Got my stuff from the machine shop. When I paint my block is it ok to leave the freeze plugs out or will they seal better with paint on them. The freeze plugs are brass so I thought it might look cool to keep that finish on them.

 

I want to paint the block, heads, and timing cover hemi orange but should I paint them individually then assemble or should I assembly it and then paint. Is there any benefit of getting paint on the sides of the gaskets and the bolt heads like will it seal up the engine better or anything?

 

I'd paint stuff OFF the engine.

But I'm also OCD, so that has something to do with it...

 

Ok should I also not get any paint on the back of the crankcase like where the flex plate is?

 

^^^ That won't hurt anything if you get paint back there. Once I have a motor at the longblock stage thats when it gets painted top to bottom, oil pan can be on or off but best if the intake is off the motor. Just tape the heck out the the mating surfaces of the heads, front and back gasket area on the block and cover the lifter valley well.

 

I decided not to get a regrind cam so I think I found the one I want. The specs are just like rednecks except it has .512 lift instead of .480 but when you calculate the the .480 with a 1.7 rocker that puts it at .512 so I'm gona go with the .512 cam with 1.6 rockers. The lsa is also 112 instead of 114 but I read that helps with torque. RPM range is 900-5200
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...rder=Ascending

 

with that lift make sure you get upgraded springs and retainers, might as well get some hardened push rods and new lifters too.

 

Yep gona get new lifters and pushrods and the right springs and retainers, should I get stock thicker casting heads with the right springs and retainers for about $700 or the iron ram 2.02 heads with stainless valves for $820?

 

go iron ram.

 

definitely spend the little extra for the eq heads. If they come with springs and retainers either order them with what you need or sell me the stock ones that it comes with.