Hello everybody,
If you are one of our many customers who is currently rebuilding your engine in your basement, garage, or laundry room, we're hoping that you might benefit from using our Engine Rebuilding QC checklist. We use this checklist so as not to overlook any of the myriad details that are necessary to get right, in order to avoid premature failure. The checklist is the result of over ten years of experience (sometimes costly).

To some, this checklist might be considered proprietary information, since the rebuilding competition is growing within our market place. However, we have felt from day one of our business that whatever is good for the Atomic 4 is good for all of us. We still feel that way, so please feel free to share the checklist with anyone whom you think might benefit from it (even your local mechanic).
Don

CHECKLIST OF CRITICAL ITEMS DURING REBUILD Universal Atomic 4

ITEMS TO BE CHECKED PRIOR TO ASSEMBLY:
1)   Check all castings for rust and scale removal.

2)   Check for maximum gap of .005" (total) between head to block,       and manifold to block mating surfaces.

3)   Oil passage ways in block thoroughly cleaned.

4)   Oil passage ways in crankshaft thoroughly cleaned.

5)   Cam bearings installed with oil holes aligned with holes in block.

6)   Inspect threads within stud holes in block and dry-run studs      to check for fit. If any studs are quite lose, replace      with a 10 mm stud or install a repair bushing.

7)   Inspect inside of thermostat housing for proper configuration.

ITEMS TO BE CHECKED PRIOR TO INSTALLING OIL PAN:
1)   Three oil plugs installed, one at each end of the cam shaft      and one directly below the oil pressure regulating valve.

2)   Timing marks on crankshaft and cam shaft gears aligned.

3)   Two set-screws installed to retain idler gear spindle.

4)   Check max. ring end-gap of .018" on at least 2 cylinder bores.

5)   Check max. of .004" between ring and ring grooves in pistons.

6)   Pistons installed with number one toward flywheel.

7)   Pistons installed with arrows pointing toward reversing gear,      or with slots in piston skirts pointing away from cam shaft.

8)   Rods installed with numbers pointing toward cam shaft.

9)   Alignment tabs on rod bearings placed carefully in their      respective recesses in rods and rod bearing caps.

10)   Each rod checked for side play after installing rod bearings.

11)   Oil strainer installed with proper slope along bottom of oil       pan, and with some clearance so as to not press on the       bottom of oil pan (spring between screen and 1/8" street el       should be almost fully compressed).

ITEMS TO CHECK BEFORE INSTALLING HEAD:
1)   Proper roughness on block deck and head mating surface.

            (Scribe lines using an ice pick or similar tool.)

2)   Seal all studs into block using Lock-Tite.

ITEMS TO BE CHECKED BEFORE INSTALLING THE AFT HOUSING:
1)   Run feeler gauge under oil strainer to be sure that the screen is      not pressing on bottom of oil pan (minimum of .005").

2)   Install small pilot bearing in rear of crankshaft.

3)   Check that idler gear is installed properly and that a cotter pin      is installed in the castle nut on early model engines.

4)   Clean oil collection groove and return holes in flywheel housing.

CHECKLIST OF FINISHING/DETAILING STANDARDS
1)   All studs extending through head nuts the same distance.

2)   Use standard length bolts on the following assemblies:           Oil pan                     5/16" x 7/8"     Rear oil seal housing         5/16" x 1"     Electric fuel pump bracket   5/16" x 3/4"     Accessory drive bolts           3/8" x 3 3/4"

3)   Copper flat washers under water jacket side plate bolts, under      the reversing gear cover plate, and under the lower three bolts      in the rear oil seal housing.

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