I recently completed first fire up of my fresh 440. I was pretty excited when it fired and was concentrating on camshaft break in. It sounded okay, but then I noticed headers were red hot and one of the spark plug boots actually ignited. I immediately shut it down, googled it found out it was not uncommon, replaced the wire and fired her back up for the remainder of the break in. During all of the excitement and given the fact this was my first time doing this, I had forgotten to check timing on initial fire up. It turns out that the timing was retarded. Now, if the engine is running and warmed up and I shut it off and start it back up right away it sounds like it detonates or has pre-ignition. If you let it sit for 5 minutes it does not do it. It also wanted to run on one time I shut it off. Do I just need to play with the timing or have I possibly created a hot spot from running it in with retarded timing?

 

Your carb is probbly lean
you initial timming shouldnt hurt your motor
we need more info type cam , carb intake compression ratio
the most important Imo...zinc adfitive is needed since they removed it from motor oils

 

did the coolant overheat?

are you sure you got the cooling system bled?

easy way is to feel heater hoses and make absolutely certain it is circulating

feel top and bottom of heater hoses

hope you learned a lesson. no reason you cannot learn to properly time an engine right at start

you can get them close by proper static timing, but with cam break in where they want instant fairly high rpm you want to get the engine "roughed in" up to rpm and then set timing to ADVANCED settings IE around 30--34 degrees and then reset it 'for real' later

fire up and break in is easier with two people AND NO BEER

 

" pre-ignition" and over heating? but you didnt check the plugs?

 

Coolant did not get over 200.
Carb is a 750 Edelbrock out of the box
Intake is an Edelbrock performer 440
Block is .030 over with flat top pistons
Heads are 452's with mild port and big valves
Cam is comp 462/470 lift 218/224 duration @.050 110 lobe separation
Right now all of the plugs are dark except #5,4 and 8. Don't know if that will tell anything because it has been idling and a lot of start ups for short durations.

 

Cam break-in has always stressed me out, my next cam is going to be a roller. Anyway, where's your initial timing now? Good baseline is 12 btdc. 93 octane too, 452s + flat tops = no more cheap gas. I think your motor is okay, just got some details to work out, no worries man.

 

First Welcome, second be positive the block is full of coolant.

Change oil, filter and plugs, start with timing light in hand and set idle mixture.

Run it and see what happens. Having a vacuum gauge on it will give good information.

 

That happened because it was retarded in the timing.....
Continue and set timing and set the carb....
As long as is never got over 200 DEG....
You did the rite things....

Set the timing...
Set the carb.....
Recheck timing...
Set the trans linkage...
Recheck all the fluids....
Now you should be ready for a test ride...

Just my 2 cents

 

the BIG Q is HOW dark. and what plugs. my guess is that big of cam should have plugs 2-3 steps colder than stock. plugs are cheaper that pistons.

 

71 -

Go with what Bob said.

Archer