04-02-16, 10:43 AM
65rbdodge Wrote:The distributor gear will rotate out. Put a flat screwdriver in it and turn it it will come up then you should be able to get it out the rest of the way with needle nose.
I have never had that method fail on a big block and it was NOT gonna come out that way on the last small block I worked on. Had to bump the crank.
I generally agree with Mike's recommendations on break-n procedure but have some additional comments.
First, the reason the for minimum 2000 rpms during break-in is to splash oil everywhere on the cam and lifters. Varying the rpms causes the oil to go to different places and the 2000 rpms provides minimum required oil volume.
My procedure is as follows:
Coat lifters and cam very well with moly break-in lube. Prime the engine very well (I rotate the engine at least 1 complete revolution while priming). Start the car and keep minimum 2000 rpms. Vary the rpms every few seconds between 2000 and 2500 rpms. In reality tends to be a touch under 2000 rpm to a little over 2500 rpm. Always trying to keep the rpm at a different rpm than the time before - again, you want variation in rpm. Do this for 25 minutes - make sure car has plenty of gas.
If you have heavy springs (or double springs) should put in a set of weak break-in springs or remove inner springs.
With that said, the issues with the poorer oil and cam/lifter metallurgy nowadays is very real. I ended up losing 2 flat tappet cams last year in a 440 and a 383. In all my 35+ years of playing with cars only lost 2 cams. Both were GM (Olds V6 that was a known cam eater) and a 454 that had a valve that would hang up because of a bad guide. I am putting in 2 flat tappet cams in now, and an terrified of killing them. I will be following the above procedure but I will be using Driven Oil (used to be Joe Gibbs Racing Oil). I will be calling them for their recommendations and will use the break-in oil and regular oil that they recommend.
Good Luck!
67 Coronet 500 - 9.610 @ 139.20 mph
Owned Since 1981
Daughter's Car
67 Coronet 500 Street Car with AC
13.300 @ 101.75 mph
69 GTX clone - build in progress........
Owned Since 1981
Daughter's Car
67 Coronet 500 Street Car with AC
13.300 @ 101.75 mph
69 GTX clone - build in progress........