Timing chain is broken on my dad's 1998 chevy truck , get new engine just in case it's broken?

Question

Timing chain is broken on my dad's 1998 chevy truck (1500) I think. It has 195000 miles, the repair guy says the chances him needing a new engine are 50/50 and he thinks he shoud change the whole engine for $2000 instead of just the timing chain for $500. Does this sound right/logical?

Answer 1

No it does not sound logical. "I think" the timing chain is broken? Nearly every car and pick-up ever made that had a chain went to its grave having never had the chain break. Certain models have had loose chains with old age that sometimes get replaced. Just sell the truck as is. The few hundred dollars you get plus saving the price on a new whatever plus saving the price of whatever else is wrong or soon to go wrong will go a long way toward a newer used truck with half the miles.

Answer 2

Of course, the guy who's getting paid for the work is going to recommend the higher priced option. A broken timing chain on a GM small block V-8 engine is NOT a catastrophe but with nearly 200K miles on it, this may actually be a good time to drop in a new or rebuilt engine if Dad wants to keep the truck for another 200K miles.



If he's thinking about selling his '98 Chevy sometime soon, he might save a bit of money by dropping in a used engine from a salvage yard instead of a new or rebuilt one.

Answer 3

Sir,



Once Broken The Timing Chain And Sprockets We Can Guess The Engine Life No More Good In Feature That Also Has been Run Above 360,000 Kms. Better Replace the Half Engine Assy Or-

Re Juvanate Your Old Engine By Machine Shop.

Answer 4

NO! It is NOT WORTH IT!!!!!!! Get a good USED engine from a junk yard! use CAR-PART.com! it is also very simple to remove the VALVE COVERS and check the condition of the VALVES and push rods! A timing chain is about $80-120 for a new set! $500???????? ridiculous! $2000 in an old chevy is just a waste of money and time!!!! There will be NO damage to the SHORT BLOCK, and any damage will be in PUSH RODS or the valves! Chances are there will be NO damae a all anywyas! GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 5

it should not be an interference engine so replacing the engine would not be needed. the timing chain and gears should be all that you would need along with the chain cover gasket. that would be a great deal cheaper and faster.

Answer 6

if hes going to keep truck then better to invest in new engine. after all other parts will be wearing out and who knows what will fail next. with a new unit we ought to get peace of mind on that part of vehicle.