IDIBRONCO
IDIBRONCO
If you take it to a shop, they can remove the old cam bearings. You won't have to. If they're all pretty bad/nasty,greasy, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have it all hot tanked. You don't have to, but it sure makes things nicer to work with clean parts. Expensive? Maybe. It cost me $170 to have my block hot tanked, the cylinders honed, and new cam bearings installed. I supplied the new bearings and it was over 6 years ago. It was also done by a guy who does engine work in his spare time, after his full time job so that price means nothing today. You can call to ask about prices. I'm not trying to spend your money for you. Only giving my opinions here. One last observation, you've already removed the pistons so you're almost done with the disassembly right now. Not to mention that NOW will be the time to reseal your oil cooler, but you probably already know that.I'm torn on getting a ridge reamer vs. taking it to someone. If I take it to someone, I was thinking of having the block (and heads) hot tanked as they are nasty. Of course of I have it hot tanked, I'll need to completely dismantle the block and pull the cam bearings and have them install new ones. That will probably make it a pretty expensive job.
When I overhauled the engine in my Blue Truck in 2018, I didn't have a parts cleaner or solvent tank. I bought a metal oil drain pan, a 5 gallon bucket of solvent, and a parts cleaning brush. I cleaned the majority of my engine parts (aside from the block and heads) with that and blowing them off with compressed air afterward. That took more effort on my part, but it saved my money by not having them hot tanked. It also gave me the opportunity to look over everything else for defects. The more that you can do yourself, the more money that you save.
I don't have any experience with the Mahle gasket myself. You should be fine. My only preference is for Fel-Pro over Victor Reinz Because the Fel-Pro head gaskets are .010" thicker. Otherwise, I'd use either brand.What gasket kit would you guys recommend? This one?
They make repair sleeves for both the balancer and the crank.Is there anything I can do about that, like maybe now press the new seals all the way in so that they won't ride the same groovers?
Those sure look like the right ones.And these would be the rings, right?