Hey guys,

I'm getting *very* close to starting The Beast after the rebuild below, and worrying about getting it right. If anyone spots something I may have missed or got wrong, please let me know.

1. Engine pre-oiled.
2. Fuel system checked for leaks about a million times. (old, small injectors in, SuperFMU on most restrictive setting)
3. Timing - initially set up 'in the ballpark', with number 1 TDC on compression stroke(both valves closed)
4. Oil level correct (Dino for now).
5. Coolant level correct and all hoses tight.
6. All vacuum lines checked
7. All electrical connectors checked
8. Fire extinguisher to hand and no tools in engine bay!!

9. If she fires up, immediately set the timing by turning distributor by hand until she sounds right. Then set up with strobe.

10. Run for half an hour at varying, low throttle settings, double checking for oil, coolant or fuel leaks.

11. Change oil and filter - put more dino in.

12. Break in for 500 miles, then change oil and filter again - even more dino.

13. after 1500 miles, ditch the dino, put in the Mobil 1 and start to have some fun.

NB I'll be bypassing the blower drive pulley until 500 miles, then switch serpentine belts.

At which point should I change to the new injectors and set up the fuelling? During or after break-in? I know a lot of people say drive it like it's stolen, but I can't bring myself to treat a rebuilt engine that way, so please don't even suggest it! :blueangel:

TIA

Steve

 

Keep an eye on the coolant level. It will drop after you start it up. Watch your gauges, too.

 

Wise words mate!

How much was the custom paint? That's next on my list!

 

About $400. Did it myself. :D

 

:cool: Got any pics

 

I'd change the oil and filter after the first 30 minute run, then as you posted.

 

I wouldn't EXACTLY drive it like you stole it, but my machinist says to drive it a LITTLE hard after you get everything buttoned up on it.

Make sure you disconnect the timing advance when you set the timing. It is a brownish looking connector in the wiring harness close to the brake master cylinder. Set the timing, shut the car off to re-connect it and then fire it back up.

You really don't need to have it running that long on start-up. Since you have a roller cam and not a flat-tappet type, you don't need to seat the lifters like you need to do on the older motors.

Take it for a drive out past the "Green Man" and if you can find a lonely open road (hard to do in this day in the Brentwood area) keep the car in low gear and wind it up to around 5k RPM and then let off the gas, letting the engine slow you back down. Do it multiple times, and do it during your "break-in" period. It will help set the rings faster.

We might have to get together at the Green Man for a pint of Abbot Ale in July. I'm going to be in England for a wedding on the 27th. I'd love to see how the project is going. Jane's uncle lives at the turn-off to Thorndon, so the Green Man is just a short walk (and a VERY long stagger) from there.

Good luck on the start-up.

 

Yep - got that at point 11 :yesnod:

 

Joe said: a bunch of useful stuff.

Steve says:

Good tip on disconnecting the timing advance - I would have forgotten about that for sure!

As for the rest - how astonishing to see a reply from someone who knows my area in the UK - yep, we'll try and meet up for sure - I'll email you off list.

Now, another general question for everyone: Should I retorque the heads during or after break-in? My engine builder didn't say.

Sadly, first fire up is further away then I though, as my US supplier has just shipped my new throttle body yesterday (finally!), but he sent it bloody snail mail because he 'didn't have time to fill out the UPS form' :mad Oh well - I've waited 8 months so I guess a few more weeks won't hurt.

Time to start detailing the engine cabling - what would you guys recommend? I'm currently torn between spiral wrap around the injector loom, or a silicon tube sliced open down one side.

Steve

 

Re-torque after its broken in, and the engine is cool. Kinda tough to retorque during break-in.

 

OK - guess I asked for that :) I meant during break-in period, not while the engine is running!

So retorque after 500 miles then?

 

:yesnod: