Stroked Ford 418ci V8 - We've Got To Have Morrre Power, Captain!

Bill used a small file to de-burr the front cover O-ring seat, and to provide just enough of a radius to ease the installation of the O-ring.

Now the O-ring slips into place with a light tap from the brass mallet.

A bit of lube was spread around the inside of the O-ring seal to allow a socket to turn the crankshaft.

Our block was missing a timing-cover alignment dowel. Typically the more recent blocks are counter-sunk for an alumi-num alignment dowel.

The front cover has a recess for the alignment dowel, but we did not use it for this assembly.

Bill was able to use a large socket (slipped inside the O-ring) to locate and mount the aluminum front cover.

But first a thin coat of gasket sealer was applied to the engine block ...

And to the mating surface of the aluminum front cover.

The synthetic fabric front cover gasket was carefully put in place-two front-cover bolts were slipped through mounting holes.

Alignment of the timing-chain cover was accomplished by using a socket that closely matched the diameter of the front cover O-ring.

Bill tightened the front-cover bolts. Notice that the socket wrench is attached to the socket still in place on the crankshaft.

Another small but import-ant engine builder's tip: Bill uses a single-edge razor blade to trim the bottoms of the front-cover gasket. This will help prevent even a small oil leak around the oil pan gasket.

We selected a Melling oil pump for reliability, complete with a chrome-moly oil-pump shaft.

We were also fortunate to obtain an anodized split-front/rear Milodon oil pan, windage tray and rear sump oil pickup. Milodon reports that windage trays help create power. On a 400hp street engine, a louvered windage tray can add about 12 to 15 hp; a more sophisticated screen tray can add up to 25 hp.

Bill checked out the oil pump on the bench. Four mounting bolts and an oil-pump shaft were ready to install. But a test fit was the first step.

With the front-mount oil pump bolted in place, Bill began to check clearances of the inter-nal oiling system.

The oil pump comes very close to the crankshaft counterweight. Bill recommends a minimum of .050-inchclearance between the oil pump and crankshaft.

Bill took this opportunity to make a preliminary check of the windage tray clearance.

Bill sights along the crankshaft, under the tray. Again the distance from the tray to the crankshaft was very tight. A minor adjustment to the shape would be made to clear the rod-cap bolts.

The oil pump was prepared for installation with a generous squirt of pre-lube.