Tenacious B: Part 2

1. Picking up where we last left VT technicians Pops Weishaupt and Nick Wolgamott, we find the guys greasing up the cams with some assembly lube and dropping them into the head. The Ferrea bumpsticks have some notably gnarly durations: 308 degrees of intake; 312 exhaust.

2. A spot of Black RTV Silicone Adhesive Sealant is applied to the cam end seal plugs.

3. Pops positions the camshaft caps on the head next.

4. The camshaft bearings also received a generous lubing.

5. The assembly is finally secured with cam holder plates. Pops applies a locking compound on the bolt threads before torquing them down.

6. The guys tackle setting the valve lash next. Beginning with the number one cylinder and working on the intake side of the head first, Pops turns the crankshaft so the number one piston is at TDC and the cam lobe is aiming straight up. He then loosens the locknut on the rocker arm and backs off the locking screw a turn or two. After checking the Ferrea specs to get the appropriate gap, he places an appropriately sized feeler gauge in between the valve stem and rocker arm, tightening the screw until the gauge slides back and forth with a slight amount of drag.

7. To finish the process, Pops tightens down the locknut and double-checks clearance with the feeler gauge. Content with the results, he sets the lash on the next valve and starts the whole process on the number two cylinder by turning the crank to get it to TDC. The VT techs recommend doing this every 30,000 miles.

8. For this high-horsepower application, the team once again opts for ARP studs to fasten both manifolds. Threads are treated with Loctite for an added measure of security.

9. Wolgamott tightens the studs with an Allen wrench, slides the header in position, and attaches it with more ARP hardware.

10. Holley aluminum fuel rails accompany both sets of bosses on the JG Edelbrock intake manifold. RC Engineering supplied the four primary 550cc peak and hold fuel injectors and four secondary 800cc P&H injectors.

11. Wolgamott plugs in the NOSzle atomizers on the secondary rail only. You can see more on Holley's innovative direct port nitrous delivery system on p. 68.

12. At last, the Victor X-series manifold is introduced to the head after a suitably sized gasket is installed. The VT team further prepped the manifold by outfitting it with Holley's Integra billet aluminum 62mm throttle body.

13. A Snap-on YA4224 industrial duty abrasive blasting cabinet is used to clean and refurbish the various fittings for the cooling system. Check out the difference.

14. A bead of lithium grease is applied to the fittings before mounting.

15. Pops installs the stock oil pump. Since VT is running a dry sump setup on the Dart block, the factory pump is really just cosmetic. To accommodate the new configuration, they had to remove the internals from the OEM pump and block off the pickup and feed lines with custom plugs that were welded in place.

16. Before installation, the edge of the flywheel side cover is primed with sealant.

17. The inner rubber ring also receives some assembly lubricant.