TECH | 25 BIG-BLOCK BUILDING TIPS
DIPSTICK TRICK
Because you don’t have eight hands, the easy way to hold up
the pushrods during the rocker shaft installation is to slip an
oil dispstick along the top of the cylinder head. Tension holds
them in place while you button down the shaft. Clever, right?ANOTHER SEALING TIP: PART 2
After spreading sealant on the deck surface, lay down
a Fel-Pro #1009 head gasket and follow it up with even
more RTV sealant before installing the head. Without a head
bolt to cinch down the corner of the cylinder head, this is the
best way to stave off leaks.KNOW YOUR LEFT FROM RIGHT
Factory stamped rocker arms work well on even higher-per-
formance engine combinations, but care must be taken when
installing them on the rocker shafts, because there are left
and right parts for each cylinder. Look closely at the photo
and you’ll see the difference. Make sure to get them right
(and left) for your build.YET ANOTHER SEALING TIP
To prevent that all too common black oil-leak line running
down the front of your engine, you’ll want to push more RTV
into the corners and along the parting lines where the block
and timing cover meet. Get it as far down the joining lines
as possible. Yes, we’ve leaned heavily on leak prevention,
but you’ll thank us in the long run.ANOTHER SEALING TIP
In the seemingly endless quest to keep your big-block
leak-free, particular attention must be made to the top corners
of the decks. At the top front on each side, there’s a coolant
passage where a cylinder-head bolt really ought to be, making
head sealing all the more difficult. Slather the respective
corners with some RTV sealant on the deck surface.40 moparmuscle.com