I getting ready to start my 289, I am running a comp cam 268H with flat top pistons and a HEI dist. I have read some past thread that with running an HEI I should put a wider gap on my spark plugs??? And with the cam and hei I should have a different timing setting??? I know I read it somewhere but I can't find it now. Also, when I prime the oil system how long does it take to get the oil throughout the engine? You can't beleive how much info I have gotten off of the forum, you people a great..

 

I prime it with the valve covers off and do it until ALL the rockers are oiled good. Make sure you spin the pump counter clockwise or it wont do anything

 

With a properly running HEI setup (make sure you have the ignition resistor wire bypassed), you can run .050" without any problem.

Prime it with the valve covers off, but don't overprime it or you'll push all the break-in lube out of the bearings.

Get the timing set to where it'll run for the cam break-in period. 25* or so @ 2000 (with the vacuum advance connected) will probably do the trick.

 

Make sure you put a zinc additive in BEFORE running the engine. Lack of proper additives in modern oil has led to many horror stories about wiped cams.

 

Thanks for the info, I put comp cam break-in juice in it.

 

Considering the cost of an engine, I'd use that, STP, and ZDDP. And carry a Rosary during that 30 min run-in.