Starting the beast. Any tips i should know?

[lyrikz]

Freshly rebuilt 454. Big cam. Engine is sitting in the frame. First time start up. I have the joegibbs break in oil. I have fuel hooked up, coolant, power steering fluid, tranny fluid. I plan on running it for 30 mins, varying the rpms. Shut it down, let it cool, replace the oil filter. Add another quart of goodness. Retorque intake manifold bolts, header and exhaust bolts, then doing 1 more 15 minute start varying the rpms....

Anything i should look for when firing this up??? This has been a dream of mine to own a 454 chevy of some kind since i was 16 years old. Im now 33.... This is kind of a big moment for me..... I have a mechanic friend of mine who will be there to over see everything.. Im just nervous. ahaha..

Heres my baby.


Heres what she looked like when i brought her home.

[PanelDeland]

The only thing i would suggest is to look at the cam manufacturers recomendation on break in.They each have a specific way they want the cam broken in to help give it a long life.

Hey you need to post some after pics too.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

The only thing i would suggest is to look at the cam manufacturers recomendation on break in.They each have a specific way they want the cam broken in to help give it a long life.

Hey you need to post some after pics too.

there ya go...

[chas350]

Congrats, Your baby looks nice!

Keep an eye on the coolant level/water temp, with air pockets and all. Make sure you have oil in the tranny, and in Park.

I place a box fan or 2 about 3' in front of the radiator with a new start up, also helps keep new ceramic coated headers from getting to hot during engine break in.
Edit, I see you have painted hdrs, still good idea to help cooling.

Planning any video? I would have a bystander record it for you.

You have been waiting since 16, right?

chas

[OARNGESI]

Congratulations man hope all goes well

[Jtrux]

No need to vary RPM's. Keep it at 2000, no less and run it for a full 30 minutes. If it starts to overheat, shut it down, let it cool, then run it some more. The 30 minutes doesn't necessarily have to be all at once.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

YouTube - 454 fired up

Heres mine I too had wanted one since I was 16 and am now 33 just take your time thats all I have to say .. Sorry about the last part of my video looks like the camera man had one beer too many.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by chas350

Congrats, Your baby looks nice!

Keep an eye on the coolant level/water temp, with air pockets and all. Make sure you have oil in the tranny, and in Park.

I place a box fan or 2 about 3' in front of the radiator with a new start up, also helps keep new ceramic coated headers from getting to hot during engine break in.
Edit, I see you have painted hdrs, still good idea to help cooling.

Planning any video? I would have a bystander record it for you.

You have been waiting since 16, right?

chas

It will be in park, and im going to have the rear end off the ground a tad just in case. I do NOT have a fan on the radiator. I do have a big box fan that im leaning against the radiator and will have that running. I also have a temp gun to check temps on everything. I will have my wife video taping...

The coating on the headers is the new hooker coating. I ws going to remove that and paint it but i really want to see if it stands up like they say it will... I have a feeling it wont. ahaha..

Originally Posted by Jtrux

No need to vary RPM's. Keep it at 2000, no less and run it for a full 30 minutes. If it starts to overheat, shut it down, let it cool, then run it some more. The 30 minutes doesn't necessarily have to be all at once.

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

YouTube - 454 fired up

Heres mine I too had wanted one since I was 16 and am now 33 just take your time thats all I have to say .. Sorry about the last part of my video looks like the camera man had one beer too many.

Cool vid man.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Keep us posted and let us know when the video is up and running...

[Senator350]

18436572, clockwise?

[Gray Ghost]

Make sure you have something past the header collectors so that the tubes don't get too hot! It'll melt the coating to a dull flat color.

Congrats on the BB!!

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Gray Ghost

Make sure you have something past the header collectors o that tubes don't get too hot!

Congrats on the BB!!

I have the whole exhaust installed....


I dont have a huge box fan, just a fan thats alot bigger then the one that was on the truck to begin with.. It should work...

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Senator350

18436572, clockwise?

That is correct.... i memorized that so i didnt have to keep checking.

one ate four three hundred and sixty 5 days of the year, my birth year minus 2. ahahaha....

[hotrodhomi]

go to a large equipment rental place and get a hug box fan.

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by hotrodhomi

go to a large equipment rental place and get a hug box fan.

I have the ghetto equivalent of this. I took a 110 volt squirrel cage fan out of the inside unit from a house AC and put an extension cord end on it. Later I used some pop rivets and fender washers to attach hardware cloth to keep anyone's appendages out. I have three of these fans now and they are a life save in the Texas heat.

[bigsnookmaster]

NOTE: I always prime the oil pump in a new motor every time! I take an old points type distributor,remove the cam gear,and take all the advance weights and stuff off,then I weld a nut on top of the shaft.Drop it in the motor and spin the nut with a drill. You need hold the distributor while doing this.This will fill the oil filter and pressurize the oil in the motor.When you crank and fire the motor,you will have instant oil pressure,and no dry cranking with no oil pressure.I know they make a tool for this,but this works well for me.Good luck,you'll be fine.

[phipp13]

if your not running roller lifters make sure that your running at least 1600 to 2000 rpm so your lifters are spinning if not you may damage your cam. easy way to tell is if your pushrods are spinning. if you are running roller lifters delay my last. good luck phipp13

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by phipp13

if your not running roller lifters make sure that your running at least 1600 to 2000 rpm so your lifters are spinning if not you may damage your cam. easy way to tell is if your pushrods are spinning. if you are running roller lifters delay my last. good luck phipp13

Ok..... Hmm. i dont have a tach, how do i know what 2000 rpms is going to be. ahaha....

[50MOTORHEAD]

Nothing wrong with being nervous about firing up a fresh motor.I've been doing it for more years than I care to admit and I am always nervous about it.
Like everyone has pointed out -go by what the cam manu. tells you what to do.
The last fresh motor that I did was a couple days ago. 389 with a howard's flat tappet cam. They wanted 2000 RPM min. for15 mins.then same again for another 15.
Your idea about varying RPM's is a good one,just as long as you keep it above 2000RPM. I could go on about varying RPM forever,but let's just say 'It's a good idea" (Constant 2000RPM-not good)
You sound like you know what to do.You are just nervous and need a little reassurance. You aren't the first to be nervous about a fresh motor.
Just remember,,,when in doubt,,turn ignition to 'OFF' position. You'll do GREAT ! Good luck-Keith

[lyrikz]

I dont have an ignition. ahaha... The guy helping me out has this button thing he uses... Just kill power to the dist....

How do i know if im above 2k rpms if i have no tach???

[50MOTORHEAD]

You could buy one of those cheapy dwell meters that have a tack built in.I have seen them go pretty cheap at some of the discount parts places.-KB

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Do we have new engine sounds yet?

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

Do we have new engine sounds yet?

HAHA. No.. It will be sunday... Probably around 2ish im thinking. The mechanic guy has an electronic RPM reader.. You put this little sticker on the crank and it reads the RPMS. I just want to make sure im between 16-2000.... I guess thats an absolute must....

So, everything should be good to go. I do need to suck out the fuel in my gas tank, and put some new in.. But besides that, i should be good....

IM excited...

what if it doesnt start... MAN IM SO NERVOUS. ahah I have never spent 4gs on a motor before. ahaha...

[tinlid]

Call your cam manufacture to ask what oil they recommend for start up. The oil sold now has changed a lot over the last few years and may not protect a new cam. It is not unusual these days to wipe out the cam bearings because of the oil. Check out the below link from Hot Rod. Good advice.

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e...ech/index.html

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by bigsnookmaster

NOTE: I always prime the oil pump in a new motor every time! I take an old points type distributor,remove the cam gear,and take all the advance weights and stuff off,then I weld a nut on top of the shaft.Drop it in the motor and spin the nut with a drill. You need hold the distributor while doing this.This will fill the oil filter and pressurize the oil in the motor.When you crank and fire the motor,you will have instant oil pressure,and no dry cranking with no oil pressure.I know they make a tool for this,but this works well for me.Good luck,you'll be fine.

Ya, probably just going to pick a primer up at the store today. Its 830 on sunday, and im doing some final touch ups before we start. I got my spark plug wires ran under the headers.. I made some neat little holders that keep the wires off the headers. I will have pics of those in my build. I still need to drain the gas tank and add some more gas, coolant, oil, PS fluid. Thats about it....

Originally Posted by tinlid

Call your cam manufacture to ask what oil they recommend for start up. The oil sold now has changed a lot over the last few years and may not protect a new cam. It is not unusual these days to wipe out the cam bearings because of the oil. Check out the below link from Hot Rod. Good advice.

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e...ech/index.html

The best break in oil out there is Joe Gibbs break in oil. Im using that for the first 300 miles, then switching over to Shell rotella T. That has lead in it still. Delo 400 had lead in it, but has now removed it recently..... The only place in washington that carries joe gibbs is the place that built my motor...

I will update as the gay goes on....