I finally got some time to work on the engine - .020" head shims are in with spray Hylomar.... it might hold pressure better than Copper Spray-A-Gasket, but it's not quite as easy to work with and I don't think it goes on as thin...... anyway, the shims and heads are torqued down.

The Diamante heads are mildly ported, with new valve stem seals, new valve springs and a 3 angle valve grind..... OE composition head gaskets, ARP head studs torqued to 87 lb-ft w/ARP moly lube - about 130 lb-ft equivalent w/oil.... should hold some pressure.

I was just about to make a set of adjustable cam sprockets, but first I put the Diamante cams in just to see if the head shims gave me back enough deck height to make it easier to use the eccentric cam bushings..... in combination with the new block and different heads, they made quite a difference and moved the base setting about 3? more advanced than the previous engine, so I will try the Diamante cams once more.

Both cams are now degreed with the intake C/Ls at 107.5? ATDC, a 7.5? advance from OE Diamante. That should give me back the bottom end torque and raise cylinder pressure some.... we'll see what happens..... hope it's not too much. It won't be as long now as it has been:



Frank