Update:
As of 5 days ago, the engine is back in the car, reconnected, and started successfully on the second try.
Surprisingly, there were NO leaks whatsoever. In its current setup, the oil cooler circuit is bypassed, so that I could run the engine up to operating temperature(twice), and have already changed out the oil and filter, to remove any metal/ particles. I will do a 2nd oil change in about 500 miles, and then reconnect the cooler system at that time.
Here's an interesting issue I've had, ever since I installed the BC cams: I could NOT set ignition timing to the proper spec.
On one CPS tooth, it would be a minimum of 20 degrees advanced, and on the next tooth, a maximum of 0 degrees. I could not get it any closer using the adjustment range of the cps. My conclusion, is that BC didn't really pay attention to the drive gear alignment, when they cut the teeth into the exhaust cam.
But here's the interesting thing: I pulled the cps, planning to remove the drive gear, and redrill a new hole, to shift it's position by half a tooth. But- I realized that there are 13 teeth on the gear. If there were and even number, that would mean that however one side of the gear lined up to its dowel hole, the other side would be identical. but because there are 13, the opposite side of the gear lines up exactly half a tooth off from TDC alignment. Hopefully that makes sense.
What it meant for me was, all I had to do was pull the gear off, and turn it 180 degrees, in order to get a middle ground, between my too-retarded and too-advanced timing points. Now I get 10 degrees btc, no problem. So that's one more issue solved.
As far as I can tell, I only have one issue left before a test drive: The three coolant hex plugs in the center valley of the head, are ALL weeping coolant when fully warmed up. I don't know if the machine shop removed those for cleaning, or if cleaning the head externally has eroded the sealant on them or something, but I have to pull them and reseal. Not a big deal, hopefully.
My one concern with the engine was the vacuum: I was getting 20 inhg before, but with the cam swap, I only get about 14 inhg. I did some online reading however, and apparently, this is exactly the number I should be getting with the stage 2 cams.
So hopefully this coming week, I will finally get a chance to bring this car onto the road, and actually drive it for the 1st time since the Green Bay Packers were Superbowl champs.
PS- Pics to follow.
As of 5 days ago, the engine is back in the car, reconnected, and started successfully on the second try.
Surprisingly, there were NO leaks whatsoever. In its current setup, the oil cooler circuit is bypassed, so that I could run the engine up to operating temperature(twice), and have already changed out the oil and filter, to remove any metal/ particles. I will do a 2nd oil change in about 500 miles, and then reconnect the cooler system at that time.
Here's an interesting issue I've had, ever since I installed the BC cams: I could NOT set ignition timing to the proper spec.
On one CPS tooth, it would be a minimum of 20 degrees advanced, and on the next tooth, a maximum of 0 degrees. I could not get it any closer using the adjustment range of the cps. My conclusion, is that BC didn't really pay attention to the drive gear alignment, when they cut the teeth into the exhaust cam.
But here's the interesting thing: I pulled the cps, planning to remove the drive gear, and redrill a new hole, to shift it's position by half a tooth. But- I realized that there are 13 teeth on the gear. If there were and even number, that would mean that however one side of the gear lined up to its dowel hole, the other side would be identical. but because there are 13, the opposite side of the gear lines up exactly half a tooth off from TDC alignment. Hopefully that makes sense.
What it meant for me was, all I had to do was pull the gear off, and turn it 180 degrees, in order to get a middle ground, between my too-retarded and too-advanced timing points. Now I get 10 degrees btc, no problem. So that's one more issue solved.
As far as I can tell, I only have one issue left before a test drive: The three coolant hex plugs in the center valley of the head, are ALL weeping coolant when fully warmed up. I don't know if the machine shop removed those for cleaning, or if cleaning the head externally has eroded the sealant on them or something, but I have to pull them and reseal. Not a big deal, hopefully.
My one concern with the engine was the vacuum: I was getting 20 inhg before, but with the cam swap, I only get about 14 inhg. I did some online reading however, and apparently, this is exactly the number I should be getting with the stage 2 cams.
So hopefully this coming week, I will finally get a chance to bring this car onto the road, and actually drive it for the 1st time since the Green Bay Packers were Superbowl champs.
PS- Pics to follow.