Breaking in flat tappet cam

skybolt said

Have to agree with you Stroked 340. I started driving back in '64 right in the midst of the super car era and and they ALL had flat tappet camshafts, be it hydraulic or solid lifter. You would pick up your new ride at your favorite dealer, my 1st being a '68 Z-28, run around town a few minutes and then head for your favorite stretch of asphalt and let her rip. Not full out, You know what I mean. The metallurgy today has to be light years advanced now but you still need that ZDDP.

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I didn't start driving till 79 but I did the same. Heck I even had a couple of old engines that would have a ton of miles on and a lifter went bad (not flat, blew their guts out) and I just pulled out the bad lifter and stuck in a new one. No special break in at all. Just stuck it in and drove the car off and they lasted. But that's when all oil had high ZDDP levels. The metallurgy is better nowadays but no matter what if the oil doesn't have the right ingredients (little or no ZDDP) you've got problems.