The time has come I can no longer put off replacing my tappet cover gasket. While in there I will be doing a re-seal of my vacuum pump also. Along with swapping in my hotrod vp44 from 98 cracked 53 block. I want to make sure I do everything I should while I've got it torn apart. Are there any other seals or anything else that I should be replacing while in it already?

Edited Saturday at 05:08 PM4 days by Lund1990
Fix auto correct

I changed out the cam sensor with a factory Cummins. When I did mine.

On 11/22/2025 at 10:04 AM, Lund1990 said:

Along with swapping in my hotrod vp44 from 98 cracked 53 block

I would have skipped the hotrod pump, being that it's a mechanical change in timing because of the blending HO and SO pump parts together. It's possible to produce more power without a hotrod pump because you don't have to calculate the offset of timing advancement. Kind of like changing pop pressure to lower numbers does the same thing, like pop pressure 300 bar vs 310 bar is about 1 degree advanced. Like me, I changed to 320 bar from 310 bar to retard 1 degree. This 1 degree can be made up in a Quadzilla tuner easily. Advancing timing is going to reduce boost pressure. Retarding timing creates more boost pressure by passing more expanding gases through the turbo. Advance timing consumes most to all the expansion in the cylinder providing little ot nothing for boost.

Double-check the block to gear case gasket while you're there, and the VP44 is removed. Cam sensor replacement is super easy, even without pulling the VP44. Tappet cover gasket, just remember not to use any silicone. It was installed as a dry seal! Make sure your cover is not bowed or warped.