Timing chain failures on LS3 vettes

[detroitboy]

I just tripped over a thread on digitalcorvettes.com discussing timing chain failures on the LS3 engines. It seems that it is not an unheard of event after upgrading to a more healthy camshaft.
I'll keep looking for more info, but it could be a sign that we don't want to start doing things too soon to our cars that might void our factory warranties. I've been thru these catastrophic failures that occur when valves start hitting pistons. Its not pretty, and its not cheap. Is anyone else aware of some of the vette motors grenading from this?

[Robin Lawrence]

Most were similar situatons. Road racing, aftermarket balancers and aftermarket cams.

I would recomend staying with a stock or high quality balancer if you need to road race.

In all my testing I have not seen any problems with the stock setup.

Robin

[ADM PERFORMANCE]

Originally Posted by Robin Lawrence

In all my testing I have not seen any problems with the stock setup.

Robin

Than you my friend need to spend more time in the shop than on the computer.

Every 2007-2009(Trailblazer SS,Corvette) that I have changed cams in had defective timing chain tensioners and chain combo's.These were stock vehicles with stock un touched balancers.

I will agree that we have seen many road race cars over the years with same issues(1997-current).I recommend stock balancers but will still sell aftermarket pulleys.

Sorry to rant ,but been there done that to many times to count!

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16174


Andy

[Robin Lawrence]

LOL, maybe so...

The LS3 L92 chain tensioner is different than the LS1,LS2, LS7 style.

Harmonics on the crankshaft and camshaft are what kills the chains. In all the situations that I have seen if you control the harmonics then a stock chain works just fine.

I'll be playing on the Spin Tron with some stock components in a month or so.
While I cannot duplicate the accel/decell or the harmonics of a crankshaft I can try to kill the chain with valve spring and RPM.

An aftermarket chain is cheap insurance while you have the timing cover off.

Robin

[GTAwheelman]

Originally Posted by Robin Lawrence

LOL, maybe so...

The LS3 L92 chain tensioner is different than the LS1,LS2, LS7 style.

Harmonics on the crankshaft and camshaft are what kills the chains. In all the situations that I have seen if you control the harmonics then a stock chain works just fine.

I'll be playing on the Spin Tron with some stock components in a month or so.
While I cannot duplicate the accel/decell or the harmonics of a crankshaft I can try to kill the chain with valve spring and RPM.

An aftermarket chain is cheap insurance while you have the timing cover off.

Robin

thats what i was thinking. why not just upgrade to a stronger chain while you are down there?

[ADM PERFORMANCE]

Originally Posted by GTAwheelman

thats what i was thinking. why not just upgrade to a stronger chain while you are down there?

The Katech chain is your best option.

[Super83Z]

Stock parts are designed to work with stock parts. I would definately upgrade the timing chain if I was doing the cam.

[detroitboy]

Originally Posted by Super83Z

Stock parts are designed to work with stock parts. I would definately upgrade the timing chain if I was doing the cam.

It was also posted that they were breaking the double row chains too, and I think they needed a special timing chain cover to fit the double row chain. I'd bet that they were running some pretty exotic cam figures to break those too. Too busy to search all the vette threads right now, but we all might have to look at this issue more before causing problems.
Damn...I wish the LS7 would have been an option. I'm actually still considering doing it later. But then whats my chance of tearing up clutches and rear ends?
I probably should've just gotten a 2SS with no options and used the difference towards the LS7. I know a guy who has enough parts to do it, and the rest of what he needs is already on our cars.

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by Robin Lawrence

Most were similar situatons. Road racing, aftermarket balancers and aftermarket cams.

I would recomend staying with a stock or high quality balancer if you need to road race.

In all my testing I have not seen any problems with the stock setup.

Robin

Hi Robin,

Do you think going with GM's hot cam and nothing else will be fine on the timing chain?

[speedster]

Enthusiasts that spend the money on a high performance cam/higher spring tension/aftermarket balancer/higher engine rpm without buying an aftermarket timing chain/gear/belt only have themselves to blame. That's like putting a 250 shot of nitrous into a stock engine. It will probably fail. Just a matter of when.

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by ADM PERFORMANCE

The Katech chain is your best option.

Katech anything is a very good option.

Originally Posted by speedster

Enthusiasts that spend the money on a high performance cam/higher spring tension/aftermarket balancer/higher engine rpm without buying an aftermarket timing chain/gear/belt only have themselves to blame. That's like putting a 250 shot of nitrous into a stock engine. It will probably fail. Just a matter of when.

more like people who throw a donkey dick cam on a car without upgrading the springs/pushrods.

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

more like people who throw a donkey dick cam on a car without upgrading the springs/pushrods.

You come up with the funniest stuff sometimes.....

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by Hylton

You come up with the funniest stuff sometimes.....

thats just the way ive always referred to huge OMGWTFBBQ cams that only make power between 6000 and 7000rpms. power curve looks like mount everest. granted, its pushing donkey buttloads of power, but only at peak rpm. I like my power under the curve.

and we've got a local guy with a stock cammed GTO pushing 430+hp N/A. dont need a big cam to make power.

[Super83Z]

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

thats just the way ive always referred to huge OMGWTFBBQ cams that only make power between 6000 and 7000rpms. power curve looks like mount everest. granted, its pushing donkey buttloads of power, but only at peak rpm. I like my power under the curve.

and we've got a local guy with a stock cammed GTO pushing 430+hp N/A. dont need a big cam to make power.

I used to give a couple of friends a hard time who thought that way. I asked them how they would order a cam, just flip to the back of the catalog and pick the last one on the page?