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New engine finally, advise on break in ..

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Lexlas

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Finally after all the troubles, i have a new GM 400 small block engine to break in. Any advise on breaking in this engine is greatly appreciated. The engine is from VEGE engine and it comes with a 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty. I have an owners manual and must register it. My Camaro does not feel anything like it used to. It used to sound loud and run so tough that it scared me, now it runs like a new car, soft but it purs sweet. I put a chrom manifold and chrom pulleys and chrome valve covers and chrome alternator and crome dip sticks and pix is below. So anyone here ever break in a new engine ? I'm afraid to go over 70 mph. I have to do a oil change after the first 500 miles, that will be a long time from now since it's only a weekend car.

Image


I will have a better picture when it turns day time and i take a better picture, sorry for the low quality but it's in my garage.
 
#2 ·
There's not much to it and your owner's manual should cover the basics. No full throttle runs. Don't spend a long time at steady RPM. Vary engine RPM for 500 miles. Keep a close eye on temperature and oil pressure. A couple of weekends of nice country drives should do it.

Drain oil, change filter, and refill with a quality motor oil of the weight specified in your manual and a ZDDP additive or a quality diesel motor oil which already has a decent amount of zinc (Shell Rotella, Delvac, etc.).

Verify through the owners manual if it is already filled with a break-in oil. If not, go to an auto parts store and buy an engine break-in additive like the one made by Trick Flow.

Enjoy.
 
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#5 ·
Lexlas said:
My Camaro does not feel anything like it used to. It used to sound loud and run so tough that it scared me, now it runs like a new car, soft but it purs sweet. .
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That's because it has a mild cam in it!:yes:.....See if you can get one of the Team Camaro members, from the left coast, to help you install a performance grind in that motor!
 
#7 ·
I prefer many mild 0-60, 60-10, 10-60, 0-60, and so on runs, you get the picture. Yes, continously vary the speed and RPM's for the first 500+ miles. Like the guys above said, don't run full throttle or your piston rings may never seat and you will find yourself filling up with oil and checking the gas evertime you stop at a service station. Have Fun
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Hatman said:
= 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty VOID
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Correcto ! I can't install anything for a while. I will have to take it easy for a while.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Image
JohnZ said:
Doesn't the owner's manual from VEGE provide break-in recommendations? Never saw on that didn't, especially with a long warranty.

:beers:
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It sure does and it says i have to drive cool for the first 500 miles and then get the oil fiter and oil changed out. I will take a pix and add it here.
Image
 
#10 ·
Lexlas said:
I have to do a oil change after the first 500 miles, that will be a long time from now since it's only a weekend car.
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Lex,
Just my opinion as an engine builder ........ take the car out and drive it. It should be no problem to put a couple of hundred miles on it in a day of cruising. Best type of driving is country roads where you can vary speeds. In my opinion, the absolute worst thing you can do with a new engine is to not drive it much. Get some miles on the thing pronto, change the oil and filter and then enjoy it !!!
 
#11 ·
Not that I want to rain on your parade,but after having read your previous post about the trouble you were having with this shop,are you sure you got what you paid for.I Googled VEGE engines and the first thing that came up I typed in Chevrolet then Camaro and they don't show any listing past 1974.So this makes me wonder exactly what you got and will the warranty cover the install in a car not originally equipped with that specific engine.I think you better get a look at the casting numbers and find out exactly what you have in your car.I find the color of the engine a little strange as well.Unless the camera you used or the light it looks like unpainted rusty cast iron.Most rebuilders paint the engines with some color ????.It resembles a quick rebuild, no time for paint.Pull the valve covers and get the casting numbers off the heads.Take a mirror and get the casting number off the back of the block.If the engine is indeed from VEGE you need to find out where they stamped the info on the block/heads so you can check with them as to what you now have in your car.My gut feeling is the shop threw something they had available in your car just to get you out of their hair.The CSK on your Warranty is an auto parts store chain becoming OReillys as we speak,again makes me wonder why a shop would go through an auto parts store for an engine.Thats something the home mechanic does. You may end up in Small Claims Court after all.Just my .02
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
langss said:
Not that I want to rain on your parade,but after having read your previous post about the trouble you were having with this shop,are you sure you got what you paid for.I Googled VEGE engines and the first thing that came up I typed in Chevrolet then Camaro and they don't show any listing past 1974.So this makes me wonder exactly what you got and will the warranty cover the install in a car not originally equipped with that specific engine.I think you better get a look at the casting numbers and find out exactly what you have in your car.I find the color of the engine a little strange as well.Unless the camera you used or the light it looks like unpainted rusty cast iron.Most rebuilders paint the engines with some color ????.It resembles a quick rebuild, no time for paint.Pull the valve covers and get the casting numbers off the heads.Take a mirror and get the casting number off the back of the block.If the engine is indeed from VEGE you need to find out where they stamped the info on the block/heads so you can check with them as to what you now have in your car.My gut feeling is the shop threw something they had available in your car just to get you out of their hair.The CSK on your Warranty is an auto parts store chain becoming OReillys as we speak,again makes me wonder why a shop would go through an auto parts store for an engine.Thats something the home mechanic does. You may end up in Small Claims Court after all.Just my .02
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Interesting, i did send in the registration and will check the numbers on the block. The one thing i just noticed is that the registration i send in did not have the right mileage written on it. They put down 91776 and it should have been 97776, the confused the one with a 7. For this now i will call the factory myself and let them know. This will give me a chance to talk to them also. This way i will know if it's for reals. As for the color, i asked them to color the engine orange before putting it in for me and they did. The only rust there is, is from the headers, they put the same old ones and they were rusted, i can't afford new headers just yet. :confused:
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
BillK said:
Lex,
Just my opinion as an engine builder ........ take the car out and drive it. It should be no problem to put a couple of hundred miles on it in a day of cruising. Best type of driving is country roads where you can vary speeds. In my opinion, the absolute worst thing you can do with a new engine is to not drive it much. Get some miles on the thing pronto, change the oil and filter and then enjoy it !!!
Click to expand...
I took your advise and went on a cruise with my son for as long as i could this evening, it is hot where i live and that car has no AC so it was hard to last i tell you. It has got to be like almost 100 inside that car. Not sure why it shoots hot air inside the car and it is over 90 outside. I got in 71 miles !
 
#14 ·
I think your better off driving in town through the red lights myself. That way you will have a lot of irregular stop an start along with various low speeds. It just don't get much better than breaking in a Hot Rod. I stil like to cruise around with the hood off for a few days and it also makes it easier to get under the hood just incase something goes wrong. Again I hope you have a blast for the rest of the summer and glad to see your on the road again. Man the 2-80 AC can be tough.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Alabamcam said:
I think your better off driving in town through the red lights myself. That way you will have a lot of irregular stop an start along with various low speeds. It just don't get much better than breaking in a Hot Rod. I stil like to cruise around with the hood off for a few days and it also makes it easier to get under the hood just incase something goes wrong. Again I hope you have a blast for the rest of the summer and glad to see your on the road again. Man the 2-80 AC can be tough.
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I'm not sure if it's legal to cruise with the hood off ? I am driving around town for sure. In the next town in Walnut Creek there are signs that state no cruising, i stay away from that city. What is 2-80 AC ? I don't have AC in my camaro.
 
#18 ·
Take Bills advise and get some miles on it. The engine had build oils and lubes in it and I would change the oil soon if it's just going to sit. A new engine has not seated and it gets more contaminates from combustion in the oil. This is bad for your bearings. Oils mmain job after lubricating is to suspend contaminates and it's the filters job to get them out but it does not catch the caustics that are created at break in and combustion that gets past the rings.
If your not going to get that 500 miles on it change it out soon. This will also allow you inspect the oil and filter.

Your hot air problem is most likely the heater blowing hot air into the car. The shut off from the dash or control valve might be bad or stuck open. You can always remove the heater hoses and block the ports on the block as a temp solution to solve this and still drive the car while you figure this out.
 
#19 ·
Lexlas said:
Interesting, i did send in the registration and will check the numbers on the block. The one thing i just noticed is that the registration i send in did not have the right mileage written on it. They put down 91776 and it should have been 97776, the confused the one with a 7. For this now i will call the factory myself and let them know. This will give me a chance to talk to them also. This way i will know if it's for reals. As for the color, i asked them to color the engine orange before putting it in for me and they did. The only rust there is, is from the headers, they put the same old ones and they were rusted, i can't afford new headers just yet. :confused:
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I guess what I'm trying to get across to you is I hate seeing people being taken advantage of.And considering what you have already been through and your physical limitations,if you were anywhere close to where I live I can assure you I would be all over that car finding out just exactly what was going on and if I had to I would be making the phone calls myself.You need to act on this asap and not let a lot of time go by while you are enjoying the car.The more time that goes by the better the shop will be covering their tracks and if anything is amiss, you need to be all over it,before the car ends up in some other shop and the whole thing starts over again.Again just my opinion, but wont you feel better if you find out that everything is as its supposed to be and Lang is just concerned for no good reason.Just my .02
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
langss said:
I guess what I'm trying to get across to you is I hate seeing people being taken advantage of.And considering what you have already been through and your physical limitations,if you were anywhere close to where I live I can assure you I would be all over that car finding out just exactly what was going on and if I had to I would be making the phone calls myself.You need to act on this asap and not let a lot of time go by while you are enjoying the car.The more time that goes by the better the shop will be covering their tracks and if anything is amiss, you need to be all over it,before the car ends up in some other shop and the whole thing starts over again.Again just my opinion, but wont you feel better if you find out that everything is as its supposed to be and Lang is just concerned for no good reason.Just my .02
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I called the VEGE engines myself and got part of the registration done over the phone and i have a 400 long block. I thought i had a short block but now it's confirmed thru them it is a long block and it is one of their engines. I am happy i did not get ripped off, yeah ! I am still glad i double checked, thanks to the advise of you guys.
 
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