At the factory cam break-in
 

While reading an article written by a guy that worked for Pontiac back in the day, describing the engine startup procedure, I was surprised to read they basically did no cam break-in. Ran the engine for maybe 30 seconds prior to installation, then maybe another minute after installation on a rolling road. But no cam break-in that is considered a must these days.

Anyone have any insight into why that was? Or why the cams didn't fail? I seriously doubt it was because they were using magical high quality metal of the olden days, they probably used the least expensive metal that would get the engine through the warranty period.

Zinc in the oil??

That is what I would say, Magical Zinc in oil.
They may have used the GM oil additive in there also?

:confused:

Also, the factory engines ran very low spring pressures. Slow, lazy lobes = low spring pressures.

I toured an assembly plant years ago. Fuel was added at the end of the line. There were guys whose job it was to start the car, I believe cycle and check function of systems from the drivers seat. Pull car forward as it warmed.....then he would scratch the tires and pull the car outside to the finished area.... Every driver would scratch the tires......talk about getting slapped on the ass at birth!
I thought to myself, If I did this job they would be gagging in the plant from the clouds I would roll off.

I don't believe any of the engines were run prior to installation, but I am not sure, as they didn't tell us one way or another. I can't see that being cost/time effective.
Build it right....install with confidence.

I thought I saw something where a engine was run after assm with out fuel?Maybe Keith can confirmTom

Would stand to reason they would have to time the engine at some point

at about 3.06 in the video it shows a short pic of the engine hooked up to something like im talking about.Tom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02eULOTP6CA

I worked in the Fremont assembly factory filling in for absent people. One day I had the job of driving the car out to the lot.

At the end of the assembly line, the car was started and idled for maybe 4-5(?) minutes on a moving conveyor with various checks being done.. At the end of that rolling conveyor, someone drove it a short distance, maybe 100 feet, and put it through a hard brake. Then I got in and drove it to the lot for loading onto transport or train. This was in the late 70s. Not all cars started of course.

I assume that those few hundred feet of idle, plus the 100 foot drive, plus my drive out to the lot was it until it was driven onto the transport truck or train and a few minutes at the dealer. Maybe the plant where the engine was assembled ran it? I'd guess about 10-15 minutes total run timebefore the customer drives off.

The low lift cam lobe design, spring pressures, and maybe high quality lifters might be why a real 'break-in' wasn't needed. Dinosaur oil right out of the ground was probably good enough combined with assembly lube.

That whole area was at the opposite end of the plant from my normal area, maybe 1/2 mile or more. I still 30+ years later occasionally have strange dreams about how big the plant was where I get lost looking for the cafeteria or a restroom. Never really got lost.

Check this out (break-in service for Ford cams).

http://www.camresearchcorp.com/camking/

He knows how to make power as well!

An NHRA World Championship, six NHRA national records and numerous national, divisional and local wins.

Oct. 6, 2016 — FIRST PLACE! Cam Research smoked the competition and notched the top finish in the 2016 Amsoil Engine Masters Challenge on Oct. 4 at the University of Northwestern Ohio. Scott Main’s 404-inch, Cleveland-headed, small-block Ford averaged 578.8 lb-ft and 606.3 horsepower between 3,500 and 7,500rpm, with a peak power of 756hp, earning a 2926 score and the first place finish in the small-block category.

Oil in say 1967 had comparable amounts of zddp in it as recent oils in the 800-900 ppm range . By 1970 , around 1200 . Of course I realize gm probaly used an eos type supplement . I think some of the newest synthetics maybe below 800 ppm .

Had a job interview at the Ford plant in south Chicago back in late 63 when they were building then 64's. If I remember correctly as the cars came off the line they were driven onto what was essentially a chassis dyno. I was told that the automatic cars were run long enough to check transmission shift points and then moved off. If engines were ever run before installation I can't say. I soon ordered a 64 GTO.

Good American made partsand what gtofreek said

Tax destination charge and DEALER PREP maybe they got a little more attention at the dealer like 15 mins of dwell, timing checks carb idle mix and speed and a second look at fluids and tire pressures .. as stated good oils and mild valve action may have been the biggest contributor but in late 70's i was aware of initial break ins

break-in
 

I recall having read somewhere that engines were test-fired using natural gas fed through a device that attached over the top of the carb............

I recall after market cams requiring a breaking, but aftermarket cams also have steeper ramps and stiffer spring pressures. At some point the pressures on the cam are below the level the hardness of the metal can handle. Raise the spring pressure a little, and maybe you reach the breaking point, and just below that level of pressure, almost no wear will occur. I would be that engineers figured that out at some point. People are using double the spring pressures, and more, than what the factory cams ever faced back then.

I thought that was what was in the video I saw.

EDIT: The video I have is the same as the one Tom S linked to.

unclescrath,look at the video from post 8,you can see the hoses hooked up to the engine about the 3 min mark.Tom

I thought the Standard talking point was

" You need to change your oil after the first 300 miles."

that became

" You need to change you oil after the first 500 miles."

..3000 miles.

Here"s your Warranty book , 3000, 6000, and so on. then,

"Warranty void if incorrect oil is used."

Then "Mercedez Bens Oil MUST be used at every oil change interval or Warranty is void."

Yep, this article said the engines were fired at the engine plant for about 30 seconds on natural gas.

So .... makes me think a guy running a good US made Melling 068 Cam (supposedly made with US made cores) and quality US made HyLift Johnson lifters, stock spec springs, and quality modern oil like VR-1 .... should theoretically need no more cam break-in than a Pontiac leaving the factory back in the day.

I'd bet it has more to do with lobe profile than anything else. I remember the instructions for a RHS cam (precursor to CC) I installed back in 1976 ... specified the now well known 20 minutes and 2000 rpm break-in procedure. And I'm pretty sure the components were all US made quality stuff back then.