I had to use the aftermarket “fix” on that one cause original had come loose and wallowed the threads out. One that replaces it and access plug

 

Like this

 

Yes, except I used the version made by Dorman. In fact I think you told me about using those….I was trying to figure out how I was going to drill and tap the guide bolt hole for a helicoil.

 

Yep that’s why these are a great invention by a guy on the Cobalt site. Mike was an awesome guy.

 

This is pretty irritating, but I was suspicious it would happen. I bought the GM-labeled timing set. Lo and behold, when unboxed I found that the individual parts have Cloyes stamped all over them. GM is just repackaging the Cloyes products. I absolutely hate Cloyes and want away from them!

 

Cloyes is the supplier to GM , they package the kits for GM most eBay kits are Cloyes. Contact ZZP and see if they use Cloyes parts in their kits.

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

Yep they include a Cloyes timing chain in that kit.

 

Do not assume that an oem supplier ships the exact same specifications to the OEM that they supply to the replacement parts market.

Also know that it's not impossible for an oem supplier to sell rejects into the replacement parts market. Not necessarily talking about cloyes specifically here. Just generally. I was advised by a person in the know, to never buy buy an OEM spec tire because it's probably a reject from the OEM.

I also know for a fact of examples where rejected parts were sold into the replacement parts market. Source - I worked for an automotive parts manufacturer.

Now more specific to your case, I would completely trust those Cloyes chains in your OEM kit. I wouldn't worry about the guides either, EXCEPT for the front guide. Get drunk to numb the frugality part of your brain and just pay for the upgraded green one from ZZP.

I'd like to know more about the cam chain tensioner they shipped you. I'm kind of betting it's not made by Cloyes. The best one I've seen says made in Slovakia.

Also, balance tensioners have had quality problems too. Does yours have a part number on it? I would only use GM 28289946. It has a stronger spring, and is spec'ed for later EcoTecs. Seems they never bothered to update for earlier cars. It's also cheaper at RockAuto.

Also buying old stock kits from and parts on eBay is risky. OEMs learn about problems and sometimes successfully fix them over time. Sometimes parts that are supposed to be destroyed find their way into replacement. I would only want a "new-stock" cam tensioner, not old stock.

 

Good to know, thanks my Evergreen timing chain was stamped Cloyes it failed and stretched in just 20,000 miles

The Cloyes kit it installed to replace this is still working good and showed no signs of stretch last summer when I painted the valve cover.

 

Good catch! Stretch or failed tensioner.

I did make a couple of s edits and additions to my comment.

 

No this chain was definitely stretched.