5 of 6 pistons & cylinders installed
 

Last night I got 5 of the 6 installed. 1 left to go and felt I was too tired to try the 6th. What a bear. Wayne's book says 3 or 4 hands and that may be an understatement! Any good advice on getting things lined up to put the pin through the rod? I had to turn the engine so that I was putting the assembly up onto the rod from the bottom. Between putting these on and the darn circlips I was at my wits end, so I decided to let it wait until I am fresh tonight.

After doing the circlips a couple of times, I finally found the trick to them. As for getting the rods through, it's just a feeling you develop. I did mine by myself (mostly) and eventually got the feel for it. Rubber mallet came in handy and had to ask my wife to tap on it a couple of times while I positioned it with both hands. Doesn't take a lot of force but just enough sometimes to help you line it up.

As for the circlips, if you put the open end down and into the slot, you can push the top in enough that it holds. Then, just use a small screwdriver to push them in. It's a little hard on your thumb getting them started but once you get the hang of it, it's not to bad.

Of course, this only applies to stock. If you have the aftermarket stuff, I hear they are a pain.

And congrats on learning the biggest rule of rebuild. When your tired, walk away. It took me a while to learn that trick.

I put the cylinders on by myself, but then again, i installed the pistons and rings on the rods first, then the cylinders afterwards. I just used pelican's ring compressor kit designed for air cooled motors.

This raises a question I've had since first reading Wayne's book. Does anyone actually put 574 on the base gaskets?

I put dow 730 around the "skirt" of the cylinders just below where the copper shims go. just a thin ring of it does great.