Night 2

[knochgoon24]

5:30am and night 2 is finally done. I really wanted to have the cams in by the end of today, but it took me a little longer than I planed to get the trans cooler mounted.

I know most people usually mount the trans cooler vertically, but the stock SMIC duct covers more area if the cooler is horizontal. I made my own mounting bracket out of 1"x1/4" aluminum bar. It's a tight fit, but it does fit.
View attachment 1615

After getting the trans cooler finally mounted, I figured I'd try an easier project. I pulled the battery tray and charcoal canister. It wasn't much easier, but at least it's out of there. I may keep all my vacuum lines hooked up where they tuck behind the intake manifold then cap them off there so it looks like I still have the emissions stuff.

I might try to stick the cruise control stuff down there in that hole on a custom bracket. Not sure yet. I want to keep the cruise control, but I hate the mess.
View attachment 1616

This is the tool that was recommended to me to use for removing and installing the keepers. It works great for removing most of the keepers, but you can see where it doesn't fit. It just doesn't work for two.
View attachment 1617
I don't like this tool for installing the keepers. You really have to smack it to get them on and the handle is too large and I managed to crush a cam cap dowel with it, and I only have 1 valve done
I'm going to look into installing them a different way tomorrow.

I used a 9/16" deep well socket with two magnets in it. It worked great for removing the keepers from the cramped area. The tool above will work for installing them in this tight space (reportedly).
View attachment 1618

The new hardware for the head. Evo 8-9 springs and retainers, revised lifters, and new valve stem seals.
View attachment 1619

The Evo stuff is so much cleaner. My engine has at least 100k miles on it. If anyone wants to test my old valve springs, they can have them for free. I'm just curious how worn out they may be.
View attachment 1620

I baked my valve cover to cure the VHT high temp white primer that I have on it. It yellowed as soon as the temps got above 400°F. The final cure was at 550°F.
The oven must not have been that hot for in quite a while and smoked a ton. It actually set the smoke alarms off. I woke my family up at 3am.
View attachment 1621

This is the color the valve cover will be. I'm hoping the high temp primer will help this paint stick. If it doesn't, I'll just finally get it powder coated.
View attachment 1622

The garage at the end of day 2. You can see all the smoke. It's a combination of the smoke from the oven and smoke from the kerosene heaters.
View attachment 1623

Tomorrow's plans include:
-Finish head stuff
-Install new timing belt
-Change the oil and install oil pressure sender
-Fill the transmission
and
-Get the IC piping sorted out

 

[tristanmb81]

! you car crazy cooking that valve cover and i hope your entire family is wearing respirators. thats the best ramp i have ever seen. keep up the good work

Tristan

 

[talonalex92]

That ramp, is the hokey-est thing I have ever seen. I hope there is a stand hiding somewhere in there.

 

[GSXSixteenG]

Yea, those ramps are classic. You need to pick yourself up a nice jack and some jack stands. Great progress so far though. The next step for me is evo springs and retainers.

 

[knochgoon24]

There are jack stands under there. Those ramps are actually a lot stronger than they look though.

I do have 3 jacks and 4 jack stands, but getting it up in the air with the ramps is so much easier. We tested the ramps with my dad's pickup before using them with the car.

 

[m_0ney_pit]

dude that color for the VC is terrible

 

[knochgoon24]

Eh. We'll see. It's been several colors already. If I don't like it I'll just pull it off and strip the paint again. It's darker than it is in that photo. I just couldn't stand the baby blue anymore.