You guys that have rebuilt a few engines might know what I need to use. Anyway I'm putting my engine back together and it's one of those situations where I'm working on it between work and sleep. So, when your engine is going to set for a while during the rebuild, what do you lube the camshaft, lifters, etc. with so you won't get a dry start up. Of course I'll prime the oil pump before I crank it but I was trying to figure out what to coat the parts with that won't run off.

 

What the cam mfr supplies; or assembly lube such as ARP's or GM EOS; or (what I end up using most often) white lithium grease.

 

i use moly lube or the cam grinders assembly lube on any metal to metal parts and lubriplate 105 on bearings and everything else. prelubing the engine might make you feel better but it's a waste of time.

 

This is probably different than most, but my father always used STP oil treatment on all the motors I saw him build, at least 20. I used it on the two I have done with positive results.

Its really thick and has worked for all the motors in his race car, race truck and his personal engines.

 

i think STP and ATF were all the lube that was ever used before real assembly lubes came along.

 

Good point, my father is 59 now and wouldnt even think of changing to EFI over a carb EVER....

Its just what I was taught

 

On this flat tappet cam, I used moly grease. On a roller cam motor I built before, I used straight STP oil treatmenmt.

The moly doesn't go anywhere, but the stp I found to run off a bit, and the stickiness of it isn't fun to work with.

For rod and main bearings, I mixed STP and 30HD oil in a 50/50 mix and used a small squirter oil can to apply it to my bearings. This made for a nice clean assembly process.

 

white lithium grease it were its at for me....my motor sat for periods during buildup and every time i went back the grease was right were i left it....