I always check end play. I had a machinist try and blame me for a new motor eating itself. He claimed the end play, I claimed the bearing wear too tight. I lost. I was actually exploding oil filters because the oil pressure was so high.

 

How high does it need to be to explode filters??? My Camaro starts up at close to 50psi, and I always let it warm up before revving it, as it can peg the oil gauge if I rev it cold.

I didn't make much progress today. Wanted to get the cam installed and the heads, but the crank gear fought me, so I finally gave up on it. Did get the cam lubed and in place, but no farther.
I'll get a different install tool and try the crank gear again tommorrow, but might have to pull it and start over again. It's only about 1/8" from seating against the shoulder, but it wont move that final bit. I tried a little heat with the install, but no luck.
Well there's another day, so no big deal. I think I'm gonna buy the kit that Autozone sells to install balancers and gears, and just have one for future uses.

 

I don't know how high. It was pegged the whole time. I tried a couple filters thinking the first one was just faulty. I gotta say the Moroso race filter is one tough SOB. Never popped.

I have a piece of pipe and a LARGE (2 1/2" x 1/4" thick) washer from work.I use that with the balancer installer for my gear.

 

Had to go buy a install tool kit today. My old homeamde installer was a piece of 7/16-20 threaded rod with a nut and one big washer, with a small washer. Always worked, but this crank gear was super snug and it wouldn't budge the last 1/8".
Autozone has a set that does every American made crank for $45, so I got it. I'm sure I'll use it again many times, so worth having it around when I need it.
Once I got the crank gear on I test fitted the gear drive set. As usual they always need the bumper ground to clear properly and also center on the cam and crank gears. This one was no exception so I went to work with the table top sander until it fit.
Got the heads installed and torqued, and I'll wait until tommorrow to check the torque again. I was looking at the intake runners and they sure are much improved over the old 882 heads I removed!
Here's a shot of the 882's:


Here's the new runners:


Did some test fitting of the roller rockers to ensure they ran across center on the valve stems. All looks good, so I wont need to change out pushrods to use the new 1.6 rockers. Also test fitted the stud girdles to see how they fit.


Soaked all the lifters overnight and lubed them with assembly lube before dropping them in the bores. Might get far enough along to fire this thing and break the cam in by the weekend!

 

Thats awesome. AFR drilled those heads so a Vortec intake will bolt on. I want a set badly. I just can do it without one last try with the Canfields. Your gonna love it.

I bet it will yank the fronts. WHEELIE BARS! Promise you'll take it to the track next year. I would guess a low 11 to high 10. Do you know the weight? I was sitting at 2775 with me in it, running 10.80's. I would have to say your combination is close.

We're gonna need video this weekend.

 

You must have read my mind! I was wondering if those weird vertical threaded holes were for a Vortec intake. Do the Vortecs only use 4 bolts on each side? (nevermind, brain fart. I know they use 4 bolts.)
The car weighed 2200 with the flathead and 4 speed. I'd guess I'm around 2500-2600 lbs. now, but not sure. I'd be tickled at 11's! A friend has an Anglia that very close to mine with a fairly stock 400 SBC, and turns 12.08 flat on a good day. I can keep up with him pretty good before, and hope I can smoke him once I'm done!

 

One other thing I noticed on these heads; the height is taller than the old heads. The valve cover sealing area is raised 1/2" on the ex. side, and 3/8" on the int. side. Just enough that my new welded valve covers have about 3/8" clearance to the stud girdles.
Good thinking on their part, as I couldn't use the girdles had they not raised the casting surface!

 

Thats exactly why they're raised. I would bet my lunch your going deep 11's at least. The only thig stopping you would be traction. Not always a bad thing.

 

I want to check this thing out sometime, I work in Portland.

 

Sure thing MusicMan! Just drop me a PM.