Engine build again!

I don't know what words to use to describe my emotions at the moment; anticipation, excitement, fear.

I just ordered my billet oil pump from CFM. Its kind of interesting to me because its not really the most significant portion of the build (and its certainly not the most expensive part, either). However, throughout the entire process, I've apparently (without my explicit knowledge) been considering it the cornerstone of the whole build. Basically, the oil pump that is installed from the factory contains a stamped steel gear that is driven off the crank. However, these gears appear to be of inconsistent quality and have a tendency to seize up and break over about 7400 RPM. With my car more than likely (ie, hopefully!) making power well over 8000 RPM, I need something a bit more robust, like billet gears. With a new oil pump being fairly inexpensive (~$60), it makes sense to replace the whole pump instead of just picking up a new set of gears to install into a housing with 60K miles on it.

I'm excited that the "cornerstone" piece is on its way, but I'm a little bit nervous about the whole process of assembling the engine. Up to this point, its mostly been dismantling (which a 10 year old with enough muscle strength could handle) and buying parts (which most Westerners can handle). Now we get to the nitty-gritty where we find out if I'm a capable engine builder, or just an naively over-ethusiastic person who's hurtling towards the shock of his life. I'm not terribly mechanically inclined, but I've been working my way up to more advanced projects by surrounding myself with people who know more than I do for the first time I try anything. Unfortunately for me, I think I hit the limit of readily accessible knowledge basins, so I'm pretty much on my own.

I'm starting to read through the different assembly procedures outline in my Haynes manual and making note of the different torque values for each bolt in the margins next to the procedure. That's the one thing that kind of irks me about Haynes, is that there is a list of torque values at the front of the chapter for all significant assemblies. It doesn't do a whole lot of good to have to flip through 20 pages to find a value when you've got to have the parts assembled and bolts fully tightened within 10 minutes before the RTV sealant sets. Fortunately, I also bagged all (okay, most...) of my bolts individually and labeled them when I disassembled the engine. That's something that a 10 year old would have probably forgotten, right?

I think my biggest fear with the whole build is that I'm going to get it assembled and installed, but as soon as I build oil pressure, there is going to be oil squirting out from every conceivable orifice that should have been well sealed with a gasket or RTV (which got pinched or was not spread evenly). I guess that's better than the alternative fear that the engine would seize up and spin a rod bearing or throwing a rod out the side of the block. I just need to be patient and read my way through each step and the build will go swimmingly.

Oh, I'm also pretty well aware that as much as I like to think this project is nearly over, I'm probably closer to 60% complete than the 85% that I feel like am at the moment.