Technical Starting a rebuilt flathead for the first time???

Ok flathead folks, got me a rebuilt Mercury flathead with offy heads and a 3/4 cam that I will need to start for the first time here shortly. Any good pointers for me? Priming the oil? Seating the cam? Retorque the heads? Hot or cold? What oil do I need to use for the first run? It should be timed and ready to start. Thank you David

 

Dave , Be glad to help if need some.
I would check the head torque , start engine and run at 1500-2000 for a couple minutes checking water temp , oil pressure etc. (suggest water temp gauge in both heads ) Shut down and re-torque the heads .
Is this in a chassis ???

 

If you received instructions for cam break in I would recommend you follow that process. I did a Merc Flathead a few years ago and used an Isky in it. The instructions called for lots of moly lube on the cam and lifters, good quality oil with zinc or use GM EOS (engine oil supplement) and run it it at 2000/2200 range for about twenty minutes. Of course, as Buuba says, monitor oil pressure and temp closely.

Unfortunately, a flathead doesn't lend it self to pre-oiling like many engines since you can't access the oil pump drive and run it with a drill motor. But, with sufficient engine assembly lube in place, that shouldn't be a problem.

Ray

 

That isky cam was my main concern. Thanks for the input.

 

The motor is in the chassis. Mind if I give you a visit when I get close? Thanks Dave

 

When I start a flathead that has not run for a while I have an electric high pressure fuel pump which I connect to the rear of the block where the oil pressure gauge taps into the block and it pre lubes at about 75 psi. If you do not have an electric pump you can use an old oel pump in a bucket driven by a drill.

 

I just started mine (see avatar) a couple of weeks ago, for the first time.
Use good quality oil with zinc as Hnstray mentioned.
Re-torque the heads after it has cooled completely, along with exhaust/header bolts, intake bolts, etc.
Prime the oil pump (you can add an initial quart or two directly into the 1/4 pipe hole at rear of block where the oil pressure sending unit goes, just prior to start up).
Have a mechanical water temp gauge, and oil pressure gauge installed, moniter them.
If it is multi-carbed, install fuel pressure gauge, and fuel regulator
Inspect for leaks
Also, check out Fordbarn, great info on that site.

 

With aluminum heads after running in for 15-20 minutes allow engine to cool to room temp before re-torquing the heads. This applies to any aluminum head with any kind of gasket except solid copper.

 

First thing get the oil preasure up remove all eight spark plugs disconect the coil. Next prime the oil pump by using an oil squirt can. remove the oil sending unit pump the oil into that opening once you see that cavity is full replace the sending unit. Now using the starter motor spin the motor over with the spark plugs still removed until you see a reading on the oil preasure gauge. Now your ready to fire that baby up after you put the spark plugs back in and reconect the coil.
Breaking in the cam is no big deal on a flathead the spring presure is very low even with the Isky springs as long as you used an oil with zinc and a molly lube was used on the lifters theres no need to run the motor for any exteneded length of time otr at very high RPM. Retorque the heads the next day after the motor has completly cooled off.
Ron