First Engine Start Up

[Indiana]

I will be starting my engine for the first time. Everything in it is new except for the crank, which was redone, and the heads, which were ported and rebuilt with everything new.



I have heard people say that a cam should be broken in at 2000 rpm for 20 minutes and I have heard people say that they have had cams fail after a break in and had cam run forever without the break in. It just depends on how hard the cam is.



Cam break-in aside, I know I need to prime the oil pump, but what else do you recommend before during and after the first engine run. I do not intend on driving the truck until spring. One more thing, does it matter that I have open headers with no muffler? The headers are not connected to an exhaust yet.



Indy

[Scotty_S-15]

Here\'s what I would do:

* Triple check the valve adjustments before starting.

* Prime the oil pump, or, just pull the plugs and spin the engine over, or best of all, prime it, then crank it over without plugs.

* Keep the idle high for a while. Plenty of cams have survived without doing this, but there\'s good reason to do it.

* I wouldn\'t start it without exhaust. Main reason is that you can\'t hear if there is a problem, (loose valve, etc.) and the noise is so distracting. Others will say it messes up the mixture, burn exhaust valves etc., but that wouldn\'t be my concern.

* Pull valve covers and make sure you\'ve got ample oil to the rockers.

* After the initial startup & warmup, I\'d dump the oil & filter.

[adsg85]

If it is a roller cam then don\'t worry so much about the break in but if it is a flat tappet cam then it should be broken in properly, around 2000- 2500 for 20 mins. Open headers is fine, it is when you run the engine with no manifolds or anything on the exhaust side, because the pressure in the cylinder can actually draw debris inside the engine through the exhaust port. As Scotty s 15 said check your valve adjustments and make sure to prime the oiling system. Good Luck

[stroker1]

Man, I would quieten that thing down first, it being a new engine and all. But I\'ve done it open headers, too. Just my advise. Oh, of course, keep a check on oil pressure and temp. I\'m sure you would anyway.

[Indiana]

I think using mufflers is wise. I didn\'t think about engine noises. I\'ll buy some cheap mufflers to test.

[adsg85]

I think it sounds awesome open headers, although my hearing isn\'t what it use to be( I am not old just work in a shop all day) so it probably isnb\'t as loud for me as it would be for most.

[Scotty_S-15]

On 2004-11-28 17:05, Indiana wrote:

I think using mufflers is wise. I didn\'t think about engine noises. I\'ll buy some cheap mufflers to test.



Or, (presuming you\'ve got shortie headers) just make some half-azzed header extensions, and bolt on your \"good\" mufflers. You can relocate them later....

[Indiana]

I have not decided which mufflers I am buying yet. I rather have quite ones for now. I don\'t know how much my wife will take while it is in the garge. I have not decided on 40s or 70s. Heck, I don\'t know if I am sold on Flowmaster yet.

[redneckgames]

Personally I love flowmaster. To me the original 40 series gives the best sound. Just my opinion.

[Indiana]

I hear poeple like the 40 series, but I don\'t know how long I could take the noise. I read where some get tired of the noise inside the truck. The guy that helped build my engine has a muffler shop. He will let me try a couple different ones to see which one I like. He keeps a few sets on the shelf for people to try before they buy. He is not as cheap as Summit or Jegs, but they don\'t let you test different ones out before you buy.

[Jimmybeam]

Don\'t you have to follow some procedure to set the rings? I seemed to remember someone telling me once that you have to get on and off the gas for a while to get the rings to set properly.

[redneckgames]

People will tell you a hundred different things to do. I have heard exactly what you are talking about. Winding it out and then letting it slow back down on the motor. Ive also heard people say to take the motor easy for the first couple hundred miles and then gradually break it in.

Also have had some people say that they used to build them and then after they broke the cam in they would drive it like they stole it.

I would recommend just doing a little bit of it all.

Break the cam in like mentioned before. Then break in the rings like you were talking about. Then drive it like you plan on driving it.

Even though Im young that is what me and my buddies have always done and what my dad and his friends done in the sixtys and seventys. Never had a problem.

[grimpuppy]

On 2004-11-29 14:26, Jimmybeam wrote:

Don\'t you have to follow some procedure to set the rings? I seemed to remember someone telling me once that you have to get on and off the gas for a while to get the rings to set properly.



This isn\'t required with initaill break in. It is recommended to vary load and rpm for the first 500 miles. With varying rpm you will load both the top and bottom side of the rings to let them seat properly. Normal driving will do this just fine. You just don\'t wanna set the cruise and go 500 miles at same rpm to break it in all at once. I advise you to strictly follow your cam manufactures break in procedure. Especially if it is a flat tappet. The cam lobes only get oil from what is flinging off the rods and crank and a little running back through the lifter valley. If you break the cam in at idle or low rpm there will not be enough oil splashing on the cam lobes to break them in properly. The instructions that come with a Crane cam claims 90% of cam failures are from improper break in, if I remember right. Make sure your cooling system is adequate. You don\'t want to have to shut down in the middle of break in because it is overheating.

[redneckgames]

yeah id probably go with grimpuppy