First start did not go so good.

[olddog]

Xavier I'll tell you a story that will make you feel better. My son finished putting an engine together and dropped it into a camaro - 305 chevy. He got it from a friend who had assembled the bottom end. The friend had forgot to put the shaft in the top of the oil pump that connects up with the distributor. The oil pressure light in the car did not work. He drove the car around the block to warm it up, after setting the timming. His first clue was the lifters were tapping. This engine ran a good 10 minutes, with no oil pumping.

The friend had coated all bearings with assembly lube and my son had done likewise with the cam. Nothing in this engine was hurt. Put a shaft in and it ran 75K until he sold it. Hope your as lucky.

[Wayne Maybury]

olddog
Your son was very lucky, indeed.

Xavier
A couple of points to remember when starting a new engine.
Check everything before attempting to even crank the engine. That includes the fuel line, gas pump, etc., all electrical connections, set the timing by eye so that it should be very close and make sure that you are not off by 180 degrees. Check the firing order, check the rotor. Prime the carburator and pump the throttle a couple of times while looking down through the carb to make sure that the accelerator pump is giving a squirt. Start the engine, immediately bring the revs up to 1500 to 2000 RPM, DO NOT LET A NEW ENGINE IDLE DURING THE FIRST 10 OR 15 MINUTES. Watch the gauges, especially oil pressure, check to see if the coolant is flowing. If the engine doesn't start with in a few seconds of cranking, stop and find out what is wrong. DO NOT CONTINUE TO CRANK A NEW ENGINE. Set the timing and continue to watch the oil pressure and temp. After running the engine for 10 or 15 minutes at 2000 RPM, let it slow down, begin to adjust the idle, etc. Always watch for anything that is not normal, for example glowing headers, smoke, over heating, back firing, etc. I'm sure that I have missed a few points but you get the idea.

A new engine must fire up right away, excessive cranking or allowing it to run at idle speed may eat the cam and/or lifters within the first few minutes. Good luck with your engine. Let us know how you make out.

Wayne