Hey guys, well I'm getting closer to firing the 454 beast. I'm just worried about my cam failing, even though I did take the correct steps. Well how about some good cam experiances during a break-in of a new cam?! It'll make me feel better, and I'm sure it'll make those people who are about to start their brand new motor fell better also. If you has success, did you take any extra steps? What cam company did you use?

Put a Hyd roller in it.
Start the new motor up, let it run at a high idle till it comes up to temp, say 190 degrees.
In the mean time, set timing, watch oil pressure etc, keeping an eye out for any leaks or what ever else might show up.
When it reaches temp shut it off.
Let it cool over night...repeat 2-3 times.

Then drive it per the Generals break in procedure for crate motors and you`ll be all set to go. :thumbsup:

Just broke in a hydraulic cam for a buddy of mine. Everything went near perfect and he's enjoying his new rumpity-bumpity. I made absolutely sure we had all the particulars setup like timing and full fuel bowls. Fired on the first revolution.

Rod

Pull the inner valve springs, run the EDM lifters (pin oiling), static time your engine before firing, and prime until all your rockers have oil. Good to go! All this info can be found on this site and helped me do it right the first time.

My first attempt at breaking in a cam was a small block with a Comp Cams 260HE cam. Standard lifters, standard oil pump, no tricks. We just lubed up the lobes and distributor gear before we buttoned up the engine.

We cranked it quite a bit before it finally fired. Then we did the break-in in 4 intervals of about 10 minutes each. Mostly because the first to intervals it would heat up quickly and had to be shut down. Then we advanced the timing but we still ran it in short intervals.

I have at least 5000 street miles on it now, no problems whatsoever, plenty of 1/8 mile runs and a few 1/4 mile passes.

Ceaser,mild comp hyd flat tappet 268 cam in my 396 and my friends 402 with nno problems as of yet.

Mine has approx 2500 miles and his 1000-1500 miles.

I think i sent you some cam install/breaking proceedures to follow a while back so if you did everything listed you shoild be good to go.

Let me know if you used the info and how you made out with the cam breakin?

Scott

Engine must start immediately. Use EOS and run a fast idle for 20min or so. I have never lost a cam breaking it in even using the inner and outer springs. Last year I did an XE for the driver it's still going just fine.

I have a 468 with a comp XE284, which seems to have a ton of problems breaking in. Its fine now with about 3K miles. I used GM supplement, st. 30wt valvolene, and took my inner springs out. Had the intake off and put the supplement on the lobes with some moly paste and started it the next day, so not much time to drip off. I think many people have trouble for 2 reasons, letting the motor sit too long and the lobes "drip dry", and todays oil has low zinc. I run 15-40 rotella after breakin, high zinc content.

In my experiences with cams I've installed the following:
3 small block Ford cams
1 small block Dodge cams
2 BB Chevy cams (454 and 396)
I've never had a lobe failure at all. I always use Federal Mogul assembly lube and white lithium grease on the lobes and lifters and a little on the rocker balls. Get the timing close and fire it up. Let it idle at about 2200-2600 rpm for about 25-30 minutes while I check for leaks. I've been fairly lucky there too. Alfter engine cools to cold I re-torque the exhaust manifold bolts. Start the engine again and get to temp then change the oil and filter while it's hot.
Jody

Well guys it's getting closer to that time. I have just a few small parts to gather before firing the motor. I'm hoping this weekend will be the day that the motor comes to life.

I've done almost all of the procedures that were sent to me by Scott. I even went as far as buying that 70$ filter magnet! That thing really is tough! I could not remove the magnet from the oil filter by pulling straight up, I had to slide it off. It's been primed and I got oil to ALL the rockers and used GM EOS and Rotella T oil.

I've broken in a comp 268 hyd. and a 274 solid. Neither one was text book, more cranking than I wanted to get the timing right. In fact, on the 274 I had my fans hooked up backwards and had to shut down after 10 minutes because of engine heat reached 220 and was climbing fast. Neither one lost a lobe. Next week I'm breaking in a Lunati solid flat tappet, hopefully this will be the last one for a while, I'm getting sick of pulling that engine in my one car garage!

I followed all the procedures straight 30 EOS, outer springs only, fired it right up. Well, I HAD dropped a valve cover washer down the galley. Fished it out, but somehow FORGOT to reset lash on #1. It must have been .100!!!

Ran it for about 30 seconds that way. 10K later it's still fine.

So I effed up and it still lived!

Cesar my 427 had a .628/.648 lift Crane cam with their double springs. The springs were a little weak for the 7300 rpm the motor went to, but I used both inners and outers for the break in. The motor had plenty of moly lube on the cam and lifters with 20/50 castrol gtx the motor broke in fine. Never had a problem with any of my smaller cams either.