To the left are 8 new rod bearings, cleaned,
sorted and ready to go. To the right is a pic of the block with the main bearings installed.
Here's a couple of pics of the ARP main bearing
cap stud kit installed. The bolts with the extended length are used to
support the windage tray. I didn't realize it at the time but I later
had to remove one of the extended studs and replace it with a short one to
allow room for the oil dip-stick and tube.
I had to drill an additional hole in the windage
tray to accommodate one of the studs in the ARP stud kit.
Pic I took at random of a lobe on the Comp Cam.
To the right is a pic of the end of the new Comp Cams custom grind camshaft
I'm using. Specs are 218/224 on 114, mild for a 383.
Here I'm measuring the compression height-- the
difference between the cylinder deck and the piston crown. This
clearance DIRECTLY affects compression ratio and was the 'Wild-Card' of this
whole project. A stock LT1 is about .030 with a compression ratio of
10.4:1. This measurement was ZERO on my last 383 sending the c/r way
too high. I'd be happier with a little more clearance than .009 but I
can compensate a little by using a thicker cylinder head gasket. I
calculate the compression ratio to be about 10.5:1 this time around.
Here's the block with the windage tray and oil pump installed.
Look closely at the pic on the right and you can
see why I had to install a shorter stud on bearing cap number 4. The
dip-stick is perfectly lined-up with it. Good thing I discovered this
now and not after the engine was back in the car!!!!
Pic on the left is of the front of the block
with the water pump drive shaft installed. Pic to the right is of the
cam being degreed. It came in perfectly on spec at 110. Go Comp
Cams!!!
Block with the front timing chain cover
installed. To the right is a pic of the block with lifters and lifter
retainer(spider) installed.