I thought I'd post some more pictures of how my engine rebuild has progressed, which is now literly a couple of housrs away from the fire up party.
Here's the March Pulley Serpentine system taking shape
Then I got the correct A/C compressor to fit, and added some new rad hose
The stock rad shroud and viscous fan has been junked for a heavy duty PermaCool twin electric fan setup
Had some silly little bits left to do, such as put the power steering / hyrdroboost brakes reservoir somewhere. The March system assumes an in-reservoir p/s pump, but the 454 1-tons have a separate high capacity reservoir due to the shared steering / brake duty, plus the pump itelf has the normal high pressure port and return, but also has an extra low pressure return and the pipe to the reservoir.
I had to put it somewhere so made up a simple bracket
and fitted it to an existing intake bolt
Also finished the wiring and fitted the new battery. Just need to put some HT leads on it, and reconnect the computer and TPS and MAP sensors, and fire it up. We tried turning it over, put the new starter motor didn't seem to connect to the flex plate. We'll have another look at it next time we go down to the yard, because I'm not leaving next time I go there until it's running!!