Reassembled my 352 heads and saw this, it went together fine so can’t imagine how this would happen. These are TFS takeout parts, which I understand to be PAC?  Website info says they’re made from stamped or hardened steel, the cracked edge looks like cast to me.

My dad crewed on the car in the mid to late 60s.  As the story goes, it ran ok in qualifying heats but in the longer mains they'd hurt a rod bearing or blow it up often.  They were basically taking stock 352s, throwing in a cam and intake and running them.   Eventually they had a shop build it, ran the LeMans rods, and it was more reliable.  The block has basic oiling mods, and they had a homemade pan with kickouts that I'm guessing helped keep it alive. 

My father passed away last year, my uncle came down this week and said the engine was in the car in 1972 when the driver won the late model class at Lancaster speedway in NY, my dad moved away by then. 

Continued putting the 352 project together, this was an old circle track motor from the mid 60s running LeMans rods. 

I didn't have much experience running a bore gauge before so wasn't sure of my measurements, but had my uncle verify the measurements and they're accurate.  I'm getting  .003-.0035" on the rods, and .003'-.0032" on the mains.  I was doubting the rod measurements before but it makes sense being a short track motor that they'd use some extra rod clearance. 

My question is 1) clearance is obviously on the high side but I assume it'll be ok with a HV pump?  This thing is never going to see many miles.  2) I'm running Morel lifters which suggest 10w-30, but as I recall they state 10w-40 can be used max.  Anyone seeing any issues running 40w with Morels?

This motor is just an effort to get it running, so there are some "that's close enough" calls being made. 

Checking again, I get 1.860” install height.  The retainer and locator combined are .150”, so the total stack height is 2.01”

I’m seeing 172lbs at the 1.860” install, and 430lbs at .600”

Is 170lbs too much?

I think what I stated was unclear (and reads incorrectly).  The retainer is .100" thick, not "raised" .100...so was just specifying the dimension I used in the spring tester was total height of 1.965" (1.865" plus .100" retainer) at seat height.  My bad on that.

Thanks for the info, I'll double check tonight, I was doing this late night so I could be making some silly mistake in the calcs. 

Checked mail and spam and didn’t see anything

My father and I would watch NASCAR in the 80s when it was still interesting, he loved Elliott.  I was 9 at the time but can remember that 1985 Talladega race and him coming from almost two laps down without cautions to help…I still remember wondering how one car could be so much faster than the others.  They definitely were ahead of the curve for that year.  I’ve since read up a bit on Widmer’s port design…pretty radical stuff