Questions for first engine startup

[69chargerdad]

Hi guys. we just finished painting up the 440 last weekend and we are planning on dropping it in this upcoming weekend. However when it comes time to start it we have a couple of questions.

1.  What oil do you recommend using for initial break in, and how do you align the cam properly so when we prime the engine oil will get to the heads?

2. How, and what do we set the initial timing to? we are using mopar performance electric ignition

3. Will it harm anything if we shut down the engine before the thirty minute cam break in(in case the engine isn't timed properly and begins to overheat)

heres a pic of the freshly painted 440

[Big Lebowski]

20-50 oil. You should turn the motor with the front socket by hand while priming the motor with the drill. REMEMBER, the drill goes counter clockwise on Big Blocks, clockwise on small blocks. 2-6 BTDC should be fine at start up.

[Charger72SE]

I used 20W - 50 oil and a bottle of GM Engine Oil Supplement (EOS) when I started my 440 a few weeks ago after a rebuild.  EOS was recommended by a couple of people here on the web site

don't know about the initial timing - the rebuilder was adjusting that while I was behind the wheel watching the oil and temp gauges.

He's been building engine for over 30 years and said it doesn't hurt anything to turn off the engine during cam break-in if the temp gets too high

attached is a pic of my 440 before it went back in

good luck with the break-in!!!

[Chryco Psycho]

I use 10 30 HXD Mopar diesel oil , adding a can of EOS will help too
personally I would not bother rotating the engine to get oil up to the heads the rockers hsafts will fill quicly as soon as it starts
set the engine timing marks at 12* BTDC & line up the reluctor & pick up in the dist & adjust it as soon as it is running at 2000 rpm 
trey your best NOT to shut down in th efirst 25 -30 minutes , with it running you can adjust timing & hear it run better , basically keep advancing timing until rpm doesn`t increase any more , it will not over heat from timing issues adjusted this way

[69chargerdad]

thanks guys

[my69]

Say guys,
One question? How long do you keep that oil in    after the break in is done? I mean when do ya change the oil to the normal driving intervals

Thanks

[Charger72SE]

my engine rebuilder had me drain the oil after the cam break-in and bring him the oil filter

I poured the oil through a wire mesh filter to see if there were any metal pieces - there weren't any

and he cut open the filter to look for metal in the paper - there weren't any

he recommended changing the oil after 500 miles and once again to cut open the oil filter for inspection

Neil probably has some good advice, too

hope all is going well!

[firefighter3931]

my engine rebuilder had me drain the oil after the cam break-in and bring him the oil filter

I poured the oil through a wire mesh filter to see if there were any metal pieces - there weren't any

and he cut open the filter to look for metal in the paper - there weren't any

he recommended changing the oil after 500 miles and once again to cut open the oil filter for inspection

Neil probably has some good advice, too

hope all is going well!

The oil and filter should be swapped immediately after breakin. The assembly lube and small bearing particles will be floating around in your oil so get rid of it right away. Oil + Filter at 500 miles & 2000 miles....then normal intervals.

Ron

[Chryco Psycho]

I agree
besides oil is cheap

[my69]

Sounds good,
thanks Ron And chryco for the heads up I wasn't sure about the 500 mile thing .