so I just picked up a 22re core motor to build. The timing chain had stretched to the point it wore a hole in the timing cover and left some rub marks on the head.

Should I even bother taking it to the machine shop? or is it automatically trash once the timing chain touches it?

 

if coolant got into the oil and into the bearings..... owch

 

the cover would be trash unless you can have someone weld in the grooves, be cheaper to replace the cover, but the head should be alright. Most people mistake a blown head gasket for the chain eating up the walls on the cover, & the coolant mixing after that.

 

Agree, I have bought a few 240's for motor swaps that turned out like this....