I went to change the water pump gasket on the 425 this morning and promptly snapped off 2 bolts in the timing chain cover. Well, I thought I'd take the timing cahin cover off to have the bolts drilled out. It came off fine. As I got to snooping around the timing chain, I notice it was WAY LOOSE! How much slack is acceptable in the timing chain? Also, who is the best rebuilder bar-none for nailheads? Is there anybody in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area that is any good? I know there isin't anybody in OKC that has ever seen one. Thanks.
nailhead rebuilder I hear the Carmen Faso is the BEST, but he is in upstate New York. In D/FW, I just had my 425 bebuilt by Gary's machine in Mesquite. He does a lot of race motors, but is old school enough to do a nailhead as well. My racer friends, Pro Mod and lower classes love him. I was happy wioth his shop and he seems to go excellent work.
If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay and what did you have done (boring, honeing, align bore, performance work, head porting, etc.)? What kind of numbers (HP, Torque) are you pulling off your 425? Just curious. Thanks for the reply.
About the timing chain, you should be able to push a new timing chain in about 1/2 an inch on the slack side (the side where the chain is moving from the crank towards the cam). If you can push it in an inch or more it's time for a replacement.
