Hey all, I was at the local parts store pricing out a transmission mount when I remembered that I should change my timing chain (230,000 KM). So I picked one up, as well as the gaskets. Now my question to you is, how do I do it? I've changed it on fords before, but never a GM.

 

Drain coolant. Remove water pump(now is a great time to replace this if it's not brand new). Remove crank pulley and crank damper(get the special tool for this via the rental tool program). Remove timing chain cover. Remove sprockets and chain. Install new sprockets and chain(don't change positioning of anything!). Install new gasket. Now is a good time to replace the front main seal on the crank, if it's old. Install timing cover. Install water pump gasket, followed by water pump. Check your bolts to make sure they're all tight. Refill coolant and fire her up. It's probably a three to four hour job. You might get it done in two if you know what you're going for. Not really that hard, though. Look in your Haynes/Chilton for instructions and you can just follow those to the letter, too.

 

You might need a torx bit socket for a few of those bolts holding the cover on,and some of the longer torx head bolts that run through the cover to the engine block might be tough to get out..I had one that was rusted from the years of being in coolant that I had to cut the edge off the w/p with a hacksaw and slap some vise grips on what was left of the head of the bolt and wiggled it back and forth.I ended up replacing all those with regular bolts and adding some sealant to the threads.I usually put the mark on TDC first then do what Forkvoid said..but I had to remove my power steering pump out of the way ..one bolt head was covered by the P/S bracket.Once you remove the dampner(in between the crank and cam gears)you can tell how much slop is in the chain.My car ran much better ..noticed a big change.