well its getting really close so any tips, suggestions, checklists, and procedures are greatly welcomed!
Dont be revving it up with in the first 30 minutes of operation, try to keep it under 2500 until you know it runs right. If you have used assembly lube, change the oil within the first hour. I look at this more in hours instead of miles,,, Usually when I fire up a fresh motor, hopefully it fires up right up, but I dont push the starter if it dont. Check the regular check lists,, fluids, got spark? got fuel in the carb bowl? is it pumping fuel when you pump the gas? Before you fire it up, make sure the oil pump is primed up. You can take the plugs out and rotate the engine for short periods of time, or get you a shaft to hook to a drill and turn the pump until you have pressure, or oil in the heads out the rockers. When the pressure is up, then put the plugs back in, wire em up, and see if she fires up. if it does, check for leaks, and get it to idle. if it starts good, dont lag the starter, oil pressure is good, you can run it a little while. Dont go driving it yet,, Put some time on it,,, by running it,, after about an hour of running, or warmed up to temp, recheck all your bolt torques while its warm. gaskets expand and contract worst when they are new,, and bolt torques have to be rechecked. Head bolts, intake bolts, water pump, and accesories too. rocker arms properly adjusted, if they are adjustable,, oil changed, you need to seat the rings,, and that can be done 2 ways, to start with, you can hold rpm at 1500, for about 30 seconds, then 2500 for about a minute, 3000 rpm for 30 seconds, and let it back down to idle,, if the engine temps rise at this time, then the break in has begun,, the engine may sputter a little,, tiny fine shavings from the rings, and from the block walls can foul up the spark plug tips. it may take a set or two to get it cleaned up, by this time, once its cooled down and running well, if it has ran for more than a hour,, change the oil again, I repeat the process maybe 3 times if the engine isnt overheating, has steady oil pressure. The second way would be to drive it,,, and that may be difficult, have someone follow you cause it may quit running!! But you can accelerate fast and bring it back down a few times, like in low gear, take it up to 3000, and let it coast back down, if it ran well, next time go up to 3500-4000 and back down to idle in gear. Watch the engine temp!! It will warm up even more than usual,, cause now your adding tranny heat to the engine coolant if your running a Auto tranny,,, Then ,if it checks out, oil is not low, it may be,, cause oil has now been able to reach places where it may not,, if things are OK, runs good, take it for a drive, bout 20-25 miles to start with, take it home and let it cool over night, and check the fluids in the morning. it may be hard to start,,, so keep an extra new set of plugs handy. note the plug color, run a compression test on all cyls, if they are all with in 5 psi,, then the rings are broke in, and ready to be put into service for a few more miles,,, if the compression is off by 15 or more, then more break in time, and valve adjusments may be needed. Do all the above in the first 20 hours of operation,, like I said, I dont see it in miles,,, I see it in hours,,, a engine can take anywhere from 3-10 hours to properly break in, some do it 20 miles,,, but, are you in a hurry? take your time, dont rush it. that is the difference in lasting 3000 miles, or 100,000 miles. JMHO, hope it helps! ChadS
On the initial start-up Follow your cam manufacturer's instructions. More cams are flattened in the first 20 minutes of running than for any other reason. Be sure to use the oil recommended by the cam manufacturer too. If you don't follow their instructions the warranty is void.
