Over the years I have been purchasing and have acquired every freakin part and bolt for this motor. I even made my own torque plate because the shop didn't have one. The only things I don't know for certain are if my existing rods are ok or need replacing. Once my back orders arrive from TA, the only other items I need are a gasket kit, head gaskets, Main bearings, Rod bearings. This is a 10:1 425hp 500lb/f under 5200 rpm motor for a 67 skylark cruiser. Do main & rod bearing manufacturers matter and if so, what brands should I specifically ask for? Gasket kits. I have front and rear main seals but thats it. So are there good, better, best in gasket kit brands? Do machine shops get bent if I provide a gasket kit? I don't want to piss em off. Head gaskets. Do I just get an orange crush set and consider it done? What about the composite intake gaskets. I bought the TA splash tray that gets screwed on so that I can use the composites plus with head decking and block decking lord knows what the gaps will be. Or at this point do I just go to the shop and say hand me back my assembled short/long block and let them provide gaskets? Thanks guys. It's been a long slow road for sure.
JW had a thread listing all of the preferred gasket manufacturers and which gaskets to use. I'll see if I can find it... If your rods do happen to check out ok, at least spring for new rod bolts. Or new studs if you can swing it $$. Many Buick engines have been sacrificed at the altar of reusing stock 40-50 year old rod bolts. It's cheap insurance....
I have new everything bolts. rods and head, plus main studs etc. I was under the impression valley pans gaskets were a bitch if block was decked much. So just a simple felpro head gasket too? Well that seems easy, it's only $69 for a basic gasket kit.
