[Lizer]

I should be getting my 302 long block this week and will start building it up. I had the Edelbrock Performer Plus roller cam put in it and Edelbrock's tech sheet says no cam break in is required. Cam break in is the only one I've ever heard of...in a newly assembled engine is there any other break in required?

Secondly, I've read not to use fresh new headers during a break in because the heat can prematurely age or damage the finish on headers (during the break in). The protocol was to break in with your manifolds and install headers once completed.

So if no break in really is required, am I safe to put on the headers right from the start? I'll be using ceramic tri-y's.

[zr2_wolverine]

Hi! Roller cam doesn’t need to be broken in, it roll on the cam so there is nothing to brake in. only flat tappet need braking in.

Ya I read some where that you might damage your ceramic headers if you break your engine in with them on.

[The Greek]

Is the break-in and headers issue that they're talking about only in relation to cam break-in or engine break-in? What I mean by engine break-in is the operating time needed, in this instance, for the rings to seat. If it's dealing with ring break-in, possibly what they are referring to is high exhaust temps because of incomplete combustion where there would be unburnt fuel igniting in the exhaust ports. The incomplete combustion would be caused by low compression pressures from unseated rings.

This is my guess and actually the first time that I've heard about headers and break-in. I'd give Edelbrock a call. This could be a real PITA.

[Lizer]

Greek that sounds more plausible to me. It didn't make sense to me how cam break in would make the headers too hot.

To clarify, cam break ins, when required, are the 'run your engine at 1500-2000 rpms for 20 minutes' while the engine break in is not exceeding 55 mph for the first X miles?

There was a lot of board chatter on the issue when I was reading about it; I'm going to have to revisit this before I put headers on otherwise I'm going to have to go with my stock manifolds first and that is going to be a PITA.

[1966er]

A few years back when I built a 350 Chevy, there was talk about this same issue on another forum.

I had new coated headers from Jet Hot & called them. They advised me to use stock manifolds due to a new rebuilt engine can cause a hot lean condition while breaking the engine in.

They also said an alternate way to use the new headers with a breaking in of the new engine, was to break the headers in by putting them in an oven at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.

I don't know how much BS it is either way, but I did just that, and no problems using the headers on the new engine during break in.

[Lizer]

could you actually fit your headers in a normal kitchen oven? What I'm still confused about is if the 'break in' is actually the cam break in, or the general engine break in that Greek was talking about. If it's cam break in, I'm good to go. I guess ultimately this would be a better question to ask whoever I end up getting my headers from.

[1966er]

Originally Posted by Lizer

could you actually fit your headers in a normal kitchen oven? What I'm still confused about is if the 'break in' is actually the cam break in, or the general engine break in that Greek was talking about. If it's cam break in, I'm good to go. I guess ultimately this would be a better question to ask whoever I end up getting my headers from.

I had shortie headers and they fit in the kitchen oven.

Wife was not at home at the time................

[jgard07]

Bolt on the headers and go.

[DoubleD]

Just be careful with your timing. Have the timing light ready to set your distributor. And yes you can make a brand new set of headers glow cherry red on break-in, if that happens it's all over for the fancy coating. I'm just say'n..

Good luck!!

[RF Mustang]

If the wifey wont let you near the oven use the gas grill.
My large gas grill worked great for curing out (baking) my hipo exhaust manifolds.

I coated them with VHT cast high heat exhaust paint and they look as good today as when i did them a year ago.

By the way, you'd be suprised how well the dish washer cleans parts. The wife has not caught me yet but dude i'm telling you, it works great for cleaning parts. I'd almost buy a used DW at a second hand store and fill it with parts cleaner if i do another restoration.

[kyle67289]

Yea... I was using electrolysis to derust some brackets and parts and I had a double wammy... Wife came home, wanted to know what I was cooking then went and saw my electrolysis bucket in the tub... needless to say Ill be using the grill next time too...

[72 fastback]

i have heard that about coated headers as well. You will not have to run for 25 min to break the cam in though. I beleive after a couple heat cyles the headers are fine.