Thread: Cranked up my new 454....

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Well guys, I cranked my new 454 and it sounds great. It lopes while cold but smooths out when it reachs operating temperture. At first I couldn't get it to crank because I had the distributor 180 out (how I did that I don't know) anyway I respiked the distributor and it cranked right up. It has 60 PSI oil pressure and runs cool. I haven't jumped on it yet, need to get some miles on it. I can tell it has balls. I have this 454 installed in my C10 pickup (AKA Texas Hot Rod). How many miles do I need to put on it before I jump on it? It's hard to hold back if you know what I mean...........Det45

Hey congratulations! I would think a couple hundred should be plenty, then go check to make sure everything is tight. I always like to go in stages, each time a little more RPM and a little more throttle. If it's not a roller, did you break in the cam when you first started it up?

Pat

Congrats! Sounds like you're gonna be a happy guy! I dont know if you have to be too easy on it, plenty of guys build an engine and bring it right to the track to run it. Put some easier miles on it (you probably have by now) and get into it a little harder each time. Save the full throttle burnouts till you feel confident in the engine. It wont take long.

DET45

I'm real interested in your project as I am in the middle of one similar. Maybe you read my post "PROJECT 454" and "GETTING INTO THE 12's". I choose the same cam and really want to know how you like it. I also wanted a little lope, you say it smooths out when its warmed up, but does it still lope a little? I chose the 049 castings and did some head work in hopes of a few more horsepower, other wise my combo is very close to yours and will be going into a 69 C-10. Good luck with your new motor!

well usually you break it in like how your going to drive it. thats what the guys here do. because ya know racecars dont drive down the freeway

I installed a crane powermax cam in this 454. Its .253/.237 @.050 & 112 sep. The engine does have a little lope at idle when warmed up but I do wish it loped a little harder HOWEVER this 454 hauls @5$. I am very pleased with the power from the 702 heads. My truck is set up as follows; It has the above mentioned cam, 750 CFM edelbrock carb, comp roller rockers, holly med rise intake, hyfire ignition, mallory HEI dist, double roller timing chain, victor series racing fuel pump with regulator, 3872702 closed chambered oval port iron heads, 1970 3963512 engine block bored out @ .040, 2.5 inch dual exhaust, full length headers, and flowmaster delta 50 series mufflers, turbo 350 trans, and 12 bolt 3:73 rearend. The truck is a 1978 C10 half ton fleetside with a B&M truck megashifter, factory rallys, and an American flag sticker on the back.......

Originally Posted by gassersrule_196

well usually you break it in like how your going to drive it. thats what the guys here do. because ya know racecars dont drive down the freeway

You might "break it in like how you are going to drive it".But I sure as hell don't.
Our last USMTS mod. engine did well over 700 on meth.
When we doing any dyno work we do a lot of "heat cycles" at very low rpms with a very light load.
We have found better ring seal with this method. ie horsepower.
If you look at cylinder walls under a microscope you will see peaks and valley's.
The idea is to try and seal those peaks and valley's.
I can go into other ideas we have about heat cycles but we might be here all day.

But the first time you start it.......
It is important that the engine starts immediately.
Prolonged cranking may damage the camshaft, lifters and/or followers.
Before starting the engine, top off the coolant level and make sure the ignition timing is properly set. After starting the engine, DO NOT let it
idle. It is essential to run the engine at 1800-2200 RPM for at least 20 minutes. Because the camshaft and lifters are primarily lubricated by the splash of oil from the crankshaft, any RPM below 1,800 may result in insufficient lubrication and may cause cam lobe failure.
The high RPM also allows the lifters to rotate quicker and seat properly to the camshaft during this critical break-in procedure.