HO head on Renix block
 

I have a HO head on a renix block. The only difference was the lack of main bearing cap brace in the bottom end and the lack of alignment dowels for the head to line up on. Just get a upper gasket kit and some new head bolts and toss it on there.

When I rebuilt mine I ordered the lower gasket set and bearings for a renix and then got a HO upper gasket set

I'm not sure what year they did it, but they changed the location of the tangs in the main bearings. I got all my parts through a machine shop and the guy accidentally gave me bearings for a 99 instead of an 87.

So if I rebuild the Renix block, can I use H.O. rebuild kit if I rebuild using the H.O. camshaft in the Renix block?

edit: I've read that the camshaft in the Renix is the same as the Camshaft in the 92 H.O., up to 1995, so I suppose it doesn't matter

It's the machining in the block that is different, not the crankAttachment 403987 here you can see the main bearings for renix are offset tangs, but the later ones are Center tangs. I can't say for certain what year the tangs went from offset to centered though.

Gotcha. That makes sense. So it doesn't matter which camshaft I use, but I'll still have to use the renix rebuild kit to be sure the tangs are the same

I don't believe it matters which camshaft you use as long as it is the same style. The older style used a spring in the head of the cam bolt that presses against the timing cover and keeps the cam in, newer motors (I really want to say 99, but don't quote me on that) use a retainer plate. I believe the renix cam makes more torque lower down in the rpms and the HO makes torque higher up in the rpms. I didn't do a ton of looking on into the stock cams since I went with a comp cam for my rebuild.

Okay, well I'll probably just stick with the cam that's already in the Renix block to keep things simple. I suppose while I'm in there, I will replace the lifters as well. This will be my first time cracking an engine open so I'm learning as I go along. Thanks for the help so far


So I'm looking at this rebuild kit on rockauto for the renix block, and I suppose I could use everything here for the bottom end, and then just have to buy a manifold gasket for the H.O. separate for the top end. Would the valve cover and head gasket be the same for both?

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...sn=434&jsn=434

The valve cover gasket depends on if you have a steel or aluminum valve cover. From what I've heard the steel ones seal Better than the aluminum ones. The HO head has different size and locations for the intake and exhaust ports so you need a HO manifold gasket.

Attachment 403988
this is the steel one

Attachment 403989
This is the aluminum one

Okay, well then by the looks of that I believe that both of mine are the aluminum valve covers. But all gaskets are the same from what I can tell for the valve covers