ChuckN
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2022
- Posts
- 2,166
- Reaction score
- 7,948
- Location
- Bellinham, WA
- First Name
- Chad
- Truck Year
- 1981
- Truck Model
- C10
- Engine Size
- 350
To review, I’ll be putting on some Brodix IK200 aluminum heads (after I have them gone over for QA at a local shop).
A couple questions came to mind. First, I’m thinking that before installing, I’ll need to clean up the deck surface, even though there’s only about 2000 miles on the engine. Any suggestions? Haven’t seen it yet, so this may be premature.
Second, the suggested head gaskets are EXPENSIVE. But even with a .490ish lift cam, I’d assume I need to check valve to piston clearance. Any suggestions to do with without wasting a gasket? I might be wrong but I don’t see a reason to check more than one piston.
Third, I may or may not be changing the cam depending what I find when I’m in there, I know it’s not stock. Flat tappets need all the lube during break in- will turning the engine to set lash wipe all of it off? The springs I have (recommended for the cam I want) don’t have inner spring to remove, just a damper. Comp said they are not separatable.
I’ve done all this years ago but it’s been ~35 years ago when I was a kid. Also, the lifters were likely higher quality back then and it was a tiny stock lift cam anyway on stock springs.
There will be more questions, these are just the ones in my tiny brain right now. Thanks in advance.
-Chad
A couple questions came to mind. First, I’m thinking that before installing, I’ll need to clean up the deck surface, even though there’s only about 2000 miles on the engine. Any suggestions? Haven’t seen it yet, so this may be premature.
Second, the suggested head gaskets are EXPENSIVE. But even with a .490ish lift cam, I’d assume I need to check valve to piston clearance. Any suggestions to do with without wasting a gasket? I might be wrong but I don’t see a reason to check more than one piston.
Third, I may or may not be changing the cam depending what I find when I’m in there, I know it’s not stock. Flat tappets need all the lube during break in- will turning the engine to set lash wipe all of it off? The springs I have (recommended for the cam I want) don’t have inner spring to remove, just a damper. Comp said they are not separatable.
I’ve done all this years ago but it’s been ~35 years ago when I was a kid. Also, the lifters were likely higher quality back then and it was a tiny stock lift cam anyway on stock springs.
There will be more questions, these are just the ones in my tiny brain right now. Thanks in advance.
-Chad
