I just got my finished 30 Model a roadsters engine all back together after a rebuild. I have a question on how to break the new motor in. I am told to add 4 quarts of 30wt oil and some ZDDP to the pan and add one quart oil into the distributor hole. After distributor is back in place and set correctly to start it up and let it idle for 20 min, let engine cool 24 hrs and re tighten the head. Any more info from my fellow Banger guys would be welcomed. By the way it has a 5.5 head new Stromberg 97 carb, downdraft intake, FS ignition, Mild cam grind and its board 40 over. Re babbited and valve job done. New pistons ETC... V8 pressure plate with lighten flywheel so please help me out here before I blow the engine up! I will post pics this weekend..Hopfully a VID of it running!
You got the right idea. I wouldn't be too concerned about the ZPD-although it certainly can't hurt. The main thing is to pour at least one quart down the distributor hole. Try not to flood it when starting or the gas will wash what little oil is on the cylinders away. If the motor has been sitting awhile, take the plugs out the night before you start it and put some oil in each cylinder. Do not let the new engine overheat and try to keep it at a somewhat fast idle.
Thanks for the tip, I have been searching 4 banger engine break in information for a week now on the H.A.M.B but all i can find is V8 Flathead breakin. The engine was done about 6 weeks ago. I have just got finished putting everything else back on it and setting up the new intake and carb and everything else. Im going to take a video of the start up. and post it, start up is this weekend...
I might have to run the stromberg 97 with just gravity feed for the start up. Since I have to order the low PSI fuel pump... no one has one around here.
I dont know if your mill has different cam oiling provisions, but later V8's are basically splash oiled on the cam, so winding up and down gently between 1000 and 2000 rpm is good for splashing oil on different areas in side the crankcase. Lots of people break in easy but i subscribe to the "break it in good and hard" theory for some very good reasons. Lemmee find my link, right quick.... i broke mine in on the dyno. Rings seated. done. just do the easy bit on non-roller cams first, then let her rip. here it is http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm good stuff, well worth the read.
You should have 5 qts in the engine if stock oiling. the cam is steel so you do not have to worry about it. I break them in on the dyno but you can do it in the car. run at fast idle till temp comes up and light load if possible then cool down and retorque the head. and start over warming it up with light load then a little heavyer. If you have a lot of the good stuff on it you should make 90 to 100 HP. It will give a stock flat head V8 a run for the money they have a lot of low end torque. Have fun!
Well It started right up ! No problems at all, I took a few vids and I will post them the link here, just I just need to cut the first 30 seconds out, I ran it for 20 minutes at a little above idle. Temp never got over 150. Sounds great ! The video came out good also I will also post some pics today
Some pics and some video links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1fWmQwkEFU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geIa84b1Rvw
The Jalopy Journal
