Got it all finished up on Friday / Saturday. Got my crank drill / install kit from Jerry and got to work friday afternoon. Your payment was sent up sat morning Jerry as i was an [censored] and forgot to send it last Wednesday. You should see it in a few days.
After drilling the crank hole that took about 1 hour to just go 1.25" deep i took the old balancer to the shop and resurfaced the center area to ensure the bolt washer would sit flush.
Drill Time! Installation was easy and pulled right on with the installation kit.
Pulley Installed Installing the rest of the removed parts went faster than i thought they would. Did a cold valve adjustment and did a the best i could to set the timing so it would run when started. The break in was done with new break in oil and bounced around 1500 - 2000 rpm for about 15-20 min. After the 20 min the valves needed a hot readjust as they they expanded and tightened up, the vacuum gauge also confirmed that as it was bouncing around.
The fine tuning was up next. The carb idles were increased as it would run rough and the full truck would shake. It now sitting at about 600-650 rpm and its almost as smooth as it was stock. Dialed the vacuum in to get the most on the dial then slightly backed it off for now. The max vacuum I can get with the new cam is 15 inches as compared to the stock 17 inches i was getting before.
The carbs also took a fair bit of leaning on the idle screw this time around before it would run funny. The valves talk much more now, even after driving around for a hour and re checking the valves they chatter more. Im guessing its from the new cam lobe profiles.
So after all that reading here is what i got out of the install engine related.
It Idles almost stock. Slight more rpm needed at idle and is has a slight deep rump tone in the exhaust. I love that because it sounds like something is hiding under the hood.
Bottom end feels changed just a fraction. It still pulls nice and smooth from starting but you can feel it lacking a bit from stock till you get going at 1200 rpm. When getting above the 1900 rpm ish area is now when you feel what the cam did. No longer does it fall on its face when it hits 2000rpm but rather just keeps going. Above 2000 rpm before was just a bunch of noise with little gain. Now at 2200 rpm it pulls, 2600 rpm pulls, 3000 rpm pulls, you get the point. At around 3400rpm is when it tops off and falls on its face.
When cruising between the 2000 rpm and 3000 rpm range now the engine sounds like its not struggling. It runs so smooth and even keeps a nicer lower exhaust tone. the engine now just makes a heavy hum at a higher rpm rather than a loud chatter. When putting the pedal to the floor you also notice a different rasp. Its a lower tone but still loud aggressive rasp.
I think the install was worth it. More driving time will bring up more comments from me im sure. I think its safe to say im going to install the same cam in my 261 build.
