Author Topic: FINALLY, just started my new engine (Read 3362 times)

Perry · « **on:** November 11, 2012 - 06:46:13 PM »

Woot,
I have been sweating this for a while. My first engine build. Moment of truth, sweet engine or $6k of metal chips and crocodile tears. I seriously had bad dreams of flattened lobes.

I can't believe how stressed I was. Fired right up. I learned so much on this site to make it happen. I would have never known about priming the carb, setting the timeing and all the little nuances. Best part was taking it up to 2000 rpm on a dark Sunday night and running it open headers for 20 minutes. Afterwards every dog in the neighborhood was barking.

1978 440 block. .055 over SRP forged pistons.
Forged crank, LY rods, ARP bolts
440 Source stealth heads, mild clean up porting
Lunati 268
Eddy performer rpm and 750 carb
2500 TCI stall, 727, 3:91 Suregrip.

Someone on here said that starting an engine for the first time is the closest a man will feel to giving birth. Great line. I feel like the octomom with no anesthesia.

Thanks all for the advice and support and for all Chrycos advice over chat.

Perry

brads70 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 11, 2012 - 06:49:58 PM »

Great to hear all went OK!

Chryco Psycho · « **Reply #2 on:** November 11, 2012 - 09:11:10 PM »

Congrats !!

Perry · « **Reply #3 on:** November 11, 2012 - 10:10:57 PM »

My oil pressure was too low for my liking. Warmed up and running hot like a new engine (210) it was down to 15 psi at a low idle. That seems really low. Put some revs in it and an it was up to 60-70. All clearances were checked and in spec. I have the melling HV pump which I though would be goods because I am running full groove bearings. running 30 wt for engine break in.

I have read a high pressure pump is available. Has anyone seen this adjustable regulator or have thoughts on it?

http://store.440source.com/Adjustable-Oil-Pressure-Regulator/productinfo/200-1093/

Only 25 minutes of runtime on the engine so I don't want to settle for low OP

Chryco Psycho · « **Reply #4 on:** November 11, 2012 - 10:57:26 PM »

I have used the adjustable regs , they work well , do you have a black spring in the pump , Mopar has them for $3 or so so put that in at the same time , 60-70 warm with RPM is good but you are right it seems too low at idle .

VTMopar · « **Reply #5 on:** November 11, 2012 - 11:07:40 PM »

Great News!

Never a doubt, Perry. I'm sure she sounds terrific.

VT Mopar

Perry · « **Reply #6 on:** November 12, 2012 - 06:56:12 PM »

UPDATE

So when I broke in my cam the engine got hot. 220 or so. New engines are tight and this is common I hear. I had a house fan blowing on the radiator but it was kinda chincy. I guess that thinned the oil too much and gave me the lower oil pressure.
Today I went out and started it up and cold idle was a little over 80 psi. It warmed up and hovered around the 180 F the thermostat is rated it. Bingo, 35 psi at idle in gear.

I think I am a bit of a mechanical hypochondriac.

Here's a pic of the engine prior to dropping in last weekend

Perry

Chryco Psycho · « **Reply #7 on:** November 12, 2012 - 10:59:12 PM »

That is why I recommend having a hose handy to mist the rad , it increases the cooling efficiency a lot , 220 is not critical though

73EStroker · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2012 - 12:00:58 PM »

Yeah! Run em hot first start, then let them cool for hours and you have a nice engine when you restart which looks like you do. Good way to break em in. Make sure you get some zinc additive in the oil soon for the sake of the cam. Don't recommend synthetic oil until after a couple thousand miles when engine is fully broken in. I run diesel oil 15w40 with GM Engine Oil Supplement in mine. Only use in hot weather so w factor is not an issue.

challenger_73 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 28, 2012 - 10:11:02 PM »

Very impressive! Nice looking motor. I hope to be able to build my own engine someday for my 68 GTX. I would not even know where to begin other than the block.
challenger_73

Perry · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2012 - 12:07:11 PM »

This was my first build. You can get a lot of information off this site and others as well as books that take you through it step by step. Just from the onset make a budget, then realize you will have to double your budget at some point. At least that was my formula.

Perry

jimynick · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2012 - 10:02:15 PM »

Quote from: Perry on November 29, 2012 - 12:07:11 PM

This was my first build. You can get a lot of information off this site and others as well as books that take you through it step by step. Just from the onset make a budget, then realize you will have to double your budget at some point. At least that was my formula.

Perry
ain't it the truth?! Congrats on a bouncing baby big block, Dad!

LAA66 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 30, 2012 - 10:27:26 PM »

Glad to hear everything worked out. It's funny how a new motor seems such a precious thing. All that tme and effort involved I guess.