Checking Piston/Valve Clearance
 

I'm about to preassemble the engine to check my clearance.

According to Wayne's book, I should do it "dry" - no assembly lube or loctite 574.

Does it mean that I also don't use the chain housing gaskets (I thought once I torqued them down I need new ones if I take it apart)?

And should I also avoid assembly lube on the cam journals even though I'll be rotating it quite a few times?

thanks...

You can use sealant on most everything except the gaskets that Wayne reccomends using Curil t which is the cam tower to chain cover gaskets.

The cylinder shims should also be kept dry if you decide to use 574 on them.

The chain housings can be assembled with gaskets dry. If you opt to not use the gaskets between the case and the chain housings on account of head machinining like I did, You can't use sealant on them until the check comes out OK. You could if you didn't care about cleanup.

If you seal the cam towers to the heads, you can take apart the whole bank of heads via the head nuts if you get in trouble with a clearance.

I had to take my head banks off because- I installed the air guides backwards! I realized it after I passed the piston valve test. Caught the mistake re-reading the book one night.

I was amazed that it took only 2 hours to take it apart and put it back together.

I had to clean off the Curil-T. And buy a new cam tower to chain cover gasket. There was an extra one in the set.

I had good practice timing cams! You can get them exact!

Lee78sc

For preassembly, "dry" refers to a lack of sealant, not a lack of lubricant. You don't want to put sealant on something your putting together temporarily.
-Chris

Right - no sealant. You can put the chain housing covers with the gaskets and then disassemble...

-Wayne

Thanks guys - now its clear :)