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My lessons from personal BB nightmares
I used to routinely replace big block valve guides. Now I sleeve the originals to avoid water leaks and allow for factory off-center valve stem holes.
I use the GM "LS7" oil pump with a welded on pick-up screen. The high-volume design is needed on a big block to adequately oil the cam and valve train at low rpm.
Some new cams still come with a rear journal groove ala the '65-6 factory cam. To accommode this extra oil passage, the cam makers suggest that you "solder over" the rear cam bearing oil hole and then re-drill it smaller "to avoid an internal oil leak". (How do they apply solder on a lead faced bearing?) In my opinion, a better solution for '66 and later big blocks is to buy a replacement cam without the grooved journal.
The factory plastic coated cam gear for the timing chain will last about 50,000 miles with a stock oil pump. I try to replace the stock sixties timing set, cam kit, and oil pump before they have a chance to ruin anything else.
Unless I have the cooling system in perfect condition on a big block Corvette, it will overheat moderately in slow traffic during summer. I can't think of another example of a GM cooling system designed to operate so close to its limit.
I used to routinely replace big block valve guides. Now I sleeve the originals to avoid water leaks and allow for factory off-center valve stem holes.
I use the GM "LS7" oil pump with a welded on pick-up screen. The high-volume design is needed on a big block to adequately oil the cam and valve train at low rpm.
Some new cams still come with a rear journal groove ala the '65-6 factory cam. To accommode this extra oil passage, the cam makers suggest that you "solder over" the rear cam bearing oil hole and then re-drill it smaller "to avoid an internal oil leak". (How do they apply solder on a lead faced bearing?) In my opinion, a better solution for '66 and later big blocks is to buy a replacement cam without the grooved journal.
The factory plastic coated cam gear for the timing chain will last about 50,000 miles with a stock oil pump. I try to replace the stock sixties timing set, cam kit, and oil pump before they have a chance to ruin anything else.
Unless I have the cooling system in perfect condition on a big block Corvette, it will overheat moderately in slow traffic during summer. I can't think of another example of a GM cooling system designed to operate so close to its limit.
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