Got down to business today. Installed the new timing chain and sprockets. The Cloyes set is very nice. There's a total of 2 mm of slack in the new set. The Iwis Z chain is quite a bit beefier than the Reynolds. I also installed the chain guide. It's a 2004, so the 1.7" spacing, LS3 model guide will fit here. Started with the lower sprocket. Poped it and the pump drive sleeve in the oven before breakfast, 300 F. for an hour. Still had to drive the sprocket on, but the sleeve slipped right on. I used the balancer install tool, with a piece of 1.75" diameter x 4.5" long aluminium pipe;
Using a .250" diameter ground hardened pin, I made the new cam sprocket pin. I drove it in, but before doing so, I used a deep socket, a long bolt, and some shims to keep the cam from moving in towards the block. I tapped in the pin, and then trimmed it so it sits just a hair below the surface of the sprocket. I then installed the retainer plate and bolts. The retainer I orientated so as to cover the pin. This will ensure that the pin never comes out again. I initially thought about lockwiring the bolts, but went with the stock bolts and Loctite instead. Worked fine before.
New Melling HP oil pump. Shimmed and centered.
Finally, final clean up of the gasket surfaces, installed a new seal in the timing cover, nice bead of Ultra Grey everywhere, and install the cover. Used a centering tool to ensure that the cover is centered on the balancer. I noticed that the old seal was worn offset about 1/8" of an inch, so another job poorly done by the speed shop that installed the cam.
Tomorrow, I'll prime the new pump, and then start getting Humpty Dumpty back together again.