I've done small block chevys, and honda 250r and 250x quads but this is a first. Any tips? I took your advice and ordered new head bolts. My water pump is being replaced too, the timming belt also of course. All the bearings look great, so theye are staying. The motor was real clean. Any tips on breakinfg it in? some one was talking about locking it in vtec? Obviously I know if you run 12volts dc to the vtec silenoid(sp) it would be locked. Should this be done and why? How long shoud I baby it before running the dogshit out of it? Thanks guys!!!

 

dont lock it in vtec they are morons for tellin u that. ur gonna want to baby it for at least 1000 miles....theres alot to be done check everything is ok fluids u know same as a chevy 305 350 and such u gotta break it in the clucth needs like 500 before u should start rippin it up... u know the deal man im a chevy guy to... right now 33 chevy 5 window with a small block 350 in the process of being restored

 

500 mi for a break in should be plenty. But be sure to check the oil level during those first few hudred miles, and you shouldn't be abusive for a few hundred miles after 500, just normal driving.

Use mineral oil (not synthetic) during the breakin.

Some of this stuff you may already know:

Make sure you use assembly lube on all threaded parts
Lube the cams up with motor oil before installing them.
put some motor oil on the outside of the pistons (where the rings will be traveling along the cylindar wall)

When you are ready to start the engine up, leave the spark plugs out, and turn it over until you register oil pressure. then put the plugs in, and start it up, let it sit there and idle until at operating temp. Then take it out, and make a pull it through all gears, shifting at lower than normal rpms.

 

A HELMS Manual

 

i used the TOO break-in prodcedure. i tried to find it on their website www.theoldone.com but their message board is down and that is where it was.

basically here it is (this is all from memory, so i may be a bit off)
- keep revs below 3500 for the first 200 miles. every 15-20 miles zing the motor to 4500 under partial throttle. do 1st and second gear pulls.
- keep revs below 4500 for the next 200 miles. every 15-20 miles zing the motor to 5500 under partial throttle. do 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear pulls.
- keep revs below 5500 for the next 200 miles. every 15-20 miles zing the motor to 6500 under partial throttle. do 1st second and 3rd gear pulls.
- keep revs below 6500 for the next 200 miles. every 15-20 miles zing the motor to 7000 under partial throttle. do 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear pulls.
- keep revs below 7500 for the next 200 miles. every 15-20 miles zing the motor to 800 under partial throttle. do pulls in every gear.

you don't have to zing the motor every 15-20 miles, but you can get into the higher rpms. just keep the throttle below 3/4 - full.

hth.

disclaimer: this is for a vtec motor that redlines at 8000 rpm. if you have a non-vtec or lower redline motor, change the revs down a bit.



[Modified by breaka_1_9, 8:35 AM 3/7/2002]