Is It Best to Go With A double Row Timing Chain?

[kyreb1862]

I know the book calls for a single row chain for an 80 MGB but I have decided to go with a double row chain. I pulled the timing cover on my engine this weerkend and found a badly worn tensioner and a badly worn cam gear that had not been installed properly (marks not aligned correctly) and a 0ne degree offset key instead of the specified 5 degree key (Crane Cam). Also, I noticed that the tensioner had been installed without the gasket called for in the parts break down, would this cause a problem? Will I be OK to change to the double row chain? It looks like a much stronger setup.

 

[DrEntropy]

Tensioner relies on oil pressure to push it out as the chain changes, no gasket could have allowed the oil to escape before it actuated the presser foot. That may have contributed to the issue you found.

If the single-row chain, sprockets and tensioner are correctly installed it should last a lot longer than 30K miles! More like 90~100K.