Folks, I have an SS with the 2.0 and replace the timing chain roughly every 100K miles. What is the replacement frequency for the 2.2L? Is it about the same?

 

80,000 to 120,000 miles or if you start hearing a chain noise! You will get more out of the chain if you install the front upper guide from ZZP and a n upper guide replacement bolt .


https://zzperformance.com/products/z...ng-chain-guide

https://zzperformance.com/products/e...ain-guide-bolt

 

Thanks for this feedback! What brand of chain is recommended. I have decided Cloyes is junk since I have had repeated problems on my SS, the latest being bent valves from a jumped chain. Other than Cloyes, what are some better options?

 

ZZP has a kit , not sure who makes it , looks like OEM GM/Coyles

https://zzperformance.com/products/z...ming-chain-kit

I believe that the original timing chain was supplied by Coyles.

 

Roller chains do not like high speed. They thrash like mad. One dimension to the reliability of the Ecotec system is how the car is driven. If you drive like Grandma, that chain system might last forever. If you're a spirited driver, because the 2.2 could be even worse than the turbo, which produces prodigious torque at moderate RPM.

It took me awhile, but I'm now convinced that most cam chain failures start with a failed tensioner. The loose chain thrashes and destroys the very vulnerable front guide.

There are some crappy cam chain tensioners out there. I won't use anything but OEM new stock. I won't use anything but the zzp upgraded front guide, the green one. It's very strong. I won't use anything but the later balance chain tensioner, GM 28289946, which has a stronger spring.

I don't think the other guides make much difference. I think that Cloyes chains are probably fine, but last time I used OEM chains.

I would never touch an OEM water pump unless I knew it was bad. Change the water pump if you must, but be sure it's a really good one. The junk that comes with the kits will surely fail before the OEM one would have.

 

Note the ZZP kit includes the latest tensioner and the upper bolt for the front guide, and the stronger front guide.
80% of the timing chains I’ve replaced, the front guide was destroyed because the guide bolt failed and the chain took out the guide.
the guys at ZZP have put together this kit to replace the weakest links in the Ecotec timing chain system

Im not affiliated with ZZP , I have installed their front guide in my personal 2011 2.4 2LT . I paid for it and the shipping and handling and duties .

 

Yes. I like the ZZP kit. $320 but IDK what balance tensioner it has.

Here’s what I did. Free shipping from Amazon.

GM cam chain kit, discard front guide & bolts $136
Cloyes balance chain kit, discard tensioner $70
ZZP upgraded front guide $80
GM balance chain tensioner 28289946 $35
Upgraded front guide upper bolt (on hand.) $20?
TOTAL $341

 

No one should even begin to trust AI yet.

Curious about the (apparently) old updated GM balance chain tensioner, I asked Google, “why did gm 28289946 supersede gm 12649233?”

Then I almost spat out my coffee. The answer was complete nonsense:




I then accepted the invitation for a deeper dive and got something that made more sense. Still vague of course. All ai stuff reads like an unprepared freshman bs’ing their way through an essay question.

 

If it makes you happy. But the ZZP kit also provides their front guide lower bolt which is stronger than the OEM , I believe it’s provided by ARP fasteners. The balance chain tensioner rarely fails unless you try to replace the water pump using an inferior sprocket holder. I’ve never seen one fail. You could just replace that one part.

 

I've seen two balance chain tensioners in which the ratchet teeth were a mess and no longer did their job. Easy not to notice. They looked okay. The failure was probably caused by inferior material or faulty heat treating if it was specced at all.