350 Chevy Cam Break in

I recently have fallen down your rabbit hole and I have to say...I don't think I've seen any series of videos that are so well done, so informative and so obviously you are THE authority. Really Really impressed. You are a teacher, well spoken and professional as well as personable. I applaud you!

I was just thinking, ironically this guy built a 77 350 into a 383 street/strip car. Except he used my tools, my money, and my hands. Long story short I’ve built a motor watching all these for an 89 RS Camaro. Thanks man you made it a lot less stressful for the average car guy.

I had you as an instructor 12 years ago, I now build engines for part of a living. Hope you're doing well Mr. Torres, great video! Subscribed!

My land lord was an motor cycle engine builder and he showed me one day how he tests every lifter with a hardness tester and he would find soft junk lifters all the time. I bet he would recommend that anybody who builds engines to do the same no matter who makes the part.

I was a tech for 28 years, automotive instructor/trainer for 18 years. This guy should be working as an instructor. Clear precise and smart.

Thank you so much for this video. I was contemplating converting my small block Chevy in my 1971 El Camino to a roller cam; however, my engine will never develop monster amounts of power and will probably never turn over 4,000 rpm, so I will probably just get new flat tappet parts. Thank you for all of the precautions and I will heed them all. Also, thank you for the proper oil for break-in. I have always thought I would buy a Comp Cam cam/lifter set, so thank you for the reassurance about these parts. Cheers!

Thanks so much for all your videos - and especially this one. I'm rebuilding my 350 chevy and wasn't aware of the lifter manufacturer thing. As fate would have, I bought the "wrong" type (non delphi). At least I have the time to get the "correct" type in before I button-up the engine & fire it up. I did get the assembly lube on all the mentioned parts and the high ZDDP break in oil (made by Lucas - hope they are good for break-in). Great tips like your experience help us "shade tree" guys who do all their own work. Thanks again! You now have a new subscriber.

Back in the 80's I had built maybe 20 SB Chevy engines for local folks. A new guy moved in and was in his garage torquing heads on another small block (his own rebuild) and I noticed him not putting enough effort but was repeating himself. So I went over and he explained that he was a very accomplished engine builder and that torquing to 90 ft. pounds was easier if you just did 30 pounds 3 times. I gently told him how to do it right, and was able to keep from laughing till I got back home. I did end up going clear through the rebuild with him.

I enjoy your videos, I’m having a pair of marine 5.7 Vortec inboards being rebuilt, I’m doing some of the work but having the blow is done and assembled and broken in by a local machine shop. I find your videos educational, informative and enjoyable to watch. If you were local I would have used you but wanted a local guy and feel comfortable with the shop I chose as they seem very knowledgeable Nd been in business once the 60’s and it’s a family run business that’s been involved in racing anyway thanks for making these videos. I find them very helpful.

Nice work, and it sounds great without the mufflers. I always learn something when I watch your videos. I think the gentlemen will enjoy the performance of this build in his car.

Great video. I built my first 350 watching your videos the whole way. The only thing you left out was changing the oil after break-in. Thanks for taking the time to help out this shade tree mechanic. The engine you built sounds great.

I am 68 years old. Been a auto mech since I was drawing Ed Roth pics on my notebooks in elementary school, Norfolk State auto tech major, Chevy dealer mech, Lincoln Tech, Gas Station, construction mech, U.S. Army, Dept. Of Defense, drag racing but you Professor tell it the best and precise as it should be taught!!!!

Great video! Just what I needed as I get ready to break-in the cam/lifter kit on my 390FE. I appreciate you going over in detail on everything for us newbies.

Glad to see someone properly using a torque wrench!! Holding only the handle to reach the torque spec and backing the torque wrench off to 0 when not in use! Not many know how to use and care for a torque wrench the right way to preserve your calibration.

One thing I used to do was a warm retorque on everything. Heads and intake. You'd be surprised.

I've been a Mechanic since age 14 when I rebuilt my first engine. A 54 Ford Y- block. Learned from an old timer who did everything old school. Worked as a heavy equipment mechanic/shift supervisor until retiring from the City of Mesa Az at age 50 after 31 years. In my time I have seen many people casually working extremely close to a rotating fan like seen in this video. Many I know have a few finger tips missing. I have all of my fingers intact. If you are new to this stuff one word of caution. Be wary of anything rotating fan blades especially. Never for one second allow yourself to be distracted. If you are distracted shut the engine off.

Its pretty funny, I was a small block kid and did all my own work. I never did anything right, but had good luck. I remember 1 night putting in a all nighter swapping engines in my truck. I was pretty tired and fired it for the first time. Kept waiting for oil to come out the pushrods, nada. I looked down and realized no oil filter on the engine. I never put it on, and had no oil in it. Lucked out and caught it before it seized. I jury rigged everything. Didn't have the money to do it right. If I junked a piston I would take a spare rod and piston from another motor, slip the old bearings on it and run it.

“There are only 2 brands... I’m not gonna tell you which one to avoid but I will tell you which ones to get” gold lol

This clears up so many questions it's hard to digest. I have to think about this for a minute.

the little distributer trick simply turning the engine over to mesh with oil pump was very helpful, easy and effective. thank you!