Those that remember - I had trouble with rings and the input received here was priceless...many thanks. My bottom end is now confidently together and another project was robbing me of working on this project. I'm now at the cam install and have a blurred memory of the 4 manuals I've burred my face in the past about measuring cam shaft end play?? I can not find it again and quite frankly - other than the Mondello book - the others are extremely vague on the olds 403 motor (brain click - I'll ask below) From my research - the Old's 403 cam is no adjustment (the chain keeps it in the block?)and install as removed...thats a question.

My sidebar thought above was - you Old's peeps could help (or I'll ask wiki) what Olds car used the 403 in 79? I will then buy those Clymer Hanes manuals!! I{ have a Pontiac with an Olds engine - the manuals I have were pretty good about the pontiac stuff - so assume something based with a 403 book will be helpful.

Thanks!!

Thanks to @cutlassefi and billk

 

The 403 is essentially the same as all other small block Olds engines, and the cam stuff is the same as the big blocks.

 

Roller or flat tappet cam? No need to do anything with flat tappet cams - the lifters effectively lock the cam into place. Roller lifters don't do that, so the cam can slide forward and backward. That's why clearance needs to be checked and limited with a roller cam.

 

Flat lifters...so I'm good to let it ride?? It's taken me years to get this thing together...and I'd like to never see the inside of this particular engine ever again!!

Thanks,
Bill

 

Yup, don't need to do anything.

 

Awesome! Thanks!!