The engine has < 200 miles on it and I gave it another oil change to switch to a slightly higher viscocity oil. The oil has very, very fine particulate in it. Its not a tremendous ammount, but I can see swirl patterns under bight light when I agitate the oil. I noticed teh same thing at the oil change after I seated teh rings ~50 miles or so. Its not magnetic, so that rules out the rings and just about all of teh valvetrain as teh source of the metal. The particulate is also too fine to be caught by the filter. I opened it up and theres nothing in the pleats.

How much is to be expected on break-in? This is only the second motor Ive ever broken in, so Im not too familiar with what to expect. The engine also ran pretty hot when I first drove it. It ran around 240-250 at times. Its now running at a more reasonable 220 or so during cruising. Do I have a bearing wiping out? Or is this just the pistons being a bit tight?

I was sort of under the impression that after I seated the rings, the engine would be pretty much broken in and wouldnt shed much more metal.

 

Metal can be expected for up to 1000 miles.
My first build lasted ~800 miles.
My second build lasted ~400 miles.

I wouldn't be too worried yet.

 

Assembly lube will do that.