got the block home and did some drilling. 13-1/4" extra drain back holes in valley, galley feeds to 9/32" block/cap/pump drilled 1/2" and gasket match pump to cap & cap to block added 4 extra holes in the filter plate, restrictors/plugs in block to reduce oil to rocker shafts. ( doing this because the stock roller lifters are oil-thru with hollow PRs and will be too much oil in the VC area)

got a set of Mopar HP rod bearings, cleveite full groove main bearings along with the core plug kit & intermediate shaft bushing for the block. will be dropping the crank in tonight & working on installing pistons/rods.

got the comp 901-16 springs and gaskets on the way next.


a little FYI on pre-mag & magnum engines. early pre-mag roller engines used a non-oil thru lifter and solid 5/16" PRs with the LA rocker shaft oiling. late model pre-magnum engines oil the LA rocker shaft style along with the oil-thru lifters & hollow PRs. IMHO is why late model pre-mag engines have such killer VC oil leaks with 2x the oil in the VC area.

early magnum engines 92-93 had the block drilled for LA rocker shaft oiling but blocked it with the head gasket and oil the pedestal rockers thru the lifter/hollow PRs

which they may have done on late model pre-mag engines with the composite head gaskets. I know a replacement gasket does not block the hole and it will oil both ways to rocker shafts which IMHO is too much oil in the VC area causing leaks.

this is why I add restrictors in the block to restrict oil flow to shafts as it will be oiling thru lifters & PRs and the LA rocker shaft oiling. ( I almost want to try to block it and see if the lifter/hollow rods would be enough oil on LA shaft/rockers.) I do know pre-lubing it with a drill it shoots oil from tip of rockers to the ceiling in my shed on all 16 rockers. and plenty runs down into the rocker cup/shaft area. but that's on the stand cold and not hot under extended load/run times.

I also noticed the evac system in the headers tend to suck oil when it is oiling both way as there is a lot of oil/windage in the VC. I did not have this on my early pre-mag engine with non oil thru lifters & solid PRs or any of my older LA engines.

part store want to sell you a 3/8 chevy PR as a replacement or the hollow late model PRs so anyone out there have any early solid PRs or non oil thru roller lifters?? I cant find any around and only run up on the last of the pre-mag engines in JYs