440 brake in process/ engine breathing

[Bill Mandaro]

Hey ya’ll, my 440 is almost ready to drop in and run but I got some questions. For starters any tips on the break in process will be appreciated. I’ve got a flat tappet cam so I’m aware I’ll need the zinc additives for the oil, I also learned from some research that the 1st 20 minutes of run time it should sit at about 2k RPMs. Now as far as Air cleaners go my buddy gave me a little 6x3 air cleaner and talked about building an acrylic box scoop and getting it to all sit outside the hood seeing as there’s a big hole in it already from the previous owner. I’m out of time and $$$ for this project so that’s not happening. For the break in I’m probably just gonna leave the hood and air cleaner off. After that though I need an air cleaner with really good breathability, any suggestions?

 

[ch1ll]

First off, you never want to run your engine without an air filter.

Second of all, you must have your engine timed and tuned BEFORE initial startup to immediately reach break in rpm. No setting your idle or timing or screwing around with your carburetor. It should be preset close enough to maintain break in rpm.

Third, use specific break in oil, there are several brands available. Do not use synthetic oil.

Rick ehrenburg wrote an article in mopar action in the past few years. I suggest you hunt it down, read it thoroughly and follow the procedure. It covers everything.

 

[ch1ll]

6x3 air cleaner is too small, you need 14×3 minimum. K&N filters are vastly better than anything else.

 

[kbr577]

The 6X3 would be fine for brake in.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

Hey ya’ll, my 440 is almost ready to drop in and run but I got some questions. For starters any tips on the break in process will be appreciated. I’ve got a flat tappet cam so I’m aware I’ll need the zinc additives for the oil, I also learned from some research that the 1st 20 minutes of run time it should sit at about 2k RPMs. Now as far as Air cleaners go my buddy gave me a little 6x3 air cleaner and talked about building an acrylic box scoop and getting it to all sit outside the hood seeing as there’s a big hole in it already from the previous owner. I’m out of time and $$$ for this project so that’s not happening. For the break in I’m probably just gonna leave the hood and air cleaner off. After that though I need an air cleaner with really good breathability, any suggestions?

First off do NOT add zinc to an oil. It will not mix with the base oil.

The ZDDP in those additives isn’t the same as what is blended with the oil when it’s made.

Buy a break in oil.

Vary the rpm during break in. It changes the speed that the lifters rotate.

Keep the timing up. You should have 35-40 on it during break in at break in rpm.

Retarded timing causes heat in the exhaust and it’s damn easy to stick a valve.

If you are running a dual spring, pull the inners out, run it 20 minutes the put the inners back in and give it another 20 minutes.

A spring with a flat wire damper in it is not a dual spring. It will have two round wire springs.

Don’t crank on it to get it started. If it doesn’t fire up immediately STOP and figure out what’s going on.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

First off, you never want to run your engine without an air filter.

Second of all, you must have your engine timed and tuned BEFORE initial startup to immediately reach break in rpm. No setting your idle or timing or screwing around with your carburetor. It should be preset close enough to maintain break in rpm.

Third, use specific break in oil, there are several brands available. Do not use synthetic oil.

Rick ehrenburg wrote an article in mopar action in the past few years. I suggest you hunt it down, read it thoroughly and follow the procedure. It covers everything.

Tree’d. Again!

 

[ch1ll]

Tree’d. Again!

Yeah, but glad you expanded on what I stated.

 

[Ricks70Duster340]

I used the BR40 (10w/40) breakin oil for my initial run. I watched a video by Lake Speed Jr. that was very informative about this very subject.

 

[ch1ll]

The 6X3 would be fine for brake in.

While this MAY be true, why not just buy and install the proper filter right away? Why would anyone use a lawnmower filter for this? A filter that small is going to choke the **** out of any automobile engine.

 

[jimjimjimmy]

K&N filters are vastly better than anything else.

maybe now since R2C went tits up .

 

[Bill Mandaro]

Okay thank you everyone I’ll pickup a 14x5 filter before break in and I’ll double check my timing. I also appreciate the info on the oil and zinc additives I had no idea they wouldn’t mix I’ll be sure to get a good break in oil and I’ll definitely hunt down that Rick ehrenburg article. I got a 650cfm demon but I have no way of tuning it, no one in the local area I know has an engine I can tune it on so I’m kinda sol there. As far as peak break in RPM what range should I vary between.