Super thanks for all the input, I appreciate a good double check from others with more experience than me. I have never built an engine from scratch, and this is my first deep internal work.


Just some history, the engine was already assembled bought used last year, this is just a pan off inspection while I am doing a cam swap.

- I have already bent the retainers on the cam bolts, that pic was early. I wanted to double check my work before bending them over.

- The orange nut may be a trick of the light, but more likely a slightly rusty nut? It's been fine until now, I wonder if this is really a worry

- yeah, the scratches in the cylinder walls are not great, but not TOO deep. I hopefully will get some more time before I have to teardown all the way and rebuild.

- I did recheck the oil pump bolts, they were good.

- I guess I can't say if the caps are right, that is the way it was already on the engine before I did the cam swap. When my friend did his SNC, his were like this too. ??

- For timing, I have been rotating the engine to get the cylinders up to do valve spring change with cylinders on the head, so I'm planning on doing timing from scratch anyhow. I normally do the method of tissue in spark plug hole and rotate engine. When the tissue pops out (cyl #1), I rotate to 10 degrees, and that is where I will start the engine.

- Denny, are the clearances you mention change much over time (if things were ok before, do I need to be concerned now)?

Thanks again, let me know if you see anything funny further.