OMG. I tried so hard to stay out of this thread.
@Grey owl @ntsqd and
@73azbronco you guys can relax now. The real "know it all" has entered the chat...
0. Paint brings some advantage to engine assembly. High performance ford engines and axle castings are indeed coated with Glyptal. I often paint the interior surfaces of my engines. Glyptal seals the pores of the casting and retains microscopic sand remnants. It also provides for improved oil flow. The PROBLEM with painting things is that if you don't do it yourself...you cannot trust that the surface prep, cleaning, priming and application were performed properly. So I always have to take it to bare metal and build it up. (not unlike body work) So
@Steve83 is both right, and wrong. Kind of moot now, since you have already cleaned it.
1. Every oil filter approved for use on a SBF has a bypass valve. The Fram PH-8A, Motocraft FL-1A, Wix 51515 ALL OF THEM. The poppet on the bypass valve will open to an orifice up to .150. This is vastly bigger than the typical 16-20 mesh in the pickup tube. The typical bypass valve opens when the media exhibits 12-15 psi delta. This happens when the media is plugged, but ALSO when thick cold oil is forced thru the filter. Cold Start with cold oil and high rpm will overcome even new media, and open the bypass valve. Once in a while, the valve will burp, and some gunk will hang it open against the spring. Then strange things happen. I’ve seen gunk abrade crankshaft bearings that had no business getting past any kind of media.
2.
@joshua you have entered the world of high performance parts on stock engines. And you are 100% correct that the damper will seat that gear. And it's a good thing you took it apart. The fact that the 86-95 Ford 5.0 HO came with a factory double roller timing chain further aggravates things. Somebody has source a "high performance" US made aftermarket timing set. That double roller chain uses extra heavy pins and chain. So yes, it's wider than "stock" and much wider than the factory morse silent chain. It is VASTLY superior to anything Ford ever put in an engine. BUT...as you have discovered, it doesn't actually fit.
In order to use it, you MUST relieve the block in areas where it makes contact. It WILL relieve itself if you do not. I have pulled apart a few Fords where the timing chain eats a groove in the block. Follow the instructions from the supplier on how to install the timing set. You will find that your sanding belt makes quick work of the task. It is not out of the question to make a sleeve or shim to pull the gear outward to align it EXACTLY with the cam sprocket.
If you want any other advice, just tag me, otherwise I will remain quiet and amused...