Getting close!

Got the rocker arms installed on the shafts with retainers and all. It took a while, but finally als0 got the valve clearances adjusted! Hit a snag when I found out that the torx bolt that holds the main cam sprocket to the cam was rounded off, so I had to order a new one.

After I got the valve clearances adjusted and the cam sprocket nice and torqued up, I made sure that the notch on the sprocket was correctly aligned to the notch on the head with the valves on cylinder 1 set to fully closed, i.e. compression stroke on cylinder 1.

Finally, it was time to install the head gasket and install the head itself. Got that done, simple enough. I had also ordered a set of wave washers for the water pump so, one at a time, I unbolted the fastening bolts and added washers.

With all that done, it was time to put on the timing belt (before putting the head on, I had made sure that the notch on the harmonic balancer on the crank was aligned to the notch on the lower timing cover). Timing belt tensioner is on and tight and the valve cover is even laid on!

Could not install the valve cover for now, because the ignition wire cover gets bolted to the same studs that the valve cover is secured with, and my existing wire cover is broken. So I went ahead and ordered the cover, as well as a couple of washers that were missing. Hopefully, that will enable to me to completely put the engine together! Not much longer now!!