The revival of 650143R, 1970 with TS.

[BDA]

Rich, is there a race team or race shop nearby? Failing that, have you checked for welders and or fabricators nearby. With all the commercial buildings in and around Reno, there must be someone who can reliably weld aluminum.

[Richard48Y]

Semi-Local fab guys have the same issue, getting material at a sane price.
Waiting on quotes.

In better news, my Cryo treated timing set came back today.
No visible difference but should last much longer.
Need to figure out which local store has dry-ice as I want to make putting the cam gear on as easy as possible.

[Richard48Y]

May have found a source for tube.
UPS site says they accept up to 108", which is just long enough.
$21.20'!
Plus shipping or the drive to go get it.

[BDA]

 

[Richard48Y]

OKaaaay, about to begin actually putting this engine together.
I will be checking clearances one more time.
Local stores no longer carry dry ice so that will be a long drive this weekend.
Wondering if I should try any lubricant at all when fitting the cam gear?
At 10mm valve lift my billet cam is a bit extreme? 
Only have one big bore head gasket and need to fit the head to check valve to piston clearance.
I do have a vernier cam gear to use so getting timing right should not be too hard.
It seems CAT CAMS does not state valve events the same way we do in the USA.
So I may have to work at translation.

I have a scrap bell housing to bolt to my test stand for running in.
I will have to be very creative to fit the engine though, or the exhaust will not clear the test stand.
First thing is that I will have to offset it a lot.
Another is that I will have to set it far forward of the normal mounting plate.
At least I have a scrap block to work with. 

My exhaust was custom made by the last owner.
He was very proud that it is "Exactly equal length".
I have considered replacing it though.
The routing to the rear is not great as it requires no storage box or severe modification.
The cross-flow headers from Europa Engineering are £525 plus shipping and it seems reviews are mixed.
I may have to take a stab at making my own.

Still musing about roller rockers, I have another company to inquire with about getting them made.

[jbcollier]

Do not lube a press fit.

I can't recall anything unusual about fitting my cam gear, just a straight-forward job.

[SwiftDB4]

Agree with JB on pressing cam gear on. Don't recall having to use dry ice either.

[Richard48Y]

More minor progress.
Fabricated new engine mount frame reinforcement plates as the old were thin and rusted.
Also exterior profiled a pair of plates to match up for engine mounts.
These will get a steel tube welded to the center for Polyurethane bushings.
Not quite so much NVH as rod ends but should have less give and sag than original.
Refurbish at $15.00 a set is attractive too.
Pics when they are nearer to completion.

[Richard48Y]

Still trying to do at least a few items on the S2 every week.
Todays very minor progress was to fire up the Mill and cut a slot in heavy plate steel so that I will be able to press on the cam gear.
Yes, I know, must have pics!

I am still a bit concerned with aligning the cam gear with the keyway.
The slot is not visible once the cam gear is set in place and will not be able to be rotated once pressing has begun.

[jbcollier]

The keyway is not visible in your photo.  Is the gear keyway not cut all the way through?

[Richard48Y]

Yes, the Gear keyway is cut all the way through.
But the half-moon key is not visible once the gear is set on the end of the cam.
I will try to make a mark for alignment using a sharpie.
Renault cautions not to remove and replace the gear.

[Richard48Y]

Well, looks like I should have followed my instincts.
Tried to press on the cam gear at room temperature.
Now it is scrap. 
I measured it and thought it was a very tight fit.
With a 30 ton press almost anything can be moved.
The hub center galled badly and was obviously not centering properly.
Hopefully I can buy just another center hub, but doubt it.

[BDA]

Bummer, Richard. Maybe a machine shop can clean it up?… Otherwise I hope you are able to get a replacement.

[Richard48Y]

Email sent to the vendor.
Probably have to buy a whole set.
About $300 as I recall.
At least I did not damage the Cryo treated gear.

[jbcollier]

The stock gears just press on.

Take it to a machine shop and bore it and sleeve it to suit.  Bring the cam so they can set the press fit clearances properly.