2006 New Motor Modifications & Assembly
Updated 3/27/06
Well here's what I came up with for the heat shield. I ended up attaching it to the heads so it wouldn't just be wedged into the block and also wouldn't interfere with any of the oil running down from the heads. I didn't want it to be flat across the valley because I was afraid oil might pool on it, so this is what I came up with. I don't really think much if any oil should end up on top of the shield , but if it does it should run off to the drains on each end pretty quickly. I have plenty of clearance between the shield and the PCV valve so I shouldn't get any oil up into the PCV at all. I used some pretty thin aluminum so I could make the bends the way I did. Might be nice to make it out of thicker stuff, but I would need some kind of press to form the bends the way I did it. Will just have to see how it holds up, but it seems like it should be okay.

Updated 3/30/06

Before I installed the intake I decided to do some final checks on the camshaft. I checked TDC with piston stop & installed a checking spring on #1 intake to check the cam intake centerline. Ended up setting it at 109 degrees intake centerline. Comp called for 111, but it was either 109 or 113.5 degrees with the options I had on the gear drive so I decided advanced a little was better than retarding it. Also verified valve lift is .556. Everything checked out good.

After that I installed the new intake studs and bolted down the intake for the last time. The ports on the intake matched up with the heads really nice, pretty stoked about that.

While I had the valve covers off I added the oil filler cap and vent tube baffle to the passenger side valve cover. Then re-installed the driver side vent tube baffle without the rubber O-ring and installed both valve covers.

Then I drilled and installed the pin in MSD distributor shaft for the new cam gear and set distributor up for #1 position. I also made & hooked up the hose between the relocated PCV valve & carb spacer. Temporarily installed carb again to check clearance on everything. The top of the motor is pretty much finished, at least until I drop it in the car.

Updated 4/1/06
Removed everything from the front of the old motor to get it cleaned up and ready to install on the new motor. Installed the oil sender extension. I had previously drilled & tapped it for my oil pressure gauge and also the oil lines for the turbo's. I modified the idler gear shafts on the gear drive for clearance on the timing cover. Seems like the shafts could have been made to fit better, had to shorten one of them by almost 3/16". Maybe there is a lot of difference between some of the timing covers used on 289/302/351's. Also started grinding on the timing cover to clear the gear drive. After I finished that I cleaned & greased everything and installed the gear drive, fuel pump lobe & torqued the camshaft. Below you can see the oil extension tube in the first pic and the completed timing gear setup & A/C bracket in the second pic.

Updated 4/3/06

Have pretty much finished up the front of the motor. Finished the modifications on the timing cover for the gear drive. Also drilled out the two lower holes on the timing cover to match up with the dowels the newer blocks use. Installed the timing cover, fuel pump, water pump, most of the brackets for the alternator & AC and the pulleys. Also verified TDC again, it matches up with the existing timing pointer but the problem is that it's pretty much hidden under the water pump. I am going to have to fabricate a new pointer or see if I can find one that works on the other side. You can see the oil pressure extension modifications again in the picture below as well as the fitting added on top of the fuel pump for the boost referencing to maintain the correct fuel pressure when under boost, I am using a Holley 140GPH pump. You can also see the completed PCV setup.

Bought a timing pointer for a '95 5.0, worked out well. Also picked up the new Fays2 Watts link. Can't wait to get that dialed in and see how it feels. Took a shot of the old motor, only thing left on it I am going to use is the pan & pickup. Looks pretty lonely, need to find it a new home.LOL Shot of new motor with alternator finished. Only thing left to finish buttoning up the motor is the oil pump, pickup & pan.

Updated 4/7/06

Removed the Canton 9qt. T-sump road racing pan & pickup from the old motor. The pictures show the baffles in the sump. You can also see the 3/4" pipes I welded in for the turbo drains. Installed the pump & pickup also.

2003 & 2004 Intro Page/Page 1
2005 Clutch & New Motor/Page 2
2006 Intake & Carburetor Modifications/Page 3
2006 Turbo Exhaust Manifold Fabrication/Page 5