1968 Chevrolet Chevelle - The Howitzer - Project Car - Popular Hot Rodding

A ring filing machine, such as this unit from Childs & Albert, makes the ring fitting less time consuming and more accurate. Setting the machine for the ring's bore size ensures a square end gap.

To get the rods to Outlaw's exact specifications, the big ends were honed slightly on a Sunnen rod machine.

Mock-up assembly of the major components is a key to successful blueprinting. Here, the piston deck height is checked and recorded at an acceptable 0.001 inch "in the hole."

For final assembly, the parts should be cleaned, and laid out in order. Care must be taken to assure they are assembled in the proper orientation. The chamber of the con rod always faces the cheek of the crankshaft, and the valve reliefs must match their corresponding locations in the head.

One of the most time-consuming portions of a big-block Chevy build is ensuring the valvetrain is working properly, with the required geometry. You'll want to check the sweep of the rocker on the valve tip throughout the lift cycle, and adjust the pushrod length so that the sweep falls in the center of the valve tip. An adjustable pushrod checker is the preferred tool. Our hydraulic roller is somewhat unusual for a big-block, and required shorter-than-normal pushrods, which are considered custom (7.750-/8.800-inch long). Here, Andy holds a white card behind the rocker tip to better observe the sweep.

COMP's retrofit hydraulic lifters (PN 854-16) fit where flat tappets resided before. The key is a link bar arrangement, similar to that of a solid roller race cam. Later engines originally equipped with a roller can use the OEM-style lifers, yokes, and retaining spider. Make sure you coat the lifters with a thorough film of oil before dropping them into the lifter bores.