New/rebuilt engine: I know I'm not supposed to be hotrodding this thing for the first 500 miles, and I know I don't have to baby it either. But can't I get on it just a little? I'm not talking about a ballz-to-the-wall full-throttle launch or anything, but jeez, this is killing me! *sigh* 486.1 more miles. So will I hurt anything if I give it, say, 1/2 throttle? (Please consider that even 1/2 throttle is a lot with this engine)

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91 Z28
Come see The Vicious...

 

easing into it should be ok but i would wait untill at least 100 miles, only like 14 miles on it, it hasent even broken in it's toenails yet, but agian i know a guy that broke in his engine at the track with 1/4 mile runs so really its your call, your engine. but with this long weekend on now i would just fill the tank and go for a all day cruise, that will put a bit of miles on it, im sure if you drove all weekend you could get a good 2-300 miles on it.

[This message has been edited by TempesT68 (edited November 22, 2001).]

 

I would rather be safe than sorry. 500 miles isn't that long, to ensure a proper running engine. Just decide what is more important getting on it or keeping the motor running. If there were even a chance of it messing up, I know what I would choose.

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"Putting any amount of money into a RICE BURNER is like wiping your a$$ with a turd. "
'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat, just switched to 180* b/c of winter coming and going to college in the mts.
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

Michelle,

I'm going to be in your situation in the next couple of weeks and I'm not looking forward to it at all. I heard that 1000 miles is what the break in should be?!?

Also, how did you polish your IROC rims? They look great.

Rob

 

Breaking in an engine is like cooking a turkey, theres many ways and myths, they all work.
The best way is to go 500 miles before taking it past 3k!!! Slow not ballz out to 3k mind you! Then not totally sticking or holding it to max rpm until 1000 miles. Thats the safest way!!!!
You can get after it a bit but wait untill 100 miles and an oil filter change before going into it a little.
SSC

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85 Camaro, 355/400 "drag car" current DD 13.1@ 101mph on its last season run.
Plans: Possibly add N20 for next season.
82 Firebird, 355/350, as soon as the powertrax gets installed. "dyno time"

 

You are just going to have to be patient. It just isn't worth it in the long run. And be sure to alter the rpms a lot for at least that first 100 miles. I don't get on fresh engines I build (well.... ones I care about anyways ) at all until I get around 250 miles on them and even then I start kinda rolling into it a bit but still don't even think of doing a WOT pass until after 500 miles - and that is pending all of the tuning is ready for WOT. Just take this time as a good block to get all of the part throttle tuning locked down.

Well, glad to hear it is running good at least ......

Laterzzzzzz

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1987 GTA L98 MD8
355, TFS Heads, LT4 Hot Cam
My GTA

The Minnesota F-body Club

 

I never waited when it came out of the garage I was on it, haven't broke one yet of course I did a stock car break in, when I first start one I'll run it up to around 3000rpms and let it run for about an hour then do my adjustments then run it there for another 45min then change the oil,I never saw gordon or la bonte drivin there stock car around nicely for 500 miles.I hung with some stock car guys a bunch of years ago thats what they said when I asked the same question

 

The best way I found to break in an engine quickly, was to take a long drive (with a number of stops to check things out). Best is a nice winding secondary road (rolling hills better) where the engine will have varying loads. Seats the rings nicely.

Don't go down a freeway at a constant rpm, that won't get the rings to seat properly...and that is the whole purpose of breaking your engine in...to seat the rings.

Go 250 miles one-way, then return. Change oil and you're ready!

[This message has been edited by Glenn91L98GTA (edited November 22, 2001).]

 

I'd say my new engine only has about 75 miles on it and I push it to 1/2 - 3/4 throttle often but not all the time and I don't do it from a dead stop. I get going and then push it. I have taken it over 3k a couple times but never over 3500 yet. With in town driving I like to take it up to 3k occasionally because around here in town driving is so slow that my rpms are lucky to break 2k very often.

Hey, maybe we should meet somewhere between here and there for lunch and then we can both get our new engine broken in well.

(If I can figure out how to get better than 6-7mpg on the highway.)

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1986 Trans AM
355 TPI
4 Wheel Disc Brakes
9 bolt Borg Warner Rear (2.77's....oh joy) :P
6" rods, approx. 9.7:1 Compression, Stock TPI (soon to be ported), 24#/hr LTI injectors (cleaned and flowmatched by Cruizin Performance), Hedman Shorty Headers, 3" exhaust with 80 series flowmaster, SBC 993 heads completely redone and modified for 1.6 RR, 1.52 RR (for now), Comp Cams XE262-14 TPI Cam, Holley AFPR, TPIS airfoil, MSD wires, MSD 6-AL Ignition, Hypertech 53,000 volt coil.

Track times to come.