Break-in process failure

Cool Hand Lurker

Cool Hand Lurker

Well-known member
This photo shows what happens when the break-in procedure is not followed. This engine was put together and just driven for six months then it was pulled out because it was really pumping oil and lots of blue smoke. The cross-hatching on the cylinder walls is still there and things look like new. EXCEPT for the black soot right under the sparkplug, the mark of burned oil.
The rings were either put in upside down or they never sealed in the first place. I have not taken the engine apart yet but if I don't think this would have happened on ALL of the cylinders if some rings were put in upside down. It almost has to be the break-in procedure that is to blame.

By the way, I bought this car after they pulled the engine and threw in a Chebbie 305 and blamed the flathead V8 for the problems. The flathead will be going back into the car.
 

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The only story I got was that they ran it in the car for 6 months before pulling the engine. I don't know if they had first run it on a stand. They found one scored cylinder which I will have re-sleeved, but all the rest look good. My plan is to have the one cylinder sleeved then hone all cylinders and throw in new rings.
 
A few other things you might consider or dismiss:

Are the guides and stems in spec?
Are there seals on the guides?
Did it burn oil under acceleration? or on overrun?
Is the air filter clean and clear?
What compression readings did it show?
Do the pistons come to the top of the bore?
Are the tin shields in place in the valve chamber?
What piston to bore clearance has it got?
How many oil control rings are fitted to each piston and what type are they?
I assume it is not running a high volume oil pump?
When you strip it, Check your oil ring end gap, side and back clearances.
 
I always thot a buddy of mine that was an engine builder just had his own weird way of testing a newly rebuilt motor. He did it just the way you say. Get it together run it a little to make sure it sounded okay, then go out and run the crap out of it. His never had a problem of smoking, or holding together for that matter.
 
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