A tip for staring a new engine.

I have been sweatin' bullets on this fire up thing on the new engine. I have used Isky Rev Lube on the lobes and lifters and I am using Vavloline Race oil with lots of ZDDP and a bottle of ZDDPlus. The one thing is I took a ride to Sedalia the other day with a guy who builds about 100 race engines a year. I was telling him my concerns about losing a cam on startup. He said the most important thing is after adjusting valves use a marker and mark each lifter. Then turn engine over 2 or 3 times and check each lifter so it rotates. If one doesn't that lifter will fail and destroy the cam. I have just done that and all turned. Hurrah!Roy P.S. Ron Golden and I have been conversing about this first fire up thing for 2 days.

 

When I go thru a new motor.. Like you said, use a good ***embly lube..Then turn the oil pump with a pump turning shaft hooked to a speed handle.. You turn it in the correct direction untill you have full oil pressure. Keep turning untill you are sure there is full pressure.. Install Ignition(Mag) or Distib.. Fire up. There should be a start up with no problems...

 

Roy,
Just recently I got my cam from Dema Elgin and he explained that when he ground my cam he took extra pains to offset grind the cam lobes just so the lifters would rotate. I'm still worried since we've had so many flat tappet cams go flat the last couple of years and it doesn't seem to be any certain make of engine.

As you know Kevin and I have talked to the engineers at Mobil, Redline, Royal Purple, etc. as well as the cam manufacturers and I still don't feel comfortable with flat tappet cams.

I still have my fingers crossed.

Ron

 

You might even go a step further. Put a paint dot on the push rods and start engine, run at 2000 for a few minutes and then watch the dots turn with cover off the engine as well.

 

I learned the hard way now I always install light break in springs. I had my roller springs in a new motor while waiting for new cam,put in a good flat tappet cam so i could go racing. boy what a mistake wiped cam , lifters ,push rods and rockers. I now break in new engine with flat tappet with light springs and run for 10 min then install good springs. I use the outer springs from triple set [ck. spring pressure] have not had cam failure since. Hey 348 do they still run the mile at sedalia ,had a blast in early 90's at the fairgrounds.