Lots of progress!

Lots of progress over the past few weekends! Got the crank installed, main bearing cap bolts and connecting rod bolts all nice and torqued up! Took a while to get the connecting rod bolts done, since I decided to pre-stretch the bolts by making multiple passes tightening them to 47 ft-lbs (10 below the recommended torque) before finally tightening them to the recommended 57 ft-lbs.

Also got both the front and rear main seals installed, as well as the intermediate shaft (and its seal), oil pump drive shaft and the oil pump. With all that done, the oil pan could finally be mounted back on. That was a big step! Finally, I have turned the engine right side up on the stand permanently!

Today, I finished putting on the shiny new rocker arm shafts and rocker arms on the cylinder head, which brings the project a BIG step closer to completion! The rocker arms are not positioned yet, they're just floating on the rocker arms for now. I should be able to finish that up next time I work on it. After that, it should be much less difficult stuff left to do to finish putting the engine together! I'm a little scared but also very excited! More soon!