Sorry, but I just liked this picture.
Camshaft in place, cam follower blocks installed and all of the head studs screwed in. A Rolls-Royce porcupine.
The holes for the head studs vary in depth from 1.125" to 1.312". It is imperative that these are cleared out prior to inserting the studs. I coated each stud thread with copper-based lubricant before installing - making sure that there was none on the stud base so avoiding the risk of hydraulic action on the block.
There was one stripped thread, on the 'B' block exhaust side #4 stud, that needed repair using a helical insert. The only slight snag is that the thread is rebated below the block face by about 3/16". As the insertion tool needs to press onto the upper face of the insert whilst it is being screwed into place (to stop it cork-screwing) a modification was required.
This picture shows the collar that is small enough to slide into the hole yet wide enough to still keep the pressure on the top of the insert. Hardly rocket science but gratifying, nonetheless.
The cam wheel thrust washer must be installed against the face of the #1 camshaft bush before the key is fitted.
I went on a wild goose chase for three quarters on an hour today because I could not find the Woodruff key. I emptied every container twice and still could not find it! When dismantling the engine I was careful to bag and label every component. Keys and special washers were taped, marked and bagged - and the tape on this key had stuck to the back of something else. It was a balance between my calm certainty that I could not have lost it and blind panic / frustration / anger because I could not find it.
Its bag had stuck to the bottom of another box.
