Changing from the single row to double row is a massive job in comparison to a standard chain replacement. The chain replacment only requires the valve covers to be removed. The conversion required all new gears and the removal of the timing cover. Only the 1981-1983 3.8 liter motors had the single chains.

As I have stated a few hunderd times on this forum, the problem is almost never the chains, the problem is the durable plastic guide rails that petrify into fragile glass like creations and then break when a ruitinely loose chain slaps against it. The pieces then run through and jump the chain. This is what happens 90 some percent of the time.

The rattling will happen occasionally no matter what you do. If the rails are over 100k or 5 years old they are susceptible IF they are plastic. The early v8s had rubber bonded to aluminum and do not have this catastrophic risk problem. A 74 might have aluminum rails and thus have a significantly reduced exposure to the problem.

Proper maintenance will have the valve covers off a 1974 to adjust the valves every 15k and the state of the rails/chain should be evaluated then.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician