Can/should you re-use engine components?

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DartGTDan

DartGTDan

'71 Dart GT Fan
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When the 4-bbl was installed on my 318 (about 5 years/3,000 miles ago) the original timing chain and gears were replaced with a SUM-G6603 double roller chain/gears. I also had a new water pump (Cardone 8-vane) installed.

The engine is going in to be rebuilt in a few weeks. Can these components be re-used on the new rebuild?
 
If it's still in good shape I'd reuse the older parts, probably better quality than newer parts. I reused my older Cloyes timing set and tensioner on a recent rebuild.

Jeff
 
Sure they can be reused, but I wouldn't reuse that timing set. My general rule of thumb is, if you don't spend at or over 100 bucks on a timing set, it's not a good one. Unless it's a billet set, it'll stretch badly very quickly. Just something to keep in mind.
 
Timing chain, probably not. Any engine part can be reused if it passes inspection. I would rather use good old parts than the crap parts available now.
 
Pro Gear timing chain set from Hughes... it’s not fun to change after the fact. I’d reuse the water pump. As for rods, main caps and such, I’d reuse only after having them cracked checked, AKA Magged...
 
3k and it's not reused? C'mon man... should last 125K.

I have a used timing set that I'm using in my race motor. No idea what it came from. Doesnt matter... it's in good shape and I will use it.

Pretty obvious none here worked at a dealer... we used to have to reuse head gaskets on Chevy and Mopar warranty work. Clean them and use Permatex #1... never an issue. That was in 1967-1972.
 
Krooser said:
3k and it's not reused? C'mon man... should last 125K.

I have a used timing set that I'm using in my race motor. No idea what it came from. Doesnt matter... it's in good shape and I will use it.

Pretty obvious none here worked at a dealer... we used to have to reuse head gaskets on Chevy and Mopar warranty work. Clean them and use Permatex #1... never an issue. That was in 1967-1972.
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With the average shitty 50 buck timing chain, they are junk in 20 minutes.
 
Krooser said:
3k and it's not reused? C'mon man... should last 125K.

I have a used timing set that I'm using in my race motor. No idea what it came from. Doesnt matter... it's in good shape and I will use it.

Pretty obvious none here worked at a dealer... we used to have to reuse head gaskets on Chevy and Mopar warranty work. Clean them and use Permatex #1... never an issue. That was in 1967-1972.
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I had a Cloyes chain from 2019 in my 340 for about 20 hours. Stretched wider than a..... changed to Pro Gear, have about 10 hours on this chain and so far so good...
 
A brand new gates 8 fin water pump is $30 to your door from Amazon...
The summit village timing chain and gear set is under 70 I think. I've got stuff like that but I just buy brand new when I'm making a new motor..... My-2..
 
I have learned the hard way that while something is apart, replace things. It's like when you replace the timing belt on a Mopar 2.2 or 2.5 4 cyl engine; the water pump is right there under the belt. You have already spent hours getting to that point, so replace the water pump even if it is working. I would never put an engine back together with the old timing set. If you flat out can't afford it, that is a different matter.
 
j par said:
A brand new gates 8 fin water pump is $30 to your door from Amazon...
The summit village timing chain and gear set is under 70 I think. I've got stuff like that but I just buy brand new when I'm making a new motor..... My-2..
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Village?
 
Since I got married (1977), several of my DD family-car 318s have received well-used 340 timing chains and gears. One was so stretched I advanced it one tooth on the sprocket to get it run right. I got a whole box of those from all the 340s I ever took apart.
Most nylon-toothed 318 timing sets I have seen were already sloppy early in life. I'll guess that 80,000 was already pushing the failure date. Every 318 car I ever inspected, needed a new set.
Lemmee rephrase that; I never saw a 318 car that didn't need a new set. I mean there mightabin one in 1968, but a 3 or at most 4-year old 318 car, needed a chain; thank you Mopar for one of the earliest examples of planned obsolescence, and a steady supply of make-work for me.
But, you know; back then Mopars had a 5/50 warranty. I think likely, most 318 chains made it thru, but it wouldda been darn close.
As much as I love my Mopars, and Ma, this snafu, IMO, is utterly unforgivable; they knew better.

But-um as to the guts of the engine; Yeah you can reuse just about all the non-wearing parts.
 
Its easy to tell if a timing chain is worn. Take it from there. Water pump? No telling how good it is or how long it will last. Replace it when it leaks.
 
DartGTDan said:
When the 4-bbl was installed on my 318 (about 5 years/3,000 miles ago) the original timing chain and gears were replaced with a SUM-G6603 double roller chain/gears. I also had a new water pump (Cardone 8-vane) installed.

The engine is going in to be rebuilt in a few weeks. Can these components be re-used on the new rebuild?
Click to expand...
3000 miles? Hardly used, still new IMO. Clean it, inspect it and run them. Slap a MP chain tensioner on with the timing chain if you want to spend any more money on stuff.
 
Only when you can't get or afford new. Its even cheaper to buy rods then resize the old ones. Rotating assemblies are the way to go if available. But even the pro balanced kits are out of balance. so balancing is a must on any build. All engines are rebalanced in my sons shop.

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Use a tensioner on it too. I think you can get the melling tensioners from rock auto for about #30. Look up 1994 dodge dakota 3.9L V6. It doesnt show up on the V8 in rock auto.
 
Has anyone had a chain not stretch after say, 20,000 mi? Even the 'good' ones seem to stretch. Or maybe it's just the sprockets that wear out.
 
mopowers said:
Has anyone had a chain not stretch after say, 20,000 mi? Even the 'good' ones seem to stretch. Or maybe it's just the sprockets that wear out.
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I learned years ago with chain driven motorcycles that chains don’t stretch. I know it’s a term we all refer to and many may know it actually elongates, It’s the pins and rollers that wear due to inadequate lubrication so then they made versions with o-rings, then x-rings, special alloys, special grease etc etc. The sprockets teeth wear, get wallowed out because the chain gets elongated. Taking steps to deliver adequate oil to the timing chain helps. I drilled a hole in one of the cam retainer plate bolts (does it help dribble oil to the chain? no idea but people here said to do it, seems like a good theory) and the tensioners plate I’m running has an oiler tab directed towards the chain. I ended up reusing the Summit billet timing set (same as Jpar shows) on a cam swap a few months ago and noticed the chain had pretty much the same play when I first installed it over 4 years ago, WITHOUT the tensioner in place during degreeing.
https://www.mromagazine.com/features/the-myth-of-chain-stretch/
The myth of chain stretch - MRO Magazine
 
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