Best Head Gasket for my 427 SO

[Gaz64]

We all understand Steve, sometimes a fresh start in the next day is good.

[undy]

I would, at a minimum, spin that engine and carefully inspect the cam gear through the distributor hole. Chances are the cam is damaged too, requiring replacement.

[patrickt]

Well, I can't remember ever changing out an FE intake and bending two PRs and munging the distributor gear in the process. Leaks? Yes. Misalignments? Yes. Cracking pieces? Yes. Leaving wrenches in the valley? Yes. But never bending rods and eating gears. But I guess it's possible though.

[steve meltzer]

I wish I knew where ( or if) I went wrong here. I did spin the engine by hand and saw no damage to the reciprocal gear on the cam. Planning to put it back together after buying all new rods and of course, the gear. My next question is which PRs do i get? I didn't see any on Summit's site that were the exact length. Diameter, yes, but not the precise length. Should Summit also have the distributor drive gear?

Here's how I set the lash: I marked the pulley off in 90° increments and then followed the firing order as I set the intake and an exhaust on that respective cylinder.

thanx. s

[blykins]

You can run the valves that way but the most accurate way is to use the EVO method: set the intake valve when the exhaust valve starts to open and set the exhaust valve when the intake valve starts to close.

What length do you need, and what configuration? I most likely have all that stuff.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by steve meltzer

I wish I knew where ( or if) I went wrong here.

You know all push rods are not created equal. Some are stronger than others and the weak ones can get bent slightly just from "bad circumstances." I take it these were "lightly bent" and not pretzel-rods. I still don't know how it happened.

[steve meltzer]

the worst one was about 20°. Mr. Lykins, email me off line to discuss.
thanx steve

<scheherazade@swbell.net>

[olddog]

Brent can advise you far better than I, but I would look at the bent pushrods and see if there's any indication that they rubbed the through holes in the intake. Since the intake was off and back on, it may have been positioned differently. That slight change may have caused the push rods to rub, where they just barely missed before.

If memory serves, the distributor mounts through a hole in the intake. I seem to recall some folks claiming the intake needs to be aligned much like a bell-housing, with regard to the distributor. I do not know how critical it is to do this or what tolerance is acceptable. I mention it because the intake work may be the common denominator to explain everything that you have found wrong. Honestly I doubt this, but I toss it out to get you checking all this out. I'd hate to see things go wrong again.

[Large Arbor]

Steve,

A couple of other items. I have the factory OEM rocker assembly in Edelbrock heads. If you do not get the pushrods seated properly or they move when tightenting down the rocker, you can bend them. I have also seen rockers back off, but I defer to the experts on the cause of that.

Phil

[blykins]

Phil's comment is probably the source of a lot of pushrod-frustration.

Depending on the lifter, sometimes the pushrods don't end up centered in the bottom of them and it's a chore to keep all the rocker arm adjusters on the pushrods at once when you're sliding a rocker assembly on.

When I assemble, I put assembly lube on the lifter ends of the pushrods, slide them through the intake, then take a pen light and make sure they're all down inside the lifters.

[steve meltzer]

OK, got the intake manifold gasket on with no leaks...but it took adult supervision and lots of "The Right Stuff" (which I used before) to get her dry. Drove her yesterday in the excellent weather and no there were no disappointments. But, since I've run out of room, she'll be for sale soon. thanx again. steve

[patrickt]

OK, so now the car: 1) starts normally (without eating flywheel or starter motor teeth); 2) idles normally (with no gas flying out the top or sides of the carb); 3) accelerates normally; 4) cruises normally; and 5) leaves no puddles?

[steve meltzer]

Hard to believe, but yes, yes, yes, yes and yes!! way cool. s

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by steve meltzer

Hard to believe, but yes, yes, yes, yes and yes!! way cool. s

You watch, it'll start showing symptoms of preeclampsia by the end of the week....

[steve meltzer]

haven't done OB in 18 years, but I think the starting dose is Mag Sulphate (note the proper English spelling!) 2 grams, IV, bolus. Too funny! s

[Large Arbor]

Steve,

Good to hear that all is running well now. So why you selling? Seems that you have your issues solved.

Phil

[steve meltzer]

I've been fortunate to own a number of cars and recently purchased a '74 Carrera and now need the room. I've got one car farmed out to a friend, but don't want to overstay my welcome, and would like to have my brood under one garage roof. I've owned the car from new and it's time to move on. s