Checked the piston-to-valve clearance and its OK Exhaust valves have lots of clearance. The intakes are closer at about .100".


Heads and intake are installed. Set a 600 Holley on the intake and a drop base 14" air cleaner on top. Everything fits nicely.

Got the header flanges flattened by the machine shop that prepared the block.

Got a air pump delete bracket and pulley off ebay. 79 95 Mustang 5 0L Billet Aluminum Smog Pump Eliminator with Install Info Listed | eBay Looks good to me. Put a washer on the long top bolt between the bracket and head and tapped the bushing in a bit to take up about an 1/8" gap and make the bracket fit snuggly in the bracket . If those things weren't done, I think the tab on the air pump/alternator mounting bracket might have broken off when the top bolt was torqued down.

There won't be a power steering pump on the engine for a while -- not until the CV steering/suspension/brakes transplant is done. The second attachment shows the planned routing of the belt. That's a 91.5" belt with a 1 1/4" socket between the belt and alternator pulley. Looks like an 87.5" belt will fit. Hope so -- one is on order from Rock Auto.