Today I was so excited to get my lower manifold and valley pan gasket back on. Attempting a non leaking top-end I was super focused on cleaning all the matting surfaces and sealing everything to perfection. After completion and in awe of my excellent work I took this photo only to realize there was something critically wrong. Can anyone spot my mistake?

 

Heads are on the wrong sides according to your markings. But I thought they were interchangeable.

 

They are on in the correct orientation. I just marked them from the drivers perspective.

I forgot to insert the tappets and push rods!!

I'll have to disassemble it and get a new valley gasket and ends and do it all over again. What a bummer.

 

We can't know that the tappets aren't installed. Pushrods can be dropped in after the heads are in place.

 

Do you mean the lifters? Tappets, rocker arms, and push rods can be installed after you place the heads on.

 

I did the happy dance today!

Finally today after trying to do a drive cycle to get the EVAP sensor to kick on with no luck, I said what the heck, drove it to DEQ. They passed it! Tomorrow I go and get it titled and licensed.

 

Hmmmmm. I guess thats another thing I didn't think of.

 

YES. Lifters is indeed the proper term.

 

I'm a little behind following this thread, but yes, the pushrods and rocker arms can be installed after the lower intake --- if you're careful. I think I made the same error when I did the headgaskets on my truck six years and 48,000 miles ago.

It's really not that difficult. Insert each pushrod through its hole in the head maintaining the correct angle to contact the lifter cup. A little wiggling and looking at the angle of the pushrod should confirm you got it into the right position. Gravity will hold them in place (mostly) as you perform the next step. After you've done that with all eight pushrods on one side very carefully set the rocker shaft in place and get the rocker shaft bolts just started in their bores to hold the shafts in place. Then, as is says in the RAVE, "engage push rods" to ensure they are seated correctly in their recess on each rocker arm.

Again, you'll need to rely on feel and visual inspection to ensure each pushrod remains seated in its lifter cup. If one gets knocked out of its cup just put it back in place. A pushrod knocked out of place will not fall into the valley. It will just look oddly positioned.

Once this step is complete tighten the rocker shaft bolts per the RAVE, do another visual inspection and move on to the other head and the rest of the reassembly.

 

Congrats! Always nice to be through one of these silly hoops!