Yesterday, while assembling an engine in my shop, I encountered a problem that previously had failed to occur, at least to me. After degreeing in the camshaft in this 455, i was buttoning up the front timing cover, and noticed some interference (direct contact) between the crankshaft oil slinger and the timing cover. Hmmmm, what in the ???.
As i was using a Cloyes Tru-roller 3 keyway timing chain set, I suspect the crank gear was just a scosche thicker than the stock heavy duty
gear. And the combined stack with everything installed eliminated all the wiggle room.
So, I looked carefully at the slinger, and pondered ways to increase the clearance. Flattening the slinger in the hydraulic press occured to me as did grinding a bit off of it. Ruled that out. So, I called another GMCer I know, and emailed another one out of state to find another slinger. First guy called me back, said he had a few to choose from, and to come over and take my pick.
Judy and I piled in the car, drove to Costco and filled up with gas at $2.499 a gallon and headed West. 98.3 miles later, I pulled into our driveway with my prize.
Stacked the newly acquired slinger next to the original, there was about 1/8" difference in height. Enough to clear. So, cleaned all the stuff up, installed the new slinger and compensating dampener, laid a straight edge across the front of the block, and "Eureka", success. So, I pulled the dampener, installed the timing cover, and chalked that one up to just another day in a GMCers life.
Now, I pose the following question to you guys out there. "What kinda nut job would drive almost 100 miles to find an oil slinger for an obsolete 40+ year old relic, ant treat it like a normal day?" Just me, so far.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

Matt, I think back several years when Judy and I and several other coaches were retracing old Route 66. You met up with us in a campground somewhere between Chicago and Detroit, and helped us with your local advice on which way to travel and toll roads to avoid, and museums that were a "must see". We made a lot of new friends on that trip.
We would have loved it if you were along with us yesterday. Drove through McMinnville, Oregon, right past the "Spruce Goose" at the Evergreen Aviation Museum. A truly state of the art modern museum and a water slide made out of a Boeing 747, throw in the fastest tactical surveillance aircraft ever built, the SR-71, and Russian lunar rover, Took Ken Henderson there a few years back, and he was struck speechless by the display
The engine I am working on was one of my core 455's. I sent it to S & J engines in Spokane, Washington along with specific instructions for the build for motorhome service. They shipped it back to me, and I do the finishing touches to the engine. High pressure, standard volume oil pump, special camshaft, roller timing chain set degreed in the way I like it, blocked exhaust crossover with Dick Paterson's gaskets and plates. Pressure checked and magnafluxed cast iron toronado intake manifold, headers, Howell Fuel injection with EBL, and the list goes on a bit more. It is going into a 77 GMC Royale Coach as a warranty repair. Probably show up on the marketplace later. Just want it gone from my carport. Got other projects for that space. Just how we roll.
Judy and I have been known to drive 120 mile round trips just for Buster's Texas BBQ ribs in Milwaukee, Oregon.
There is a great meat market, Gartner's, in Portland near the airport. They make and smoke their own sausages, lunchmeats, bacon, etc. We have been known to run up there for sumpthin' to cook for dinner. Slowing down is not an option. Might be something unpleasant gaining ground on me. Going to be as hard to catch up with as I can manage. (GRIN)
Jim Hupy