Alright, the 292, .060, stock cam, C2AE block was put back into the 55 Club Sedan this morning (don't ask me how I found the time, but suffice to say, my wife even came out the garage and helped me put it in as we jockeyed it into position - she is almost as excited as I am) I am a few days away from initial startup and have a few questions for some of you gurus. Keep in mind that this is a stock motor, hooked to a Fordo, 2 barrel carb, not much in the way of hi-po (do have a 3 deuce setup that I will tinker with later on), and of course there are 4 or 5 other blocks that are going to get some 312 parts, but I digress...

Initial start up: 1. I do have the distributor ready to fire on #1, and am running an ACCEL points eliminator kit. Should I start the motor with the vacuum advance hooked or unhooked? (obviously this dovetails into when the timing should be set with the light, by ear, or what have you) 2. Fuel delivery - should I do more than just fill the carb bowl with fuel? Priming the lines? 3. When should I adjust the carb? I rebuilt the small 2 barrel Holley, as I have done on several other motors, but I have never attacked the new distributor and new carb all at once - which one comes first here and what are the recommendations?

Real Fears: Our friend, the rear main seal. I have put them in on other Y blocks and had them never leak, others and they would leak quite a bit. How soon should I shut down the engine if I find this rear main seal leaking? (concerned about making sure the new cam is broken in properly) Which leads to another question here - what about the break in for a stock motor these days? Cast rings, stock specs, 15w-40 Rotella. I have heard to run the motor at about 2500 rpm for 15 minutes - is this right, and when should I adjust the distributor and carb? before or after?

If you can't tell, I am about as nervous as a I was when my wife had our first baby 9 years ago? Wait, are those labor pains?

PS - special thanks to Jim - we are having a car show and swap meet here in Winchester, Viriginia, and I am going to set up the Y block banner - already have some Y blockers coming -- see the post in This and That if interested.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Daniel ,

It's like Christmas when you start up a new Y .Make sure you have the correct oil ??? If not ,add some Crane or Comp Cams running in additive . I wasted about $2500 by not doing it ??? I always make sure I have oil pressure before I install the motor . I made up a piece of 3/8 inch  rod about 15 inches long with a hex drive off an old dizzy .Remove the rocker covers .Replace the dizzy with the rod and turn anti clockwise with  a cordless drill .Even better if you have an oil gauge screwed into the block , that way you can see the pressure . You should be able to feel the pressure after a minute or so ??? After about 2 minutes you should have oil to the rocker shafts .Once your happy it has oil pressure ,time to reinstall the dizzy & the rocker covers .. Make sure # 1 is at TDC on compression .Once it fires ,I quickly check the timing ,then run it up to 2000rpm for 20 to 30 minutes . That should well and truely bed the cam in . Good luck .

Regards Lon

yblocksdownunder

Lon,

thanks for those comments. I have already primed the pump like you said and have excellent oil to the rockers. My oil is 15w40 with the CI 4 rating. Just a little concerned about the rest of it, as I am sure you have already experienced.

Thanks, Dan

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com