Cam Gear Installation Issues

[Grandstaff]

Hello, so I am in the final stretch of my DOD delete, I've installed the new cam and retainer plate, but I'm having issues installing the cam gear. I can get the chain around it just fine, but there is not enough slack to get the gear up to the cam shift, I have tried jiggling the chain incase it was stuck, but nothing is working. It's an oem cam gear with a 3 bolt pattern as opposed to the 1 bolt. Is there something I'm doing wrong or do I need to take off the oil pan and oil pump to get it on right?

[Grandstaff]

20230801_183648.jpg (3.09 MiB) Viewed 1109 times

[Lord Vader]

I think you have to release the tension on the timing chain tensioner. On the left in your picture. And I think most people recommend getting rid of that stock tensioner and using the barbell-looking solid tensioner. Like this one:

https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/20477/1 ... -FEALw_wcB

[Grandstaff]

I think you have to release the tension on the timing chain tensioner. On the left in your picture. And I think most people recommend getting rid of that stock tensioner and using the barbell-looking solid tensioner. Like this one:

https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/20477/1 ... -FEALw_wcB

I have a nail in the hole, holding the tensioner back, and the only reason I'm putting the dog bone dampener in is because I can't really drop the oil pan. The gear keeps getting caught on right side of the tensioner and there's not enough slack to get it over that and onto the camshaft.

[s/c'd cav]

PLEASE PLEASE , ditch that tensioner !!!

they are known for falling apart ! you want to get the ls2 unit , its a block that sits in the middle

[bstoner]

PLEASE PLEASE , ditch that tensioner !!!

they are known for falling apart ! you want to get the ls2 unit , its a block that sits in the middle

Agreed. Common on the forums to hear of the plastic breaking or the little metal spring coming out and winding up in the oil pan. I would go with the LS2 tensioner. That is what I did.

[Grandstaff]

PLEASE PLEASE , ditch that tensioner !!!

they are known for falling apart ! you want to get the ls2 unit , its a block that sits in the middle

Agreed. Common on the forums to hear of the plastic breaking or the little metal spring coming out and winding up in the oil pan. I would go with the LS2 tensioner. That is what I did.

I was able to get the pump off and replaced the stock tensioner with the dog bone, now I'm wondering if I can get the one sided melling oil pump brace so I don't have to screw in the pump on the oil pan side?

https://www.jegs.com/i/Melling/689/M295 ... 9FEALw_wcB

[bstoner]

I was able to get the pump off and replaced the stock tensioner with the dog bone, now I'm wondering if I can get the one sided melling oil pump brace so I don't have to screw in the pump on the oil pan side?

https://www.jegs.com/i/Melling/689/M295 ... 9FEALw_wcB

That is for the oil pickup tube. It allows you to clamp the tube on both sides instead of just one side like it comes from the factory.

[s/c'd cav]

i was able to add the improved racing clamp onto the other side on my 5.3 rainier(trailblazer) with just the oil pan removed

[Grandstaff]

I was able to get the pump off and replaced the stock tensioner with the dog bone, now I'm wondering if I can get the one sided melling oil pump brace so I don't have to screw in the pump on the oil pan side?

https://www.jegs.com/i/Melling/689/M295 ... 9FEALw_wcB

That is for the oil pickup tube. It allows you to clamp the tube on both sides instead of just one side like it comes from the factory.

I apologize for any confusion, but I guess what I am trying to say is am I able to use the brace to relocate the screw to the other side without having to use the other bolt i.e. the right bolt that causes you to have to drop the pan.