New 408 for the Flyfish

Well, made some progress this weekend...and hit more setbacks. I got one of my heads all cleaned up, valves cleaned, replace the bent ones, lapped all valves, added new spring cups, shimmed for correct spring height for new springs.

Went to put the head on and check PV clearance, tried to put in a head stud and it wouldn't go......tried another stud, same thing....looked closer and found that ALL of my head bolt holes are full of rust (like YEARS old rust and grime). The bolt holes on the front of the block are in the same boat (cam retainer plate).

I'm pissed because I paid for a "prepped" block, ready to use, and this should have been done. I should have seen this coming because almost all of the lifter bores needed to be cleaned out as well...and I'm irritated with myself that I didn't check this sooner. The bottom end is assembled so I can't take it back to the guys that did the block without taking it back apart (and I don't want to because I would have to take a day off work to take it to these clowns).

Now I gotta hunt down a tap and die set to clean these out......Maybe I'll have this running by October....lol