ng8264723 Chris Who ever is building the motor, let them install the tube and dipstick. You want the correct reading for the
oil level. Too much is alot better than too little. For starters, I run a tilton mini starter. I did have to replace the bendix drive because of the bellhousing not being centered on the one assembly of motor 452. I was .038" out and the teeth on the bendix drive where all chipped from too much edge. It is very important that you center the Lake wood bell housing before you install the motor. Not sure what trans you ended up with but make sure that the input shaft is not too long. This problem happens with some of the GM trans input shafts into an FE lakewood bell housing. It's in the fine print for tech tips. You need a microscope to read this. You may need to remove .380" off the pilot end. If not, you could wipeout the thrust bearing in the motor. This mistake will cause MAJOR damage to the motor. There should be about a .035" clearance between the gear of the starter and bottom of the teeth on the flywheel. You can also run a little smaller cable to this starter because of the lower ampage draw. The OEM ones pull about 120-220 amps depending on the motor size and compression. Mini's pull about 90 to 110 amps. They are strong enought to drive a car on a trailer without running the motor. Make sure you have all 3 bolts torqued to spec and add a touch or BLUE locktite so they don't come loose. It's a pain to get to the one between the block and starter.
Install the starter on the motor before dropping in the car. Have the cable also on too. It's alot easier than fighting the headers, and starter on your back. You will have to check ground clearance with the lakewood after everything is installed. Make sure your Body weight is in the car and someone else too if you have a co driver. This is IMPORTANT,
Oil pans have been cracked from this not being checked.
If you are on flat smooth roads, you should be OK if not, the bottom of the flange of the bellhousing might hit some pothole covers, been there done that.
It bent the bottom.
As far as Patrickt he is off his meds again, he's spending way too much time in the closed garage, waxing and smelling the new paint from his fender bender last year.
Has anyone call the doctor YET!!!!
Rick L.