Recently installed a mild cam and vortec heads while retaining TBI on my 1995 SBC 350. Should I disconnect the electronic advance before firing? I'm doing this solo so I'm more concerned with breaking in the cam rather than the engine running perfectly. I can deal with that after. Will be running it up to the standard 2000 rpms

Thanks
Joe Corey

 

95 and it's still flat tappet?
and no, I'd leave it connected to start off with.

 

Yea. I'm cheap and flat tappets have been working just fine for 100 years.

Thanks
Joe corey

 

You'd want the timing advance to keep engine temperature reasonable. Disabling the advance is crazy. For that matter, have a garden hose handy to mist the radiator if things get too warm.

Make sure that the lifter preload is correct. Too many folks can't accurately find "zero lash" so when they "add preload" they've totally collapsed the lifter plunger--and then the valves hang open.

If it was me, I'd assure that the ignition timing, cam timing, fuel system, etc. were absolutely ready-to-go. Fire the engine, run it ten minutes, shut it off. Let it cool. Start it again and finish the cam "break-in". IF (big IF) you used that thick, moly-based paste for cam lobe/lifter lube, you'll want to change the oil filter at ~20 minutes. Moly-based paste can plug an oil filter in about that time. I would not necessarily change oil, but replace the filter and top-off the oil.

Flat-tappet cam cores and lifters worked for a hundred years because they weren't bottom-feeders made by Communists, sold by Communist Collaborators with more concern for profit margins than actual product quality.

 

I ran it. Timing was off so had to go down to idle for a minute and fix that. Ran it again up to 2500. Temp got up to 210 so but I kept it going. Blew a radiator hose at the 15 minute mark. Calling it good. No lifter noise, no smoke, no backfiring. If I wasted a lobe it should have presented itself.