I just started my new motor yesturday and it fired right up ran even better when I hooked up 2 plug wires I forgot to hook up from under the car. I do not hear any valve ticking but the car is loud. I only have y pipe hooked right now, Still waiting for cat to come. I an wondering if the engine maybe laboring to run. I have not run it much in fear of this. I really dont want to take all the stuff of the top of the motor to take take valve covers off if I dont have to. If you still have emissions and the like you will know what I am taking about. Is there anyway of knowing if the motor is laboring with out disassembly?

 

Nobody has a answer for me. This would be a first for this place.

 

How many RPMS at idle?

 

it is not rpm sensitive. I am just thinking that its not likely that I got my valve lash perfect the first time ever doing it so I am thinking my valves my be to tight. I do not hear any clatter at all so they might be to tight. If they are to tight but not real tight then the motor will labor to run. but I do not not know how I can tell if it is laboring. I am drawing about 16 inces of vacume at idle. Everything is so tight on a new motor that it seems wierd when it runs. anybody know?

 

I have not let it run very long to see what the hot idle would be but at cold idle its about 1K

 

How far apart are the contractions? If more than 5 minutes apart you are OK.

Seriously, what are you trying to find out? Do you think your valves are set incorrectly? If you have doubts about anything I would wait until you get the exhaust on so you can hear the motor run.

 

What he said. I have no intermediate pipe, just y-pipe and cat, and that thing is LOUD. However, it doesn't scoot like the sound would suggest... More objective evidence that LOUD does not equal FAST. I can't hear squat over the noise, so I'm waiting to take it down to get the intermediate pipe welded like it was supposed to in the first place.

It shouldn't labor, unless some accoessories are really putting some serious strain on the motor. You could undo your belts to see if that makes a difference, but don't let it run that way for long - unless you happen to have an electric water pump. I kinda doubt it would make a difference, though, undoing your belts.