cam swap

[Steve Wood]

I did.  Read the second bullet point

[Shimy87]

I read it again, so everything I said was right except that the 1.45 mark is to the left, or ccw from the tdc mark?? And another question, the last thing I'm going to do before initial start up is set the cam sensor. Just before that I was going to prime the oil system, I made a tool to spin up the pump. My question is will this wash a lot of the assembly lube off the new cam and lifters??

Again probably overthinking this

[Steve Wood]

no...one of the reasons I told you to use break in oil instead of an additive

[Shimy87]

I got some Valvoline racing oil for break-in 20/50....says it has added zinc for flat tappet cams, was also going to put is a bottle of Lucas engine break-in additive or is that to much?

[Steve Wood]

Not what I told you to use...I suggested Joe Gibbs break in oil...you gotta do what you want to...all I can do is offer advice

[Steve Wood]

I would run Joe Gibbs break in oil instead of regular oil plus an additive

Does it matter which weight??

I would use 5-30

This is the reason I am considering no more posts on bulletin boards...It's a total waste of time

[Shimy87]

I got this because I could get it local. I do appreciate your advice alot but I'm sure you can relate to this issue, I didnt order the Gibbs because I was getting sick of the shipping cost for all this stuff. I've got over $100 in just shipping. Also every place you talk to has a different opinion on the oil. A local race engine builder, Dave Adams racing, been doing it for over 30 years, guys come from all over the US to buy his motors for their dirt track cars. Anyway I see him around town a lot and he was talking to me at a car show so I was talking about this and he recommended the Valvoline oil and an additive, said it was what they used for all their break ins. TA performance had a different suggestion, and Cottons performance had yet another. All of these people, yourself included, are very knowledgeable, so in the end I'm not ignoring your advice, I cant count the times you have helped me out, but this time I considered what everyone had said and picked the stuff that I could get local. In the end I just want to get the job done correctly. I'm not an engine builder so I probably ask a lot of stupid questions.

[TexasT]

I would run Joe Gibbs break in oil instead of regular oil plus an additive

Does it matter which weight??

I would use 5-30

This is the reason I am considering no more posts on bulletin boards...It's a total waste of time

Just because the op doesn't use you advice doesn't mean posting is a giant waste of time. There is no way to know how many others read and take your advice. You have vast knowledge and I really appreciate you taking the time to share with us.

[Steve Wood]

Rich...when a guy asks you a lot of questions and then does exactly opposite of what you told him...that's okay.  It seems strange that he would do the opposite and not bother to ask you why your advice is completely different from what he is doing. 

I am sure that he will be ok as long as he bought the good lifters and I am sure he is taking advice from a well experienced Buick engine man since he did not ask for clarification.

[TexasT]

While I doubt I've doled out a quarter the advice you have I do know few seem to take what it tell them about doing a 2004r. They mostly want to spend a lot of money. Not sure why. I guess if I was selling stuff it would make sense but I just do the budget thing and get by.

I am still glad you frequent and give your advice.

[Shimy87]

Ok ill bite, why is your advice different? Also I would say ive done 99% of what you have offered for advice exactly like you have said....all appreciated very much.......but can you see the point of my last post? I would say Jack Cotton knows a thing or 2 about buick engines also so I asked him too. Im not an engine builder so I ask questions of people that know what they are doing....like you also.... and then I try to move forward to get this thing fixed. I picked this oil because 2 reputable engine guys ( jack and local guy) said it was a good choice and it was all on a store shelf here with none of the shipping cost and more convienent. I wasnt trying to slight you or ignore your advice but it seems I have pissed you off??? If I have then I guess I screwed myself because, as I said before, you have helped me countless times with this car. Can u see why I deviated from your advice on this one choice?

[Steve Wood]

Sure

[Be4u]

He read my sig lol.....

[motorhead]

Ok ill bite, why is your advice different? Also I would say ive done 99% of what you have offered for advice exactly like you have said....all appreciated very much.......but can you see the point of my last post? I would say Jack Cotton knows a thing or 2 about buick engines also so I asked him too. Im not an engine builder so I ask questions of people that know what they are doing....like you also.... and then I try to move forward to get this thing fixed. I picked this oil because 2 reputable engine guys ( jack and local guy) said it was a good choice and it was all on a store shelf here with none of the shipping cost and more convienent. I wasnt trying to slight you or ignore your advice but it seems I have pissed you off??? If I have then I guess I screwed myself because, as I said before, you have helped me countless times with this car. Can u see why I deviated from your advice on this one choice?

It isn't you.  Steve is on a short fuse these days - some reasons are very justifiable (especially when dealing with me) and I don't blame him for feeling the way he does when he takes the time to offer help.  You will just have to live with the choices you've made and will have to learn from them if your experience is less than ideal.

And don't get me started on the price of shipping.  I am reconsidering my participation in this hobby until our dollar recovers.

[Scoobum]

It's painfully obvious the OP is a novice...and he readily admits it. Steve was merely giving him the best possible advice to break this cam in without it burning a lobe. Most engine builders are clueless about the cam failure issue these particular engines present.


Like Steve, I give the best possible advice. 99 percent do the complete opposite of what I tell them...and then go to those who haven't got a clue...and then complain to me their car's a turd. I've come to the conclusion that most enjoy struggling. It's tough to watch...but I've become accustomed to it.