Cam/Chain question

[jvike]

Hi guys. I'm in the midst of building my 340. It is a pretty stock build. Block is a '72 340. Stock crank, rods and low comp pistons. New rings and bearings. J heads. Anyway, I put on a new chain today. I got a Edelbrock Performer True-Roller. I got two questions about it. The first thing is that I thought it was a bit sloppy. Thought that a brand new chain shouldn't have any play in it. Never done this to a mopar before, but I've helped my brother with his ford 351 a couple of times, and those chains where tight! The other thing is that it has a 3 way adjustment on the crank spocket. The three keyways has a different shape, square, round (Hemispherical  ) and Pentroof. My stock crank only accepts the square one, wich means retarding the cam 4 degrees. Is that safe to do? I have this cam: http://www.cranecams.com/product/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=24030.

[Chryco Psycho]

Well the chain should be tight , Edelbrock may have sent a chain for something else like a mid ford 400 or something . Mopar Perf has a spring loaded chain tensioner available for the small block also .
 retarding the cam will increase top end power slightly , not sure if that is what you want . the crank gear is supposed to fit in all of the 3 grooves though so it sounds more like a poor quality part .

[jvike]

The Edelbrock chains are supposedly made by Cloyes. There is a installation pdf on Cloyes site that state that the 3 keyways has different shape. Maybe I should just use my old spocket. It has the same shape on all 3 keyways.

[Chryco Psycho]

the keyways are different shapes so you can identify which keyway is advanced retarded or centered , they will all fit over the key in the crank though . it still should not be loose

[jvike]

Ah ok, then I can install it straight up. The sprocket isn't loose, but the chain itself is a bit sloppy. Cloyes site stated .125" I got more than that.

[Chryco Psycho]

has the block been align honed raising the crank in the block slightly ?
I would look into the tensioner from MP

[jvike]

Thanks, I'll look into that. Don't know what have been done with the engine in the past..

[Aussie Challenger]

Chain tensioner part No. is P5007709, standard MOPAR part.