Autozen--- cam #s are 08 and 09- thanks for confirming that. this weekend before reading the last several posts [no internet at home] tried to use same marks [opposite side of tower when installed] and gently, gently, gently rotated [using crank] and felt some resistance... so ended up with plan B .. which was exactly what you and Mike outlined in last two posts. We left the rockers out [ kept same order of course] and after lining up on cam tower marks closest to cam sprocket then we put #1 cylinder's rockers in, rotated twice then # 5 in rotated twice...and so forth through all 8 - in firing order - using a valve spring compresssor and watching the keepers when compressing the valve springs-- everthing lines up perfectly and rotates smoothly now.

all torqued down now and moving on to intake and exhaust re-assembly.

One other question- the small M8 bolts that go through the heads at the front and into the timing cover- my specs claim a 50NM torque but seems way too much for such a small bolt going through aluminum into aluminum. My specs good? Right now they are at 25NM - there is no tightening order on those- so can give them the full 50NM but just does not seem right.

Thanks again Autozen and MikeTangas!!!

These are fascinating engines.

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dloveless

1984 500 SEL [131K]-
1991 GMC Sierra 4X4 XC [162K]- War Pony.
2004 Jeep Liberty Limited [8k]- wife's sled- Belle.