Need help for 1st Cam break in :
I don't have a v8 , access is easier on a six but i draw a white line using a paint pen on the pushrods below the rocker. all lined up like 12 soldiers
i turn over the motor by hand with the plugs out 15 maybe 20 times
if the white line has moved round the the lifter must have turned as nothing else is going to have caused the pushrod to turn.
i pump oil in through a fiting at the oil pressure sender port as i can't spin my oil pump by hand
i turn the motor as i do this
i run pure water as coolant so as not to have the blue stuff mess with the gasket seal
if running MLS gasket i put stop leak in. coolant dumped directly after break in once car is cool enough obvioulsy don't want to be scalded.
with spinning lifters and oil pumped in my mood is 100% better. my lifters spin so chances of the same part rideing the cam lobe repeatedly in the same place is reduced. less chance of wipe out
ALL good
I start it with ether/dampstart filled mianifold and a known good carb and basic igntion. its easy to set a points igntion by hand or with a bulb
i set it up at 10 BTDC
i run it at 2500-3000 with a few revs and switch off if the exhaust manifold gets red hot
let it cool and go again with the ether
i use a running in oil with zddp additive for breakin and the first 300 miles
then retorque head and put in new oil and filter
done 3 motors this way and not had a problem
i might be doing it wrong but nothing bad has happend yet
do not do a break in with your prime nice expensive ceramic coated headers
all the ceramic will come off
use some mild steel or cast iron
Dave