Hey folks,
I might have a lot of questions between now and tomorrow afternoon when I have my engine back in, so my apologies.

My flex-plate to torque converter "matching them back up" marks didn't survive the build. Will the assembly be unbalanced if I don't get it right? I figure I have a one-in-three chance

 

Naah. Don't worry about it.

- Eric

 

It won't matter what position you put it in. The flexplate is balanced with the rotating assembly and the torque converters are balanced individually. They are exclusive of one another.
If you really think about it it makes sense. Otherwise you'd have to balance every drive train with the engine it was going with as a unit. No manufacturer is going to do that on a mass production line.

 

I thought I had read, some eight months ago, that I needed to be careful of this.
Thanks guys. One less thing.

How about spark plug boots to header flange clearance? I liked the looks of the right angle boot, cut them to fit perfectly, and voila, they're right up against the header flange. I can get maybe 1/4", 1/8" in a couple of spots. Live and learn.

 

Start all of the bolts before tightening ANY of them

Beware of too-long bolts
make sure you have a matched identical set
oh and the thread may be 10mm or 3/8, so TEST FIT THE BOLTS FIRST.

 

The originals were straight, and I think those work the best.

- Eric

 

You are probably remembering a thread on 371-394 engines that are externally balanced and need to be matched up or bad things will happen(vibration)...Tedd

 

3/8" actually. I've tested fitted them like 10 times. Thanks Chris[?]

I thought there might be clearance issue with the AC box. All the straight boot wires I looked at seemed really long. Oh well, I'll make them work for the time being.

That's entirely possible Tedd. I'm just glad I don't have to worry about it.

 

But doesn't it look purty this way?!

[IMG][/IMG]

 

Yes, but the whole point of the right angle boots is to avoid big loops of wire like you have there, on engines of a certain Division where the spark plugs are buried in between the exhaust manifold flanges:



- Eric

 

Well sure, I know that now! I originally thought the boots would come out a little further, enough to clear the head. Then I was going to run them nice and tight under the valve covers. Like I said, I'll make due for now.

 

I have that same style right angle boot and just point them as needed for the wires to clear.

 

Yup, pretty much what I'll have to do too. I'll decide later if I want straight boots.