Can/should you re-use engine components?
- Thread starter DartGTDan
- Start date
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How many other "good used parts" are going into the "rebuild" ? New bearings or just check the old ones to see if they can be reused.....
My late father in-law always seemed to be spending a dollar to save a dime. Never understood that.
My late father in-law always seemed to be spending a dollar to save a dime. Never understood that.
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MOPAROFFICIAL
Oogliboogli
Yes. Do it if you know it's somewhat new stuff. If the chain is loose on the new stuff... you'll know what to do, replace it or implement a tensioner for 40 bucks.
I was wonderin. I was wantin to look into one of those Village timing chains. I thought maybe my buddy had found something new and improved.
Well, semantics. Is the chain longer when all the wearin gets done? Yeah it is so.......
IMO, it's not necessarily from a lack of lube, although I'm sure in some applications that might be true. I think with what we're encompassing "HERE" it's cheaply made parts. ......although I'm sure the extra heat from crappy factory chain oiling plays a role.
That said. There are mods we know how to do to our engines to get oil to the chains. Like on the slant 6 for example, we drill a small hole right through the end of the the galley plug in the front, providing pressurized oil right on the back of the camshaft sprocket. All the other engines have their tricks there, too. IMO, those mods are a requirement for any build now that we know the tricks to doing them. Especially, since 99 times out of 100, they're free.
"Prestretched" my big old butt.
Yall use them bullcrapper chains if you want to. I've learned my lesson. To me, camshaft timing is important enough that I want it as stable as possible and I want it to stay as close as possible to where it was when I assembled it. It makes a big difference in performance that the timing stays "where" it's designed to.
I cannot believe even as broke as my *** stays, there are some on here arguing against using a really good quality chain. It behooves me.
My understanding is that the current chain has very few hours on it . So unless it was a junk chain to start with I see no issue in reusing it . If the logic is that chains are worn out by 3k then we should all be replacing them every 3k... the chain doesnt know it was removed and reinstalled .
I run a billet rollmaster in my 408 with a .648 solid roller cam and a double roller Cloyes in my milder 360 for the DD Barracuda . So its not like I don't appreciate good components but if this is just a run around car I dont think the OP needs to go Super Duty . Hell even the OEM plastic gears went 50k before needing replacement.
Yes, they did, but they were stretch all to hell and worn, too.
In my opinion, lubrication of the timing chain in most all engines is treated as an afterthought. Hit & miss. Every engine I build, I take steps to improve oiling to the chain. On a 440 I have just built, I tapped the main gallery behind the chain & fitted a 0.030" jet that squirts oil at the chain.
The cam thrust plate should have a hollow bolt with a small hole in it in the top left position. Also the oil drip plate.
Yep, a lot of people also drill a small hole through the thrust plate where it covers the main oil galleys to get pressurized oil to the chain. That hollow bolt is really a joke.
I would think the constant fog of oil within the crankcase should sufficiently oil a chain on most street applications . 2 strokes work like this quite succesfully . Although they are running actual bearings ....
Dartswinger70
Well-Known Member
it comes down to what is available if there are no bearings available yes you would clean inspect and reuse. if you are on an island or in the middle of the dessert and there are no parts available..etc. people go woth a standard routine of replacing cam lifeters tyiming chain there is a check /inspection for all those parts where you find out if it is reuseble or not. Most dont know how to checka nd measue and inspect and they have more money than time so they replace verything, that is a lixury that may go away sooner that we thionk. goo dparts are becoming difficult to come by. After 3 or 4 chinese timing chains you may wish you hadnt throw your original one away...
Think Cuba........
The Hollow bolt works, I've checked chain stretch on 340's with 100,000 miles on them. The stretch was still within specs. I would not run the hollow bolt and the oiling tab together. I have only seen the tab on later engines. As for the original question, If your parts are still within spec, I would not hesitate to use them. Lots of new parts are not up to the standards we used to expect.
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