Taking heads off this weekend, exhaust manifold bolt concerns
Just got off the phone with the shop. He wanted to confirm we I wanted to do. After talking with him some more, I changed my mind. I am going with chevy small block springs. They will have a 94 lb seat pressure. More than the stock springs 76 lbs, but less than the Crower springs, 104 lbs.
Its $190 cheaper to go with the chevy springs. Crower Springs and retainers ($171 - 15% restock fee) and save $80 on the spring seat machining. The springs are only $36.
Its $190 cheaper to go with the chevy springs. Crower Springs and retainers ($171 - 15% restock fee) and save $80 on the spring seat machining. The springs are only $36.
Picked up the heads today. Placed the gaskets and heads on the block. Threaded the studs into the block. I also picked up some brass rod from ACE to measure the lifter preload. They had 020 and 1/16". 1/16 was the closest to 060 I could find. I hope to have it back together and running this weekend.
Last edited by acamato; Aug 20, 2014 at 09:03 PM.
Saturday, I got torqued the head studs (I did 75 ft lbs), bolted up the exhaust manifolds and oil pan installed. I installed the rocker arm shafts and started measuring lifter preload. I had to shim the pedstals. I fabricated shims from aluminum step flashing from Lowes. It is 0.015 thick. I cut 3/4" strips then cut thrm to 1.25" long. I used a paper hole punch (1/4") for the oil hole and drilled a 3/8" hole for the bolt. I installed the shims today and everything else. I started it up around 7PM and ran it for 30 mins above 2000 rpm. Shut it down, ate dinner then did an oil change.
Saturday, I got torqued the head studs (I did 75 ft lbs), bolted up the exhaust manifolds and oil pan installed. I installed the rocker arm shafts and started measuring lifter preload. I had to shim the pedstals. I fabricated shims from aluminum step flashing from Lowes. It is 0.015 thick. I cut 3/4" strips then cut thrm to 1.25" long. I used a paper hole punch (1/4") for the oil hole and drilled a 3/8" hole for the bolt. I installed the shims today and everything else. I started it up around 7PM and ran it for 30 mins above 2000 rpm. Shut it down, ate dinner then did an oil change.
Here is a page that shows the dimemsions for the shim. http://www.jaguardiy.net/html/hydraulic_lifters.html
Yes. I should have taken some photos of the project. Especially of the SBC springs installed.
I still need to evacuate and recharge my AC. I left the compressor unplugged.
I had a few opps along the way.
- didn't notice that the green wire that bolts to the rear of the upper intake manifold was caught in the valve cover gasket until I had the upper intake installed. Had to remove the upper intake to loosed up the valve cover to get the wire out.
- threw out the throttle body to expansion tank line, I thought it was the broken radiator to expansion tank line that I had a new one for. (Used a rubber hose until I can order a replacement)
Temp never went over 200 deg (per Ultragauge).
I had a few opps along the way.
- didn't notice that the green wire that bolts to the rear of the upper intake manifold was caught in the valve cover gasket until I had the upper intake installed. Had to remove the upper intake to loosed up the valve cover to get the wire out.
- threw out the throttle body to expansion tank line, I thought it was the broken radiator to expansion tank line that I had a new one for. (Used a rubber hose until I can order a replacement)
Temp never went over 200 deg (per Ultragauge).
Last edited by acamato; Sep 22, 2014 at 02:37 PM.



