timing chain wear ?

[65inabox]

Hi all
I am doing the ever popular 6-8 swap and I have a 302 that is a little more worn than I thought, it ran very well but, upon tear down I found the valves to be pretty caked up and there is some play in the timing chain. I really don't want to do a complete rebuild on this. just wanted to clean up and new gaskets. I know "while your'e at it" but,
how much play is acceptable in the timing chain ?

 

[67coupe351w]

Timing chains dont last forever. If that thing lets go you are gonna be spending as much if not more money than just rebuilding the whole thing now "while your at it" at the very least you should replace that wearing timing chain, they arent very expensive.

Does anyone think he might want to look into a hi flow oil pump as well to give him some better oil pressure with the old loose bearings? I dont know just a thought there.

 

[65inabox]

Thanks for the advice
this is just starting to snowball, you know-
if I replace the timing chain/gears might as well put in an RV cam then lifters then intake/carb before you know it 6-800 bucks. at least now I can tell the wife that 67coupe351w said I needed to do this

 

[67coupe351w]

at least now I can tell the wife that 67coupe351w said I needed to do this

Hey I got enough problems of my own, I dont need to get in the middle of yours

 

[Cavymeister]

Hi volume oil pump wouldn't do any good with the stock pan. if you don't have a deep pan, you'll end up with al your oil in the top of your motor and spun bearings. Not good.

As far as the timing chain, you can get a stock replacement one for like $25. Do that, clean the valves, and button her up.

 

[ssppiitt]

Uh.... If your vavles are caked then I would also check out your pistons and cylinders for excessive wear as well as check out your piston rings. I would replace those valves unless they are good enough to be machined.

 

[VictorII]

Hi all
I am doing the ever popular 6-8 swap and I have a 302 that is a little more worn than I thought, it ran very well but, upon tear down I found the valves to be pretty caked up and there is some play in the timing chain. I really don't want to do a complete rebuild on this. just wanted to clean up and new gaskets. I know "while your'e at it" but,
how much play is acceptable in the timing chain ?

Naw, you don't have to let it snowball. If your oil pressure was ok before you started, leave the pump alone. I'd replace the timing chain and gears, though. Go to the parts house, like NAPA, and get a good standard chain (made in the USA preferebly) and put it in straight up. As far the caking on the valves, do you mean like sludge? If so, then the engine did not have decent oil, did have some blow by, or did not have frequent enough oil changes. Do you know if it uses detergent or non-detergent oil? If you put detergent in a non-detergent engine, all kinds of crap will come loose. If it does you have to be kinda careful because the tight tolerance of the oil pump gears can trap a bit of junk, and freeze. Had this happen on my first A-code. If you don't know what it used, I'd recommend anything but Pennzoil (too much wax) and change it a couple times at 1,000 mile intervals. Also, use the Napa Gold (or Silver) oil filters. The are about $2.00 more than Frams, etc. and filter way better. They are made by Wix. You probably don't want to disturb that caking but let the oil do what it is supposed to do.

 

[65inabox]

the cyl walls and pistons seem fine, very little ridge, still @ 4.00 I have cleaned the valves they are a little pitted - going to find a machine shop, anyone know of one in the Ann Arbor MI. area? this engine doesn't look like it was very well cared for (I just bought it with a granada attached) oddly, it is a mexican block circa 1971. I think over all I am going to just replace timming chain/gear get a valve job. Thanks for all your help