I am installing the front of the 396 and after I installed the heavy duty timing set I check out the slack and it seems like the chain is too loose. How far should the chain deflect, or should it deflect at all? I got this set second hand so I do not want to install a stretched timing chain...even though it supposedly had under a thousand easy miles on it.

Thanks!

 

not sure about the HD Timing Set, but when i installed a new stock timing set, it had a bit of a slack. i guess i was able to move the chain like about a 1/4" back and forth on each side, i was worried but then when i run the engine everything was fine

 

Is it possible the "sunk" the crank when they align-bored the mains?

 

Still, a little slack in the chain doesnt translate into very much unwanted rotational movement of the cam vs crank.