PUNKMECHANIC - Thanks.. Ok So you're really talking me into ripping into it. The hurdle for me is "coin" right now. I originally was going to slap new "G's" and a rebuilt DB2-5070 onto it but suddenly, and without warning our finances were whacked into the "Danger Zone". I'm free lance and the wife got job-whacked a week after I scored this 7.3., so with an extremely limited income, I have to play it really close to the chest. I would love to re-gasket it, at least the top end, and throw studs in it at the same time, but really I have justify it. It's do I need it, then if so, do I need it now?
Anyways, I'm good to go for the checking the timing marks. I typically shy from RTV because I've seen just so many *****'d things from Hacks and Mallet Mechanics using the stuff like it was toothpaste and the gross excess severing and migrating into oil and water passages and then landing in places like radiator tubes and oil coolers. Because of those nasty pictures, I tend to use too little if I err in application.
Anyways, can you give me a "best/most economical" source for the Stud Kit and perhaps the Gasket Set and Valley Pan? The choice produce for the fasteners would be ARP I assume but I can't find a listing for the 7.3 in my catalog. I typically order my Mill parts from Northern Auto and they sell both Fel-pro and Victor Reinz G-sets but list only TRW Head Bolts. Any other sources and Part #'s would be appreciated.
One other question that comes to mind is how would the timing gears get out of alignment?
I truely appreciate your assistance. I'm the Lone Wrencher here. Everybody else I talk to around here is either a Gasser or a "Chipped" PSD kind of guy. Thanks again.
