Final Assembly

First step, is to turn the crank pulley until the "P" position line matches the position indicator on the water pump. "P" stands for "Punto", short for "Punto Morto Superiore", which literally translated means "upper dead point". On this side of the pond we call it Top Dead Center (TDC), where the #1 piston is up as high as it will go in the cylinder. Important for the Nord engines since they are interference engines.

Photo showing #1 (and #4) piston at TDC.

Adding brand new head gasket, as well as new oil hole seals--the squared off kind for more sealing power (see below--held in place with a tiny pit of Ultra Black to ensure proper alignment when head is installed). Also, I chose not to install new roll pins in the oil passages to maximize oil circulation and cooling given the higher compression.

Cleaned and oiled head nuts and washers ready to be installed!

Head installed with washers (and engine lift bracket) installed. I wrote the tightening order with sharpie next to each bolt since they need to be tightened in a specific order per the factory.

I started with the torque wrench set at 25 lb ft, then went to 40, and then finally 58 lb ft.

Installed cam cover with cam bolts and two front bolts. Note cleaned oil breather installed, also with a new gasket, and a brand-new oil cap with the classic "OLIO" stamped on top.