what's a good break in point for a new motor?
 

I am just finishing all the fine tuning on my new motor and am ready to start driving her again. What is a good break in point to start gunning it? I am anxious to pull up next to a slomaro again, but I don't want to screw anything up? Thanks, Keith

When I had my engine rebuilt, the shop told me 1000 miles. I know it seems like a long time, but be patient. Good things come to those who wait. You could always do like I did and aimlessly drive around for hours to speed up the process. The only drawback is, as soon as you start breaking it in, you'll pull up next to everyone you have ever wanted to race, and believe me, the temptation is hard to resist.

As long as you've changed the oil and filter a couple times, you can start getting on it pretty hard at 500 miles, but it's best not to try and kill it until after 1000 miles.

:)

Take care,
~Chris

For what it's worth: I drove my brand new '90 5.0 'normally' for 500 miles (changed the oil and filter @ 100 miles and again @ 500 miles) then finally took it to redline at just under 1000 miles.

I changed the oil again at 1000.

Still running strong at 118,000 miles with no noticable problems at all.

I've changed the oil and filter (conventional oil - Motorcraft filter) every 2000 miles which is a major factor in it's longevity, I'm sure.

If you've ever had a high performance motor built and dyno tested, you'd probably have a heart attack. For the most part, they take your new motor, strap it to the dyno, break in the cam/rings for about 20 minutes at 2000 rpm, change the oil & filter, then PUT HER TO THE WOOD! I thought..."Oh God, my baby!" the first time I saw it, but we went straight from break in to 7000rpm pulls with the water brake.

There are different theories to this question I did it last year. I ran it for 20 minutes changed the oil. 100miles changed oil. 250 miles. Theory 1. drive it like you hate it, break it in hard and it runs hard. break it in slow and it runs slow. I pushed mine up about 500rpm per day starting at 2000rpm. The freeway sucks with 3.73 at 2000 in 5th. The 4th day I ran it to red line. That was 13000 miles ago and all is good. Have fun, I know it was awesome to drive the car again after the rebuild.