ok... i found a shop to rebuild my cobra. 150mi away. i'll have to drive it back. any suggestions on how to break it in. they have a dyno. will they put it on there to break it in or drive it around a little bit or will i have break it in on the drive home? thanks

 

Talk to the shop....are you installing?

 

no, they are installing

 

What's getting done to it? Or is it just a stock rebuild?

 

it's a stock rebuild with forged pistons and rods with the heads being rebuilt too. almost $6000

 

Whooo... nice.. Your builder should have a recommded break-in.. Everyone will have a different opinion on this.. I have my own break in method for forged motor builds that's similar to others but some may find it excessive..

Once finished, start it up, let it run till warm and check oil pressure. Shut it off and and let it cool. Start it back up and let it warm. Then off and cool. Then back on and rev it up a few times holding it around 75 percent of max RPM for a few seconds each time. Shut if off and change the oil out. Drive it normally (AND I MEAN NOT HARD) for about 300 miles and keeping rpms at less than 50 percent but varrying the load and throttle a lot.. change the oil again.. then start opening it up slowly.. drive normally for a few hundred more miles a little harder each time... But about 800-1000 miles or so it should be fully seated/broken in.. Make sure to monitor oil levels and pressures every chance you get..

You're lucky it's not an FI motor.. ten times worse! ha. Your builder my have a different recommendation though and being that he built it I would go with his.

 

Oh and on that same not.. don't do all your break in miles cruising the highway.. It's best to be done city driving/stop and go to get the engine to constantly vary rpms and load

 

i'm gonna have to ask him if he's gonna do the first part of the break in up to the first oil change before i pick the car up. then i'll take another route home other than the inter-state i guess

 

Not saying you can't go on the interstate.. just don't use that for your break in miles.. Lots of people think.. "Oh 300 miles, that's easy I'll just go on a road trip"... No no, you have to heat cycle the motor.

 

i hear what you're sayin. thanks for the info!