Timing Chain Inspection and Replacement

[Tynan918]

Is the fan, water pump, and harmonic balancer the only things I remove to get to the timing chain cover ?

 

[Tynan918]

Ok how about this ? ProForm 66515 Harmonic Balancer Installation Tool


Amazon has one in a damaged package for $20

Says the threading on the small block end is 7/16-16, not 7/16-20 like the Autozone loan tool..

Which thread size is correct ?
View attachment 193128View attachment 193129

I guess it fits ... This guy is using it no problem...

 

[383_GrandPrix]

"Research has shown that steel can expand anywhere from .006 to .007% in heat of 100 degrees. This isn’t just an inconvenience – it can represent a major safety concern."

So about 250-350°F for about 30 minutes should expand/swell the tip to get it off...

View attachment 193025

The thermal expansion rate of steel is .001" per 1" of material per 100° increase in temperature.

Ok how about this ? ProForm 66515 Harmonic Balancer Installation Tool


Amazon has one in a damaged package for $20

Says the threading on the small block end is 7/16-16, not 7/16-20 like the Autozone loan tool..

Which thread size is correct ?
View attachment 193128View attachment 193129

It could be a typo, look up the part number on Proform's website or Jegs/Summit.

 

[Tynan918]

The thermal expansion rate of steel is .001" per 1" of material per 100° increase in temperature.

It could be a typo, look up the part number on Proform's website or Jegs/Summit.

The photo shown is from Proform website...


SUMMIT reviews say the 7/16 end snaps off in their crankshafts...either first attempt or after two or three successful installations...

 

[scoti]

The thread pitch options on 7/16 hardware are 7/16 - 14 (coarse) & 7/16 - 20 (fine).

That being said, if the threads in the end of the crank snout were stripped before all this effort started, the point is moot.

 

[Tynan918]

The thread pitch options on 7/16 hardware are 7/16 - 14 (coarse) & 7/16 - 20 (fine).

That being said, if the threads in the end of the crank snout were stripped before all this effort started, the point is moot.

Having a hard time determining if the threads are stripped or not...

That's how the OEM loan tool got stuck... Yea I didn't lube it but it tightened until I couldn't tighten it no more with a closed end wrench...

Let it sit there overnight and got up to take it out and the 7/16 tip was stuck to the long 9/16 bolt...

I'll take pics the best I can of the crankshaft threads here in a second...

 

[Tynan918]

SUMMIT reviews say the 7/16 end snaps off in their crankshafts...either first attempt or after two or three successful installations...

Could this be because of these people not lubing the threads before use, or installing it wrong ?

 

[scoti]

That's what I was saying before...

There wasn't even a bolt in it when I bought the car... Didn't notice it until a month or two later... I had been driving on the highway at 70-90mph by that time...

When I seen there wasn't a bolt, I bought one to install it but it wouldn't never tighten down, just slipped, so I tightened it the best I could and ran with it...🤷🏾‍♂...been like that since...August/September 2021...

Having a hard time determining if the threads are stripped or not...

That's how the OEM loan tool got stuck... Yea I didn't lube it but it tightened until I couldn't tighten it no more with a closed end wrench...

Let it sit there overnight and got up to take it out and the 7/16 tip was stuck to the long 9/16 bolt...

I'll take pics the best I can of the crankshaft threads here in a second...

Well, I pay attention to the info you provided as we help navigate this effort. I remember you mentioning something about you noticed there was no balancer crank bolt & when you tried installing one it wouldn't tighten.

That indicates something is wrong (to me). Maybe my perspective is skewed?

 

[scoti]

Could this be because of these people not lubing the threads before use, or installing it wrong ?

Both options are equally possible.

 

[Tynan918]

Looks more dirty than anything...

 

[383_GrandPrix]

There are no threads left in there that I can see.