[MBZ] timing is EVERYTHING!

[kevin kraly]

Just as the subject line says, TIMING IS EVERYTHING!  I took the valve cover 
off this little 220D today and checked things over.  It appears that the 
TIMING is far from perfect right now.  There are points in the engine 
revolution where the chain can be lifted away from the cam sprocket anywhere 
from 1/4 to about 1/2 of an inch.  For some reason, this doesn't seem normal 
to me.  I think that this engine is in need of a new chain.  However, I 
don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on this engine if it's warn out. 
Any suggestions on what I should do would be appreciated!

Kevin in Hillsboro Oregon
1973 220D project?  Parts car?  Junker?