bother changing out the water pump drive sprocket? im looking at it and really dont see the need to? i got a new one but im thinking of just keeping whats in the and just replacing the 2. thanks

Tim

 

If the teeth look to be in good shape and there isn't any excessive play (there will be some) then leave it be.

 

The other question I would ask is why did you choose the LT4 ED?

 

was looking for cloyes ewp combo but i couldnt find it.. and someone happened to have the LT4 ED for i think 200 i got it for so i just went that route.

 

oh and i had just replaced my waterpump before my head gasket went. if i found a cheap ewp i wouldnt done that. LT4 ED set weak compared the the cloyes?

 

No, it's just incredibly expensive. A stock replacement is all you'd need.

 

Even with 380-400 rwhp?

 

Yes..

 

well i went ED route so its over with now.. did LT1s come with different chains? i have 2 95 lt1's and they both had a different chain in them. just noticed this. one is pretty heavy duty the other one is like a tiny little bike chain

 

The small true roller is a plain LT4 chain whereas the thicker roller is a LT4 HD chain. I had a friend who broke his stock chain in his bolt-on '97 f-body after slamming on the brakes. Had maybe 50K miles on it. If you hammer on your car daily then a true roller is a good upgrade even if it's only the plain LT4 roller chain.

 

gotcha. well i got the ED now so im not too worried about it. I didnt replace the sprocket i didnt find it necessary. shes in and ready to roll. heads going on and gotta measure me ole pushrods. getting close finally woot

 

So you installed the LT4 chain on the old original sprockets, did I read that right?

 

not that timing chains are a common problem on LT1s but I have seen more reports of ED sets breaking than stock or aftermarket sets on LT1s. One of those "miracle upgrades" that isn't.

 

no. the only sprocket i kept in there was the water pump gear. everything else is new.

glad i hear that now. wonder why that is. well ill run it now its what ive got. if it dont work and it breaks ill be sure to report it.

i should have just went with cloyes and ewp. ill make the upgrade in chain when i get a EWP. itll just be money wasted and a learned the spending extra money way

 

stock is fine even with the load of the WP. If it were slightly weak just swapping to an electric waterpump would reduce load and make it more reliable.

I am not saying the stock chain is perfect, a $20 cloys lower timing gear can be a nice way to tighten it up since the stocker is loose.

Most of what I am saying is that the community has lied to you about how "important" it is to "upgrade" the timing chain, and to downgrade your cooling system with a LOW FLOW electric waterpump.

 

Where is the best place to get stock replacement timing chain?