I have just finished up everything on the new 383 I just built and am getting ready to start it up for the first time.

Motor is: retro roller cam, non-CC Qjet, non-CC HEI, starting it on 10W-30.

I figure I will crank with dissy disconnected to get fuel to the bowl and check oil pressure.

Then reconnect distributor and fire. First set idle speed - then set timing all in the first minute or so. Then I figure once its idling I could check the coolant and trans fluid levels.

I am not sure how long to let it run before I stop it and drain the oil. It is a complete rebuild with ALL new internals and bearings. But since I dont have a flat tappet cam I am not sure how long to break the thing in before I change the oil the first time.

Thanks for any help and wish me luck!

 

i would say run it for at least 20 minutes.. right around 2000 rpm.. so fill her up before you start.. it wouldnt hurt to let it run longer to let the rings and bearings get all nice and sittin pretty..

when i broke in my motor(solid flat cam) we ran it for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes cooldown repeatedly.. for 2 hours.. so 1 hour total run time..

also priming the motor would not be a bad idea.. to get the oil flowing before you crank away..

well good luck and i hope for the best..

 

Already ran the oil pump when it was on the stand.

So I guess I should warm the motor up completely to get all the parts meshed fully? Then let it cool down and repeat?

 

ya something like that.. it also helps so the motor doesnt get too hot.. dont wanna fry the motor during break in.. i would say go 15 minute intervals since you have the roller cam.. and i'm guessing its gonna be run in the car? so temps will shoot up faster.. i broke my motor in on an open engine stand with a radiator about 30"x45".. so it was nice and cool.. but no longer than an hour on break in oil..

 

yeah its in the car. I have a 170 degree stat in it but the fans are wired to a 200 degree switch. I dont think Ill let it get to 200 before turning it off prolly more like 180.

 

it'll reach 180 real fast.. within 5 minutes.. i say, no more than 200*.. if you have a big fan, use it.. if there is wind, point the car to the wind.. try keep it as cool as possible.. you can also spray water on the radiator..

 

Its ALIVE!!!!

It took me a couple trys to set the timing but eventually I got it to run right. Sounded good.

It got to 200 real quick but I kept an eye on it and shut it down. Only took about 10 minutes. In that time I set the timing, idle mixture screws and filled the coolant.

Next time Ill fill the trans to full and check the advance. I am going to have to wait till tommorow to start it again though -- long but funny story.

A month ago when I was assembling the internals I had this quart of oil with the top cut off for dipping stuff in oil. Well I kicked it and the oil went all over the headers which happened to be sitting near the stand. I didnt forget this today when I started it but wholy CRAP did it smoke. I remember cleaning them as much as I could but they were rusty and I guess they held alot of the oil I spilled. I had the extinguisher ready and in hand for a minute there cause I thought the oil might catch but it didnt.

Anyway tommorow is round 2 where I will start and run to temp a couple more times then drain the oil and put the front wheels back on so I can drive it.

 

congrats man!! feels great doesnt it? haha i know what you mean about smoke from oil on headers.. my motor was pushing oil through the breather right onto the headers so i would smoke a little everywhere.. well hope you have fun with it..