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Cylinder head and cam question

Near as I can tell my car sat for about 15 years before I bought it. I have not had a working fuel gauge and I am still getting a considerable amount of powdery rust in the fuel filter. I decided to spring for a new fuel tank. The ironic part is the Spectra tank is made here in Canada, yet my buddy with an auto parts store said that his cost was $70 more than ordering from Rock Auto including their $100 shipping charge. Something is wrong with this scenario.

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The sender is supposed to arrive tomorrow. Again my buddy's price was twice what I paid through Rock Auto, plus they had none available in his warehouse.
 
You've likely heard but be careful with the flimsy gasket they give you and do not use the new sealing ring.
I'd blow out the fuel line backwards while it's apart.
Catch the fuel in a glass jar and check it for clarity.
 
I tried to siphon the remaining fuel from the tank today, but I couldn't get the hose in deep enough. I guess I will do what my brother in law suggested and poke a hole in the tank.
 
Or pump/siphon out the fuel line.
It should already be full
 
After I finished installing the new fuel tank, I decided to change the trans filter and fluid for the trip to Carlisle. I figured I would change the speedometer gear at the same time. I increased the tire diameter to 27 inches, and the speedometer seemed to be reading about 5 mph low. Looking at the Brewers chart for the 2.94 gears I figured I needed a 29 tooth gear. I took the original out and guess what? It was already a 29. I found another chart and I now think I need a 28 but didn't have one, so it went back in for now.

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Sorry my phone locked up so I had to come back and finish my post.
 
Today I had to leave the car at a shop to get the headlight switch and turn signal switch replaced. I have stubbornly done all the work on the car myself, usually alone, but due to ongoing Vertigo issues I had to have someone else do it. They didn't finish today so it is strange not to have it in the garage.
 
The headlight switch and turn signal switch have been replaced and now all of the lights work perfectly. While the car was in the shop I also had them install the stereo. The antenna cable plug was toast so the radio didn't work. I had to take the stereo down to repair that. While doing that I found yet another nest of insulation on top of the A/C box and I vacuumed up lots more leaves and acorns.

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This is all good advice. Although the engine is original internally it has been upgraded with dual 2 1/4 exhaust to 2 inch tailpipes off stock manifolds. It also has a performer intake and 625 street demon carb. I am not sure about changing the cam, mainly because of all the A/C stuff hanging off the front of the engine. The part that makes me nervous is the 54 year old timing gear. If I have to change it a new cam will go in. The stock cam is only 390 lift
Here is a 54 year old timing gear, and 91K miles.
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Virtually no wear, cracks, or anything visually wrong. This was a big question mark for me. Odometer shows 91K miles. There were two things I noticed on teardown. It was the dirtiest engine I ever pulled, and it was the cleanest engine on the inside that I have done.
 
Did you check the slop in the chain? Mine had a ton.
 
Not too many Kim. I keep finding stuff to tweak. I did pick up some friends and drive it to the race track today, just to watch. I am getting ready to drive it to Carlisle in a couple of weeks.
 
I finally tried the temporary spare I got from a Ford Edge. As I was told, the center hole was a bit small, so I opened it up a bit with my carbide. It is a 17 inch rim and is the same overall diameter as the 17 inch tires on the car. It also fits the spare tire well.

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I got all the interior panels back in after the stereo installation. I took the car for a long drive and the stereo is working great. I even tried the air on the way back, and it is working fine. I sorted through my tools and spares for the trip, and started packing the trunk.

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I have a couple scissors jack's from mid 80s m bodies. Take up way less room than that floor jack.
They work nicely
 
I thought about leaving it at home, but didn't want to rely on the old bumper jack
 
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