I've recently torn down my current 355 to freshen it up with new rings and bearings.The motor only has 5387 miles on it from when I built it 6 years ago.Just last summer I installed a new Cloyes "True" double roller timing chain to replace a Pete Jackson noisy gear drive I regretted installing when I built the motor.Since then I have only put about 800 miles on the car.I am freshening it up due to a compression test revealing 2 cylinders not sealing very well.All tests point to the rings so this is the reason for this project.My question is , I want to reuse the timing chain?Is this a good idea?It only has around 800 miles on it like stated before.I know they are not that expensize but my budget is next to zero to get this thing up and running again by next june for my wedding.I have a 400 I was gonna build but..maybe later on.I already had the block gone thru at the machine shop I always deal with and a rehone was done for the new rings, a crosshatch was still present on the teardown from 6 years ago.Otherwise the owner told me that all journals were polished and are fine.No major damage was found anywhere and that bill has been paid.I need to pick up a few more things such as the gasket kit..fluids..etc,etc in a few weeks.I know it is being a little cheap but I don't see any reason to replace it with so little mileage?!Only other part I was looking to reuse was the cam?Its a Comp XE 274 hydraulic flat tappet that I am very happy with performance wise..used in the original build 5387 miles ago.It also has no strange wear on it..lobes or bearing journals.The lifters look good also.This one I am a lil skeptical to use again.Machine shop says yes..but..??Has anyone resued a flat tappet cam with good results??I hate budgets!!

 

The timing chain would be ok. I generally would suggest replacing just to be safe, but 800 miles isn't that much as far as a timing chains life is concerned, unless it's really been subject to abuse.

The flat tappet cam, if it has low miles like the timing set then that is ok as well. Just be absolutly POSITIVE to keep each lifter paired with the lobe that it came off of. Since the lifters and lobes develop specific wear patterns, specific to eachother, they can be reused, as long as they are kept together.