How do you know when to replace your timing chain?

[jretrodude]

I've got an 87 GN with about 89,000 on it was wandering when should you replace the timing chain? How do you know if it is bad or not? And what chain is the best one to replace it with? When should you change it? And is it an expensive job when you take it to the mechanic?:smile:

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

If you change your own oil, you will notice brown flakey nylon particles in your oil.

Change your oil with a clean oil pan and check it out.

Its not cheap to get the chain done at the shop, but about 100.00 for a edelbrock chain or CLOYES or some double roller timing chain.
Never use those napa chains, they were out in 15,000 miles.

If you dont have any issues, dont worry about it. I have 113K on my daily, and a friend has 180K on his car too.

If and when the nylon gear shreads and the timing chain slips throwing off the initial timing, the cover and oil pan need to come off.
There will be pushrod damage with the stock cam, but the valves always live.

Ive seen a few motors here at 80mph and the chain lets go, they both had stock cams and the only issues were the pushrods and the nylon mess in the oil pan and some in the front cover.

So, if its not broke dont fix it.

BW

 

[87gnguy]

We replaced mine with a double roller and this car faught us kicking and screaming. Getting it apart was easy, putting back together was a different story. It was still worth it doing it myself instead of taking it to a shop. My friend was quoted by a shop at about $800 for his GN. We just changed mine because my GN has 160,000 miles on it and my buddy's chain went out on his car and caused a big headache. We just went ahead and changed mine so I could avoid that.

 

[413turbo]

i don't know what causes this, i'm guessing they aren't packing the pump with vasoline. but i've pulled aprox. 20 or so motors from the junkyards. once i get them tore down. the ones that have had the timing chian replaced, allways have bearing damage and other lack of oil issues. the ones that still have the factory chians, generally have better looking internals. that's what i've noticed.

 

[GN ERGY]

Mine had just under 60K miles on it and I used original GM parts. I never did this before and just did all the reading about it i could at gnttype.net. Replaced the front seal with the new style and replaced the rear main seal and a new oil pan gasket. Did the front cover oil mods while I was at it.
I put the car up on blocks, about 12 inches to make it a lot easier to work underneath.
Tarey