LA top end rebuild question

measure the distance between the cam and crank center-line. There is a standard measurement for this distance. There are three sprocket sizes available. Standard .005 and .010 over size. The factory adding the tension-er gave themselves a greater tolerance. Less junk blocks when the cam tunnel or line bore was out of spec. Or if when the cheap timing sets themselves were out of spec. It was an easy fix so they could use bad parts or improper machined parts. The tension-er was all about saving parts which ultimately saved them money. You can move the shafts together you cannot spread them apart.

Worn cam or main bearings may cause a standard chain to be loose. A tension-er may take the slack out. but its just a band-aid for other problems.

When my son removed my .005 chain set from my race motor. I installed on a stock 318 it fit perfect. Remember there are times when a chain is loose do to cam bearing wear. or tight if the crank dropped. Did any of you ever install a new chain set and it had slack from day one. Usually 80% of the time it is cam bearing wear. There is constant pressure pushing the cam downward from the valve spring pressure. This wears the bottom of the cam bearings which puts the cam closer to the crank. Or the cap bearings on the mains when they wear the chain is tight when installing it.

The next time my son fits a chain set. I will take some pictures . This is his expertise he has built a lot of race motors. I only learned this from him. Years back I would throw the timing set on line up the dots and good to go. He gets to involved ,I wouldn't have the patience for measuring and then waiting for another chain set.