So I've gotten all my goodies back from the machine shop and I have a box full of shiny new parts ready to install. Unfortunately when I started acquiring parts I didn't know how to I.D. a cast from forged crank block. I got a cast one. No worries, this is a daily driver, not a high revving race engine (got a 440 for that) Here's my questions. I got a chrome valve cover off one of you fine fellows and I realized today that the valve cover holes are different on later heads. This is only aesthetic I know, but can you get a chrome cover for these later heads? Next I wanted to plum in my oil pressure gage but there is no boss on the lower right rear where I wanted to tap into. Is there a suggested spot to do this? Finally a real question. I am putting all my solid lifter valve train and cam into this motor. Are there any less than obvious hurdles that you guys could think of before I dive in head long?
Any and all advice are appreciated.

Thanks, Pat.

By the way, the only block stamping I could find is 330-1 2000: AAWJ and the head is 4095778

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The valve covers are the same for all the '60-'80 heads. Only the '81-'87 heads (originally used with hydraulic-lifter engines) take a different valve cover. The cast crank started in mid '76.

Have you confirmed that your chrome valve cover (which one is it?) will not fit correctly on the head you're using? I can't tell from your post whether you are working with an engine originally equipped with solid or hydraulic lifters.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Yes, the block I'm working with was originally a hydraulic cam motor that I'm switching to solid cam/lifters. The chrome VC definitely won't fit on this new combo and the holes are a match to the old style heads I have. I did post the casting #s in my first post but they seem really vague. (ie: not enough digits)

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There was a Mopar Performance chrome late-type valve cover, but like the MP early chrome cover, it's been unavailable for a long time. The only way to have a chrome valve cover on the '81-up head is to have a stock '81+ cover chromed.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

[ I wanted to plum in my oil pressure gage but there is no boss on the lower right rear where I wanted to tap into. Is there a suggested spot to do this? Finally a real question. I am putting all my solid lifter valve train and cam into this motor. Are there any less than obvious hurdles that you guys could think of before I dive in head long?
Any and all advice are appreciated.

Thanks, Pat.

By the way, the only block stamping I could find is 330-1 2000: AAWJ and the head is 4095778[/quote]

That's right, I'm kick starting my own post, I have no shame. I was hoping for a little input on my last couple questions though. Thanks Dan for clearing up the valve cover query.

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Pat,oil pressure guage,just pipefit a tee where the stock pressure sending unit goes on oilpump/filter.If you're not running a stock guage/idiot lite just plumb a fitting for your mech guage straight in inplace of that.If you want both then the tee gives you a spot for each(I used brass fittings)

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

Unfortunately the stock sending unit for this motor ('83?) is on the end of the oil pump. I have no problem drilling and tapping my block but I'm wondering where the best spot is.

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Hay Pat,mines an 83 also and my first post is how I plumbed mine for both,belts and suspenders you know

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

Pat, I should also add that I come with a warning label "This poster has only limited knowlage of A-B-D,and W Dodge trucks and vans.Also his slant 6 knowhow is very small.Please use what info you feal is useful and disreguard the rest" Are the slant 6 car oilpumps diff from truck/vans? Newer and older diff? Now I'm confussed,no I was already

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

I'm not exactly sure about the different oil pumps. I was planning on using my old (almost new) pump on my new build and I'm not sure that it has the fitting on the end. If it does I will tee it off and run my gage and idiot light.

By the way, don't be so hard on yourself. I've owned countless old cars, have a nostalgia drag team and daily drive cars that are older than me, yet every time I take on a new project I learn something new. It's one of the great things about this hobby. You'll never know everything.

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I just like to laugh at my own expence I always figured if you cann't laugh at yourself you're wound tooo tight.As June Cleaver was known to say "Ward,don't be so hard on the Beaver"

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed