Some engine assembly help.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
Some engine assembly help.
It has been about 15 years since the last time I put an engine together. The last few big blocks I have brought all the parts to machine shop and he has assembled them for me. Don't rag me for asking for this advice, but I just want to get it right.
I just need some pointers to jog the old memory. I bought a 355 short block from ATK and I bought a Edelbrock top end set with the Performer RPM roller cam. So the hard work is done.
I have the lifters sitting in oil. I will put assembly lube on all moving parts.
Lifter adjustment, best way. I used to do it with the intake off and put the lobe on the heal and adjust it that way.
Oil pump..should I tack the pickup to the pump or make a small bracket and tack that to the pickup and bolt it to the pump.
I just have to check on one thing. Do I have to change the distributor gear for the cam. It is an accell hei distributor.
I just need some pointers to jog the old memory. I bought a 355 short block from ATK and I bought a Edelbrock top end set with the Performer RPM roller cam. So the hard work is done.
I have the lifters sitting in oil. I will put assembly lube on all moving parts.
Lifter adjustment, best way. I used to do it with the intake off and put the lobe on the heal and adjust it that way.
Oil pump..should I tack the pickup to the pump or make a small bracket and tack that to the pickup and bolt it to the pump.
I just have to check on one thing. Do I have to change the distributor gear for the cam. It is an accell hei distributor.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
Your old way of lifter adjustment is a very good one.
Get the lifter on the base circle of the cam and set the preload to 1/2 to 1 turn, depending on what the mfg suggests.
I prefer to tack weld the pick up to the pump. Lots are just using a bracket successfully though.
It depends on what the cam gear is made of.
If its a cast (austempered) cam, then a stock gear should be fine.
If its billet cam with a pressed on cast gear, a stock dist gear is fine.
If its a 100% billet cam & gear, you'll need to change the distributor gear.
Get the lifter on the base circle of the cam and set the preload to 1/2 to 1 turn, depending on what the mfg suggests.
I prefer to tack weld the pick up to the pump. Lots are just using a bracket successfully though.
It depends on what the cam gear is made of.
If its a cast (austempered) cam, then a stock gear should be fine.
If its billet cam with a pressed on cast gear, a stock dist gear is fine.
If its a 100% billet cam & gear, you'll need to change the distributor gear.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
Your old way of lifter adjustment is a very good one.
Get the lifter on the base circle of the cam and set the preload to 1/2 to 1 turn, depending on what the mfg suggests.
I prefer to tack weld the pick up to the pump. Lots are just using a bracket successfully though.
It depends on what the cam gear is made of.
If its a cast (austempered) cam, then a stock gear should be fine.
If its billet cam with a pressed on cast gear, a stock dist gear is fine.
If its a 100% billet cam & gear, you'll need to change the distributor gear.
Get the lifter on the base circle of the cam and set the preload to 1/2 to 1 turn, depending on what the mfg suggests.
I prefer to tack weld the pick up to the pump. Lots are just using a bracket successfully though.
It depends on what the cam gear is made of.
If its a cast (austempered) cam, then a stock gear should be fine.
If its billet cam with a pressed on cast gear, a stock dist gear is fine.
If its a 100% billet cam & gear, you'll need to change the distributor gear.
Thanks for the input. I will call edelbrock and find out about the cam gear.
Any other things would be appreciated.
