May 30th, 2021
June 1st, 2021
Sent timing covers off to Atlanta Motorcycle Works (c/o Jason) for Vapor Honing. Jason quoted me $70, so this could be a good finish if it works as well as I think. UPS Tracking Number 1Z282R0A0190431444.
June 16th, 2021
Picked them up on June 16th. Very very nice finish. Jason mentioned that there is a process to sandblast, then vapor hone the parts to make an even more matte finish. I think this would be the way to go for carbs or other engine parts.
June 20th, 2021
Set out to install the new belt tensioner bearings and new belts. Sourced the parts from Ricambi and everything came quickly. We installed the new Hill Engineering tensioner bearings, which are very nice.
Sadly, we ran into a major hiccup with the rear bank tensioner bearing. It refused to slide off the mount as usual. The front bearing install was done by hand, but this bearing refused to come off.
After much pounding with the baby sledge and soaking with penetrating fluid, we still could not get the bearing to budge.
Next, we fired up the gas grill and attached the bearing to a coat hanger. We hung the bearing directly over the gas flames for two minutes. After heating and additional pounding with the sledge, the bearing popped off the mount.
After examining the bearing perch, we found some very slight marring and a small indent in the post. After filing this down with 60 grit sandpaper, the new bearing began to go on more easily. It took a while, but finally the bearing was able to be reinstalled.
After that, we turned to the rear belt. We used the Birdman belt procedure to reinstall and, unfortunately, when marking the teeth offset on the new belts, I was misaligned by a single tooth. When that happens, it makes it impossible to fit the belts on the teeth correctly, causing tension to be out of balance between the camshafts and the crankshaft.
Timing Marks on the Flywheel
The new belts and tensioner bearings were installed June 20th, 2021 with the car at 113,254 miles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmYD8nEmEiA