Glad things are coming along nicely now. Just curious - what are those plastic looking things under the rocker arms that surround each pushrod?

 

They are guide plates for the push rods. When you convert from the stock pedestal mounts to studs you need to run them. Stock rockers align on the pedestal or if you use a roller rock designed for the pedestal mount. With studs the guide plates keep the push rods aligned which is also why you have to run hardened push rods.

I really HOPE all the drama is over with on the engine and I can focus on other things now.

 

Thanks for the info and it makes sense. I have just never seen the plastic inserts used with the guide plates before. Who makes those particular guide plates with those plastic inserts?

 

It's been so long since I'd bought them I'm not sure but here are some just like them on Ebay. Mopar use to sell a kit that was similar to these which was why I think I went with them.

3/8" Rocker Arm Guide Plate Conversion Kit Plates for Dodge Ford (Set of 16) | eBay

Here they are made by Crane.

Crane Cams 36655-16 Crane Rocker Arm Guideplate Conversion Kits | Summit Racing

 

Thanks for the info. When I get around to using the Edelbrock heads I have, I need to use Chevy style rocker arms, studs and guide plates, so I'll keep this design in mind.

 

Are they drilled for 3/8" studs? Stock is 5/16" and I didn't feel that they were enough so when I ordered the EQ heads I had them drilled.

I have Chevy Scorpion roller rockers on mine. Scorpion Racing Products SCP3025 Scorpion Endurance Series Rocker Arms | Summit Racing

 

Edelbrock heads come pre-drilled for 3/8" studs, as noted by the spec sheet - https://edelbrock-instructions-v1.s3...rock/61775.pdf

 

I use the same low-buck setup for pushrods/etc when I have engines apart. It works, and that's all I really care about.

 

I started out getting the intake cleaned up to reinstall it. Then put some Right Stuff around the water jackets on the heads then installed the gaskets and put some on that side also. Put right stuff on the china walls and was ready.




I set the intake done on the block. Then I torqued the intake down but went to 168 inch lbs instead of 144 inch lbs.



Got the fuel rails reinstalled and other things hooked up & then installed the parts for the front of the engine.




Hooked up the oil catch can. We'll see how much oil I can get trapped in there.

 

What's the info on that air compressor? Was that custom? Can you give as much info as possible? Wanting to do this to my Ram