should my timing chain have play

[SKYLARK GS 455]

hello out there
i bought a 72 gs 455 parts car for the mtr that im puting in my 70 convertible it sounds good except i hear a rattle somewere near the bottom of the distributor ,i took it apart this week end to inspect but everything looks ok the noise sounded like a gear rattle . i noticed the timing chain has about a 1/4 or little less of play could this be the noise ? can it have play and if so how much. also could the oil pump make this noise ? the oil press guage was fine.
thanks

[bobc455]

The timing chain will have a bit of play, and that doesn't sound like very much so I think you are in good shape.

There is an oil slinger on the front of the cam - is that installed firmly? If it is swinging around loose, that might sound funny. I did that on one motor, and every time I shut the engine down there was an extra "ringing" noise as the slinger swung around in there.

-Bob C.