Head and Cam install update - ITS ALIVE!!! - I still have a couple questions.

Ok, so I worked for a while last night and got everything put back together. Got the pil pressure primed. Then I turned the key and prayed....IT STARTED!! Started right up on the first try. Header gaskets smoked for a while, but I didn't even die once. The idle mover around for maybe about 10 seconds and then smoothed right out. It idles as well as it ever did before the cam (Thanks Ed!). I just let it idle for a couple minutes and then shut it off. My dad had to get ready for work and it doesn't have a hood on yet so we didn't drive it at all. I think I'll run it for about 30 mintues tomorrow, change the oil again, and then take it out for a spin.
Here are some issues/questions I still have:

1. After idling for about a minute, something that sounded like one of the pump started to make some noise, kinda like a whine. Any ideas?

2. Something in my valvetrain (sounds like lifters) is very noisy. Makes a clicking sound. Is this going to be a problem?

3. I still have no fuel pressure gauge since I forgot to pick one up, so I still need to get one of those and see what my FP is at and what it needs to be (Aeromotive AFPR). My Autometer A/F (useless, I know) was pegged at rich for about the first minute and then started to bounce. Can this worthless gauge tell me anything?

Here are some pics of my engine. I know, I gotta lose the blue radiator hoses, does anyone sell a quality set of black hoses for our cars? I am really impressed with how well it idled right away, and just glad that it started. I also think my engine bay turned out pretty good. I still gotta paint the power steering reservior and and the brake fluid res. Let me know what you think.

Thanks to everyone for answering my string of questions, I don't want to even think about doing this without everyone here and Ed's help.

Engine bay from the front:


Engine bay side:

Like I said, the blue hoses have to go, I just need to find a good black set first.

The cam has a very slight lope to it. I can hear it, but its not really that noticable.

Does anyone have an idea about my mystery niose? My dad said it sounded like a bearing of some sort squealing. Does this shed anymore light on the issue?

Touring23 said:

red94fiveo, I was just browsing the forum when I came acrossed this thread. I have a real moral delimna, should I speak up or keep on going? I reckon I'll try to help out a fellow stanger. Hope this helps.

Did you measure the valve lash (a.k.a. lifter preload ) after assembly? Tom Wilson's book How to Build & Modify Ford F.I. 5.0L V-8 Engines has a great section on the topic starting on page 144. The procedure can also be found in the Ford shop manual, although that procedure is for the stock valvetrain. We did this when we installed my 6037's, the procedure is a PITA because each piston must be at TDC to check it.
Might be worth looking into, maybe someone can contribute the lash for aluminum heads, or perhaps a chat with your cam grinder? Hope this helps. Good luck.

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Thanks for the tip, I didn't do this, I just went a half turn past zero lash when I installed the rockers. I may have to pick up that book ,it sounds like a good one. Thanks again for the tip, I appreciate it! I'm still having some other problems, but hopefully I can get them resolved.

No 4 and 5 seems to be my noisy ones.