Double row conversion
 

Can anyone tell me a realistic price for a double row timing chain conversion on an 82 380?

- Peter.

Unless the car is PERFECT, way more that it is worth!

About $1200 in parts & 25 hours of work. More if the head gaskets tear when removing the front cover.

You could install a good used 420SEL engine for less.

If you can do the work yourself, replace the chain and the guides yourself. I refer to the single row chain. Converting to a double row chain is a lot of work, as MB Doc says.

The problen is that the inner driver side guide breaks due to age and a floppy chain that's worn, ie has stretched, killing the engine.

Thanks. That pretty much tells me what I need to know. There is a really nice 82 380SEL for sale in Phoenix for $,.200.00. Silver with black. Good paint, incredibly a perfect uncracked dash. Claim of only 80K miles. Might be a well treated SoCal car. But the likelyhood of having to do a chain conversion makes it unfeasible.

- Peter.

It would be rare to find one that still has the single row. Just loosen the valve cover and lift enough to see. Not a big deal to check it out.

You don't even have to remove the valve cover..remove the oil cap & look forward at the gear.

IF you see a round hole in the gear...RUN...but if the hole is oval then that already has a double row chain.