engine and drivetrain Today's stupid move... What can I do?

[kangarooboy]

So a few days ago I put my rebuilt cylinder head on, torqued everything down to the specifications listed in my Haynes guide. Installed the exhaust header and cleaned some stuff up.

Today I put the intake manifold back on, reinstalled the carb, changed the front fuel lines to 5/16, buttoned everything back up and filled up the radiator. With the valve cover off I was pouring the fourth bottle of oil into the head and man, something just didn't look right. I went and opened the box that had my old bad head in it and knew just what didn't look right...

The new head didn't come with an oil distribution tube. This being the first time I've done this I didn't notice and put everything together as if everything were normal. So now I have an engine with four quarts of oil in it, antifreeze and torqued to spec but missing what I would think is an important part of the oil delivery system.

So what can I do? Do I need this piece? Do I have to tear the whole thing down again, clean everything, new gaskets etc to install it? Can I just take out the four head bolts that secure it, install it, retorque and go? Am I totally hosed or is there an easy fix for this?

I'm frustrated.

[JohnN]

the oil galley tube in place and retorque. You should use the specifications that came with the head gasket, not the Haynes manual for the torque specification and if you need to retorque after the head has been heated.

Regards,

John N

[racebmw]

Just remove them and then retorque them when you are done.

We used to remove all the bolts on one side of the head on a hot racing engine at the track to change rocker arms. Never had a problem.

One important thing is to make sure the bolt holes are clean before you put the bolt back in. If oil has flowed into the hole you will be torquing against the oil and get a false reading.

Get all of the oil out of the holes. We used to roll up pieces of newspaper into thin straws and put them in the hole to soak up the oil. WOrked every time.

You may not have a problem with oil going down the holes as the engine hasn't been run.

Jeff

[kangarooboy]

This is good news, thanks guys. I'll take care of this in the morning.