Someone, please refresh my memory, what is the thrust issue? I know the 301 is narrower, but is it on a different journal, too? Are you trying to use a wider 400 thrust bearing in a narrow thrust journal or is there more to it?

Using a 400 bearing with a spacer.Issue right now the from face of the cap is not square.Have to actually fit the spacer.Tom

Have you used a diff. cap on this block, reason I ask you say it's not sitting square on the saddle. If it's not sitting square that cap wouldn't have worked in the engine before , so why isn't it fitting now. What has been changed to make the cap not fit. What am I missing in the maybe some of the last posts. Are you uuseing the same crank & parts or what has been changed??

Im using the factory cap.The rear of the cap is square,the front is off a couple thou.The cap has been line honed to the block with solid dowels.The shim for the bearing just needed to be fit for the slight taper.I think if you look at the fit on most factory caps to the bearings there is some room,not exact fit.The rear of the bearing fits flush against the cap with no issue which is where the force is being applied.I have talked to Nunzi,Pontiac Dude and Rick Johnson and all have said just glue the shim to the cap,put the friggin bearing in and put the thing together.Joe was just having a issue wrapping his head around the deal.Tom

here are pics of the spacers installed!Now Joe can get to finishing the engine build.Tom

Has Joe made anymore progress?

You beat me to it, Bob. My curiosity is getting the better of me.

Sort block is together,going tomorrow AM to take some pics and also see if the is a problem with a stock pontiac head gasket and head on a 301 block.Couple people say it is and a couple people tell me its not.Tom

short block!

Make sure you have both a standard and a 301 head gasket on hand to try. The 301 headgasket could be the ticket.

Can't wait to see the pictures!

Here are pics of the short block.Looks like there is a problem with a stock head gasket on a 301 block.The deck is marked where the oil drain back is a RCH close to the water jacket.We are going to try a 301 head gasket and if there is a issue Joe said Comitic will make him a gasket that will fix the problem.So one more little set back but does not look like a huge deal.Tom

Got the 301 head gaskets today,will take them to Joe Monday AM and see if there is any issue with a 400-455 head.Will post pics.Tom

Was watching for a while. Nice pics also, keep on keeping on....cool to watch it come together.!!!

Already did that. 8yrs ago. Major issues w the coolant passages.

what did you do to correct the issue?

That's all we get Jeff? hahahaha You've been responding to the thread all along and you're just now throwing this in?

I spoke to the man that built the 4th gen with a Fuel injected 301 based engine about 3 years ago. This development prompted me to see if I still had the emails and I found them after some sifting.

This is what he said when I asked about the head gasket...

"Which head gasket? 301 or 350 type?(appears the coolant passages are cut different. Doesn't matter maybe?
Honestly I can't remember the differences...it was minor. The first time I ran 301 and the last 2 times I have used Edelbrock because of the aluminum
heads."

"Do you have to modify the deck coolant passages at all? No. No issue with running hot, but I used an aluminum radiator. I have though of installing
an electric pump, but it would require changing my belting and I am not sure it is worth the horsepower gain."

So I wonder what the "edelbrock" head gaskets are like? :o

I said at the beginning of this thread and I'll say it again the 301 head gaskets do not line up at all on the standard d port or round port heads. Without extensivWithout extensive welding

Sorry about that Jeff, I was leading you on without being clear. I'm with Grandville. Since Tom is trying to find a solution the next question after your reveal is"Was there a solution that you found 8 years ago?"

This thing has become a Pontiac community project of sorts, just trying to help! It's interesting!

So perhaps Edelbrock heads were the key here.

I never built one. Got to the aluminum head part and had no money.