62Ranchero200
Famous Member
I picked up the aluminum head from the machine shop yesterday. It's been milled .056 (bringing the chambers down to 47 cc), valve guides were machined down somewhat less than .100 (there's an unexpected steel piece at the base of the valve guide that causes issues with machining the guides), and mild porting was done.
I now have everything I need except for the camshaft dowel pin. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the pin was loose (can move it at least 1/16") and fell into the oil pan when I removed the camshaft gear. Pulled the pan (after disconnecting the steering centerlink and under engine brace) and retrieved the pin, but don't want to use it, as loose as it is. Ordered a new pin from Vintage Inlines Sunday, and so far the pin has made it to the US Post Office in Detroit. It's scheduled for delivery tomorrow night, but I'm skeptical that it will arrive on time. Local auto parts stores don't have it, Rock Auto is out of stock, and my machinist doesn't have one in that size (1/4" x 3/8"). My machinist ordered some from one of this vendors, McMaster-Carr, but no idea how long that will take to arrive.
Warning - Vent: This is a $1 pin (less if purchased in bulk; McMaster-Carr sells 25 of them for $10), not locally available, holding up a $1,000 project; why can't all camshaft and timing gearset vendors just include it whenever they sell a camshaft or timing gear?! To me, this is almost like selling a car without a key, then waiting weeks while someone ships you a key.
Question: would it be safe enough to temporarily assemble with the loose pin to degree the cam? (the oil pan remains off, so small parts can't fall into the pan as I assemble and disassemble).
Otherwise, I'll be cleaning and painting, since I can't really assemble much (fuel pump, timing cover, not sure about water pump [can timing cover be installed after water pump is installed?], water pump pulley, fan, radiator, electric pusher fan) until final assembly of the cam/timing gearset. Can't install lifters until cam is installed for the final time, and can't install head permanently until lifters are installed.
Thanks
Bob
I now have everything I need except for the camshaft dowel pin. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the pin was loose (can move it at least 1/16") and fell into the oil pan when I removed the camshaft gear. Pulled the pan (after disconnecting the steering centerlink and under engine brace) and retrieved the pin, but don't want to use it, as loose as it is. Ordered a new pin from Vintage Inlines Sunday, and so far the pin has made it to the US Post Office in Detroit. It's scheduled for delivery tomorrow night, but I'm skeptical that it will arrive on time. Local auto parts stores don't have it, Rock Auto is out of stock, and my machinist doesn't have one in that size (1/4" x 3/8"). My machinist ordered some from one of this vendors, McMaster-Carr, but no idea how long that will take to arrive.
Warning - Vent: This is a $1 pin (less if purchased in bulk; McMaster-Carr sells 25 of them for $10), not locally available, holding up a $1,000 project; why can't all camshaft and timing gearset vendors just include it whenever they sell a camshaft or timing gear?! To me, this is almost like selling a car without a key, then waiting weeks while someone ships you a key.
Question: would it be safe enough to temporarily assemble with the loose pin to degree the cam? (the oil pan remains off, so small parts can't fall into the pan as I assemble and disassemble).
Otherwise, I'll be cleaning and painting, since I can't really assemble much (fuel pump, timing cover, not sure about water pump [can timing cover be installed after water pump is installed?], water pump pulley, fan, radiator, electric pusher fan) until final assembly of the cam/timing gearset. Can't install lifters until cam is installed for the final time, and can't install head permanently until lifters are installed.
Thanks
Bob