[chiphead]

Swapping balancers on a pontiac is typically OK. Was the rotating assy balanced with this ATI unit, and do you know how far off it was from neutral balance?

Stock replacement may be OK for 5K RPM or less. If youre gonna run it hard, there are a few decent options in the $200-300 range and a few very good ones in the 300-500 range.

[racerboy]

Thanks chiphead
I'll look around to see what's out there.

[racerboy]

A couple of rookie questions as I start reassembling the 428.

I think I got the timing marks lined up (ea at 12:00) but figured I’d show you all a pic.


It looks like the little sleeve that helps line up the timing cover is crooked. Not sure if you can see it in this picture but should that be straight? Also, there isn’t one at all on the right side. I checked the timing cover and it wasn’t there either. I’m assuming I should get a new set of these but figured I’d check.





In the GTO, this motor had a Canton pan on it, and the oil pump has a pickup that is lower than the pump. I am not sure If the pan I have will work for an F-body. I do have a stock pan, but it has no baffle. Would you recommend replacing the pickup and running a stock pan, or just put the Canton back on and hope it fits?




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[grandam1979]

The fuel pump eccentric is not bolted up correctly

[tom s]

the timing chain looks loose for a new chain?Tom

[racerboy]

Originally Posted by grandam1979

The fuel pump eccentric is not bolted up correctly

I thought I lined up the little tang with a hole in the sprocket. I will take it apart tomorrow.


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[racerboy]

Originally Posted by tom s

the timing chain looks loose for a new chain?Tom

Hi Tom
I thought I could just reuse the chain I took off when I disassembled it. There’s less than 10k miles on it. Should I just buy a new timing set?


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[tom s]

some things I change whenever I see them.Timing chains,throwout bearing,pilot bearings,etc.Tom

[1968GTO421]

Originally Posted by tom s

some things I change whenever I see them.Timing chains,throwout bearing,pilot bearings,etc.Tom

I agree with Tom on this subject, much easier to do when engine is down then when its on the road on a dark and rainy night.

Some timing chain companies like Cloyes will replace just the chain on one of their timing sets if the gears are in great shape. Might be a way to save, especially if you have a quality timing set to begin with.

As for your missing timing cover dowell, your machinist might have one laying around in his shop.

[steve25]

Before you slap back on that timing cover be sure to antiseize the whole inboard shank of those timing cover studs!

[racerboy]

Originally Posted by tom s

some things I change whenever I see them.Timing chains,throwout bearing,pilot bearings,etc.Tom

Thanks Tom. I see that Butler sells a replacement chain for this Rollmaster timing set, so I can just order one of those.

[racerboy]

Originally Posted by steve25

Before you slap back on that timing cover be sure to antiseize the whole inboard shank of those timing cover studs!

Will do! Thanks for the tip!

[racerboy]

As I was cleaning up the heads before placing them back on the block, i noticed that the exhaust flange had a lot of RTV sealant. I think I had someone swap out 4-tube headers for RA manifolds years ago. Is it possible they used only RTV and no steel gasket, or do people typically use both? The RTV was still relatively soft and pliable. I scraped it off with a putty knife.

[steve25]

Well there is a high temp gold colored rtv , but just a steel gasket that is coated with antisize should be all that’s needed unless either flange has some good scratches in it ?
If that’s the case then I would run a composite type gasket to insure a good seal.

[johnta1]

The fuel pump eccentric is not seated on the cam snout.
The cam should stick out of the timing gear, then the eccentric hole will fit over the cam snout, with the tab going in that little hole on gear.

[racerboy]

Thanks John. I’ll make sure to slip that over the cam snout when I put it back on.

I ordered a replacement chain for the Rollmaster from Butler ($103!! ). I didn’t remember spending that much for a timing kit when this engine was built, although it was 20 years ago so it was probably like $80 back then.


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[racerboy]

I think I got the fuel pump eccentric on correctly this time. I didn’t really tighten it since I am waiting for a timing chain, but wanted to at least get a better idea of how it’s supposed to look.




As far as the chain goes, I am able to push it from the passenger side towards the crank pretty easily. I’m assuming it’s not supposed to move that much. Wonder why it would stretch in relatively low miles? Granted, the chain is 20 yr old now, but saw less than 10K miles of use.






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[chiphead]

Many of those dual-roller chains will gain slack as the roller axles wear in. The double rollers give up a bit of accuracy to gain adjustability and strength for pulling big cams against stiff springs.

I always degree a cam when I install it. I start dot-to-dot, and install it with the cam gear dot at the 6 oclock position and crank gear dot at 12" to make it easier to eyeball the dots really are lined up.

[grandam1979]

Originally Posted by johnta1

The fuel pump eccentric is not seated on the cam snout.
The cam should stick out of the timing gear, then the eccentric hole will fit over the cam snout, with the tab going in that little hole on gear.

That’s what I was talking about you should not see the gap.

[johnta1]

Yep, thought I would point to it with the pic.