First start did not go so good.

[Xavier]

Update! As I see many people looking at this post within the forum. Sorry for taking some time, it takes a while to get the courage to pull your engine apart again and then it takes a while to pull it apart espescially with the holidays.

Drained the oil and ripped apart the filters as requested. No metal fragmentation, but I did not want to take any chances. Dismantled the engine down to the crank shaft, main bearings etc. to see the damage and replace. I had a local mechanic help me, he was of immense help. And when we finally got everything apart; no damage. Nothing was even scratched and looked as it came our of a brand new box. Bearings looked like they were purchased yesterday. Everything looked brand new, so I am glad I did not purchase parts in advance. I can not explain why, this is for the engine experts to discuss. All I know is that everything was in mint condition. Inspected and re-honed the cylinder walls. Replaced the sparkplugs. Oil pressure is there. Ignition is there.

Fuel problems and excessive PSI was caused by a bad (brand new) fuel regulator. Have a new fuel regulator now sitting at 5.5psi.

Some said it was the me priming the engine correctly (before I reversed the hoses on the oil relocator) for 10 minutes and the 20w50 that saved it. Others just said it might hove not been enough time to damage anything without heavy reving. Also, it may have seen like 15 minutes to me the engine was running (without psi), but could have been 5. I am not the expert here, but there are as many great stories as bad ones and in the end, I am just glad my engine did not seize. The engine builder I used said that people reversing the oil hoses on the remote filter has been done at least 50x's with him. I am not trying to get off the hook, it was an embarassingly stupid mistake, but all new builders can take a moment to look at it again.

Now its just a case of me getting the engine timed. The friendly mechanic is too busy. The timing is immensely off. In the end if that is all I have to complain about, I am very happy.

Step-by-step initial timing instructions would still be of help though...

For the new readers to this who do not have time to read the whole post here it is again, sequence of events;

- Prime engine with oil primer with oil PSI for ten minutes. Inspecting for leaks etc. Oil pressure is there.
- Notice leak on remote oil filter assembly. Cracked AN fitting. Replaced -AN fitting. Reversed the hoses accidently. (not caught)
- Start engine. Excessive starting to get it started. Glowing headers. Excessive fuel PSI. And then, finally noticed, no oil PSI. Did not have fuel PSI problems before when engine was not turned over. And did not check oil PSI at first because I had no problems before I fixed the -AN fitting (that I swore I put on correctly).
- First thread put on Club Cobra.
- Called manufacturer of regulator. Bad fuel regulator confirmed.
- Called engine builder. "Double check the remote oil hoses." Found them reversed in discuss.
- Tore apart engine. Examined everything in detail. Rehoned cylinder walls. Put engine back together with mechanic and reviewed everything with engine builder.
- Replaced spark plugs.
- Now trying to get it timed correctly.

Happy New Year.