Cam Swap

[Old Dog]

Something else I´ve discovered about my head gaskets.
I use a Clevite Nitroseal 5746 gasket which is 0.026 compressed thickness,
this gives me the ideal quench, my pistons being 0.020 down the hole.
But I have found out these gaskets lack cooling holes between the center cylinders which
because of my overheating issues I think I need.
So when this all goes back together I´m going to open up those holes...

Clevite gasket.


A Fel Pro gasket.

I think those steam holes are for use with a 400 cid block not normally used on a 350 block. Might want to double check on this before you drill some holes.

[malc]

Imagine me screaming expleteves.....
the seals are on backorder.....
won't ship until 16 Jan. 2018.

[fatguyzinc]

I think those steam holes are for use with a 400 cid block not normally used on a 350 block. Might want to double check on this before you drill some holes.

[malc]

as well.

I´ve been laying them on the block and heads to see what lines up where.
Weird how large holes in block and head are semi blocked by small holes in the gaskets.

Nothing drilled....

[malc]

I´ve now got the timing chain on and cover, not using the Edelbrock timing chain as they demand,
using any other could result in disaster and voided warranty......
I am using their suggested valve springs, again use of any other brings down the wrecking devils and voids any warranty....

I cancelled my valve stem seals order at Summit, can´t wait until February for them, so I ordered them from Jegs,
should ship out 2nd January...

I´ve had the valves out on one head.....oh dear so crudded up, intake/exhaust runners and the valves,
so they won´t be done until the seals get here...

Next up is the oil pan seal, got a new one to fit, fiddly job, have to remove starter motor too.

At least my timing marker is now spot on, I did the piston stop method before and it was waaaay out, like
5 degrees BTDC....

[malc]

How things accumulate......
I had the oil pan off and stripped the icky paint
off it then hammered it back into oil pan shape.
After a paint job I eventually got it back on with a new FelPro one piece gasket..
Wow is that a fat gasket ?
I had to jack the pan rail up into place stud by stud
getting just enough threads to start the nuts.
Now that's the bottom done I'll be back de gunking the heads......need a hot tank.

[Deaf Bob]

Might as well lap the valves while you have it apart...

[malc]

Might as well lap the valves while you have it apart...

Right.....that's on the cards too.

[malc]

I got 3 valves nicely lapped and installed today.

[malc]

Challenging day today, those valves came out again so´s I could recheck the stem seals.....
Another I installed before the metal washer under the spring, I ordered 18 seals just in case....I did something daft....

Then I lost a valve lock.....had to crawl about with a flashlight until luckily I found it.

So one head IS done..

[malc]

I finally got some other head gaskets, I´ll be losing some compression but
I have more faith in them than the Victor Reinz.
I have installed Fel-Pro´s 1043, which I found out have better cooling to the
center cylinders, between the exhaust ports.

Today I cracked on, we had great sunshine, installed the rockers and headers
which are refreshed with black paint.
Weather permitting I´ll get the valves done and install the intake.

[malc]

I´m only getting a few hours in a day, as I´m in the shade it takes awhile for my work area to warm up.
Today I primed the motor, all rockers got oil except number two exhaust....and I kept at it...fritzing the drill in the process,
even had a hair dryer blowing cold air on to it....
I took the rocker off, blew it through no blockages, did the same with the pushrod.
Then I looked in at the top of the lifter, as I primed I saw oil moving out the top of the lifter....so.....

End of today...


Whadda ya think of the new rocker covers....too blingy ?

If you can get close on the drill photo you can see it smoking, stayed hot a long time..

[Deaf Bob]

Love the valve covers.. Looks mean!

[cstmwgn]

I LOVE sheet metal valve covers! They look right at home on your engine and are beautiful to boot!

[malc]

First valve covers I´ve had where the grommets fit tight.
Just got to install the radiator, fill it and crank the motor.

Probably won´t happen until Thursday...