Hey all,

Welcome to "CUSTOM CORNER".

AS I am building my new engine I am finding a few areas requiring
some "CUSTOM" work arounds and I thought I would post em to help
others.

1) Mechanical Oil Pressure gauge. The only problem I had with this
Autometer Oil Pressure gauge was that the adapters that came with it
did not quite match the oil pressure sending hole (3/8"). Go to Auto
Zone or any other parts place to get the Adapter and use the hole
that the original sending unit was in.

2) Mechanical Temperature Gauge: This was a little trickier The
sending unit adapter (Again a Autometer gauge) was the right size for
the oil pressure hole, but much too large for the hole on the
firewall side of the engine. (Can't use the intake side hole as you
MUST keep the original temp sending unit for the computer to
function.)
There is a small, plugged, hole about middle of block from top to
bottom and just in front of #2 cylinder. I had to purchase a 37/64ths
drill bit and a 3/8" NPT tap. Drilling out the smaller hole to the
bigger size required a light touch and lots of lubrication. If you do
this SLOWLY even if the bit locks up, you will not break it. After
the hole is drilled, tap it and your ready to go. (You probably can
avoid this if you use a more expensive electrical or digital Temp
Gauge.)

3) For you DOHC owners that are thinking or HAVE put on the
adjustable timing gears this mod will allow you to easily adjust the
gears AND keep them much safer from the elements.
Though it does LOOK cool to see those shiny new cam gears, having
them constantly exposed to the elements is not a good idea. It will
shorten the life span of your timing belt AND expose the tensioner
parts to the elements, which will shorten their lives as well.
First thing I did was to go down to Home Depot and purchase some
good, strong, oil & gas proof, and temperature resistant contact
cement. Taking the stock front timing belt cover (Already removed)I
glued the inspection cover to the rest of the assembly. MAKE SURE you
only glue the bottom and sides up to but NOT INCLUDING where it
curves and the top. Next, with my trusty Dremel, I cut out the cover
to the extent that it would expose both timing gears. Along the
cutout, I put some weather stripping, also purchased at Home Depot.
To keep the new cover from rattling around I had to fashion some hold
down tabs that are bolted to the bottom edge of the new cover plate.
With this mod, you are now ready to easily remove the cover using the
original screw but giving you FULL access to the gears adjusting
screws or nuts while still protecting the inner workings from the
elements.

I will post pictures of this cover on the RMNEON yahoo group.

Hope this helps someone else out and HAPPY MOTORING!