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how to "re" break in a motor??

  • Thread starter Thread starter slow93
  • Start date Start date Feb 13, 2007
S

slow93

New Member
May 3, 2005
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Feb 13, 2007
#1
  • Feb 13, 2007
  • #1
well i just bought an old maverick drag car that has been sitting for about three years..it will still start real easy and all that but im kinda leary of gettin on it too hard because of how long it sat..what is the best way to bring it back to its old way of life? ive heard maybe changing the oil and then letting the car run for about a half hour and then changing the oil again..dont know if this will do any good or not..if anyone has any suggestions on what to do i would appriciate it..
 
3

304billet

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Sep 16, 2005
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Feb 13, 2007
#2
  • Feb 13, 2007
  • #2
u s/h already changed the oil before starting it up. oil is only good for 3-6 months sitting.

then u s/h have primed the motor by pulling the dizzy and using a drill to spin the oil pump drive shaft, ever before starting it up.

Now if u have not done either, drain the oil and change the filter. The motor has already been broken in. all u can do now is romp on it. usually when a motor sits for so long, the valve seals go bad and sometimes the piston scraper rings stick.

all u can do now is change the oil and run it.

next time u buy a used race motor, have them do a leakdown test to see where the compression is at. s/b between 2%to 10% on a street motor more on a drag motor. I would think that 15% on a drag motor would be my limit of acceptibility. have them put it on a chassis dyno to see what the rwhp is or at a minimum an engine dyno to see if it is still a good build.
 

vristang

15 Year Member
Mar 31, 2005
4,933
101
124
Seattle
Feb 13, 2007
#3
  • Feb 13, 2007
  • #3
Fuel system cleaner
Coolant flush
oil/filter change

I think that is about all you can do.


jason
 
S

slow93

New Member
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Feb 13, 2007
#4
  • Feb 13, 2007
  • #4
well i had to start it to load it on the trailer, i dont have a winch, but im definetly gonna change the oil and filter, maybe a couple times before i take it to the track..it was started from time to time during the three years and it still holds 80psi of oil pressure at idle so hopefully it will be ok
 
V

v8only

Active Member
Jul 3, 2003
2,378
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49
Feb 13, 2007
#5
  • Feb 13, 2007
  • #5
sweet, what are the details on the car? I'm putting close to 15-20 grand in a full maverick resto right now on our 72 that we've had since new, love mavericks. Mine is a 72 with a 302 that I'm swapping in a 5.0 roller efi powerplant.

cruise over to the forums at maverick.to, good site


as well, i have no clue as to the powerplant in that, but thorley headers JUST released some headers that will fit the 302 perfectly with clearance.
 
S

slow93

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May 3, 2005
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Feb 14, 2007
#6
  • Feb 14, 2007
  • #6
it is a 75.. mexican block 302, ported 351w heads, and all the little stuff..disc brake 9" rear with 4.86s.. its got all lexan windows and fiberglass bumpers and hood...its just a little project i picked up so i will have something that is automatic to race..my mustang is a 5 spd and i get tire if shifting every now and then
 

Busted07

I need my gorilla to be about an inch longer.
Nov 15, 2005
0
3
0
Feb 14, 2007
#7
  • Feb 14, 2007
  • #7
Neat car, but the pink stripes HAVE to go.
 

JChalfan

Member
Nov 27, 2002
551
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16
Bellevue, WA
Feb 14, 2007
#8
  • Feb 14, 2007
  • #8
FarBeyondDriven said:
Neat car, but the pink stripes HAVE to go.
Click to expand...



That's a really cool car though, I've always liked Mavericks. I like the twin scoops on the grabbers.

It should be pretty fast, those mavericks are light.
 
S

slow93

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May 3, 2005
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Feb 14, 2007
#9
  • Feb 14, 2007
  • #9
oh yeah, the pink stripe is gone as soon as it warms up enough for me to mess with it..im pretty sure the guy i bought it from said it was 2800 pounds
 

Busted07

I need my gorilla to be about an inch longer.
Nov 15, 2005
0
3
0
Feb 14, 2007
#10
  • Feb 14, 2007
  • #10
I think a set of drag lites or pro stars would change the whole look of that thing.. im just not a fan of the torq thrusts / cragar ss..

Ok, ill quit now
 
S

slow93

New Member
May 3, 2005
406
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Feb 14, 2007
#11
  • Feb 14, 2007
  • #11
thats ok, i agree with everything that you have said so far..lol whenever i get the cash together i will prolly put some draglites on it, the cragers are 14 in and its gettin too hard to find tires (especially slicks) so they gotta go too
 

Mr. Rustypwnz

Advanced Member
Jun 1, 2005
1,761
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indianapolis/ valdosta ga
Feb 14, 2007
#12
  • Feb 14, 2007
  • #12
this is how I broke mine in, I had an exploder shortblock shipped to me, I turned it over a couple of times, made shure i had good oil, started it timed it, backed out of the garage and did a 20ft burnout with open headers, and I had it runnin all of 30 mins.
 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end
15 Year Member
Nov 11, 2003
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Northern KY
Feb 15, 2007
#13
  • Feb 15, 2007
  • #13
1975? Hmmmm so it probably made it into the hands of an '80s rocker, which would explain the pink stripe and Craigers

Looks pretty sweet though!
 
S

slow93

New Member
May 3, 2005
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Feb 15, 2007
#14
  • Feb 15, 2007
  • #14
haha, yeah you are prolly right
 

JChalfan

Member
Nov 27, 2002
551
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Bellevue, WA
Feb 15, 2007
#15
  • Feb 15, 2007
  • #15
A set of the old-style (pre big-brother) bumpers would look really badass on there, off a 70 or 71. Dunno when they switched to the bigger ones. I would guess they're a straight bolt-up swap, but I could be wrong.
 
S

slow93

New Member
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Feb 15, 2007
#16
  • Feb 15, 2007
  • #16
well since these are fiberglass bumpers im gonna leave them on there..at least for now..i dont mind the bigger bumpers personally
 
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