Mid cam swap engine inspection - take a look at these pics - see anything wrong?

[pnut]

OK, I'm in the middle of my cam swap and took some pictures. Please take a look and tell me if you see anything wrong (techninspector, Denny?). I did not but I just want a 2nd opinion before I button everything up. Also, the oil pan has a cover panel, is this maybe a windage tray? It has trap doors I can see (offroad needs this). Thanks in advance.

[pnut]

A few more pics

[Henry Rifle]

Going to fold those retainers up against the cam sprocket bolts?

[1JohnnyO]

That's what I was going to say....otherwise, it looks cool to me! Dont forget, one full revolution of the crank before you set up for TDC on the #1 cylinder...this is where lots of guys make a mistake.

[R Pope]

Are you absolutely certain you've got the right caps on all the rods? May be a trick of the light, but some of those caps look misaligned to me. See the bright line where the cap and rod join? That should be smooth, they're machined together.

[pnut]

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.

[R Pope]

As I said, it may be a trick of the light. If it was running for a while, they are probably right. Photos can highlight things that aren't really there.