john73bb

I got my new Crane cam, lifters, pushrods, rocker arms, and valve springs today, and got the cam installed, the timing chain on, the timing chain cover (chrome :) ) on, and the harmonic balancer on. Time to degree the cam. But when I went to put in the pushrods, I realized that I had bought 3/8" (which I thought was stock size) but my engine had 5/16", and my new crane 3/8" pushrods won't fit in the guide plates made for the 5/16" pushrods.

Do I need the guide plates? Or should I just remove them?

Any thoughts on this topic? The car is used just for street, and will probably not even run above 5500 RPM.

Thanks,

John.

75rat

Yes, you need to run the guide plates. I assume by your signature, 73BB, you have a big block.

marky mark

75rat is correct. Comp cams I know carries the larger guide plates. They are not expensive.

john73bb

Rats, I was afraid of that. Maybe the local auto parts place will have a set. I'm not concerned about the money as much as the time to get them -- I was hoping to get it all back together this weekend.

Thanks,

John.

mountainmotor

Some of your local machine shops should have extras laying around

Alwyn678

Seal that chrome chain cover good..Mine kept leaking so I put an aluminum one on!!

john73bb

Where did it leak from? I had to really compress the rubber gasket along the bottom, I used silicon on both sides of the flat gasket, and I put a bunchof silicon at the joint between the rubber and the block.

The cover was a real bear to get on, I had to use a grip wrench to squeeze it down so it would go over the dowel pins. is that normal when putting one on without removing the oil pan?

john73bb

Mountainmotor,

Great suggestion. I found a set for $15.00. That's lots better than the new ones for anywhere from $35 to $50.

I'm picking them up this afternoon.