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B18 engine mystery - new pushrods? 444-544

Good evening, thanks in advance for any input.

I purchased a 65 544 a few years back with an engine that was ‘rebuilt’ by the previous owner and his mechanic friend. They were stumped when the 'rockers were too tight' after installing a 'high performance cam'. They never fired the engine up.

I assumed their tight rocker issue was because they installed an ipd cam with the stock lifters/pushrods. I’m pretty sure they bought everything from ipd as it is a Portland car. At this point, the main question is if simply installing the ipd 'high rev kit' would be adequate? Any other info on these observations is appreciated!

Recently, being skeptical of their ‘rebuild’ I opened the engine up and here is what I found:

-B18 block, as stamped on the side.
-Head reconditioned with the original valves reinstalled, bronze guides, single stock springs, single angle seats cut into head.
-Block has “D” stamped in the top surface near each cylinder.
-All new pistons with the following marks stamped in the top “RA2554 020 TOP’0015 TB”.
-Cylinder walls look brand new.
-Rod bearings look new, and are stamped “010 2741 13DE82 R770” on the back.
-Main bearings look new, and are stamped “010 2742 16FE83 R770” on the back.
-The block had what look to be brand new stock lifters and pushrods.
-Oil pump looks brand new and has a tag that reads “M-91”
-The cam is brand new, and has the following markings:
---(on back end, towards rear of motor) faint markings that read “(M) G”.
---Along cam shaft: HO27, VO4-1, C2, D2 are all stamped in.
---Front of cam (with threads) has no markings.

Questions:
I assume the markings are .020” over pistions, and a .010” under grind on the rods and mains?
Should I have hardened valve seats installed?
What cam do I have in there, and is it ok to use with stock lifters/pushrods? Should I take the cam to ipd for them to identify it?
Should I install double valve springs in the head (the previous owner bought them but never installed), is it necessary for a 020 over B18?

Thank you so much for any input!
Mike in Portland






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New B18 engine mystery - new pushrods? [444-544]
posted by  Mike544  on Mon Jan 14 19:18 CST 2013 >


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