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Assembly lube or other lubrication prior to start-up?

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Old 02-05-2006, 10:35 AM
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Default Assembly lube or other lubrication prior to start-up?

I tried searching for this information as best as I could, but came up with nothing. When doing my previous cam swap, I followed the ls1howto directions and lubricated the cam w/ my regular Mobil 1 oil prior to installation.

The question: what about the rest of the valvetrain? I have a head/cam swap coming up and I've seen some mild assembly sprays advertised such as:

Camshaft Break-in Lube


Slipkote Valvespring Spray


In theory they seem like great ideas... One last question, why no assembly lube on the camshaft?
Old 02-05-2006, 12:09 PM
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Break-in lube I am thinking is for flat tappet cams.
LS1 cams don't need broken in.
The oil acts as lube to install the cam.

When I installed my cam in my new motor I knew it would be a while before starting it, so I used some assembly lube on it. As well as the tips of the pushrods and the tip of the rocker arms. Did I need too?? Probably not as long as it was primed correctly before start-up. But I figured it couldn't hurt.
Old 02-05-2006, 12:37 PM
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Just use motor oil.
Old 02-05-2006, 10:36 PM
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Default lube

I've been using Lucas oil treatment as assembly lube.
Old 02-06-2006, 01:02 AM
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When I build a motor I use crane assembly lube on rod and main journals and the cam. I coat all the springs and rockers with a good coat of engine oil before throwing the valve covers on. Put in some crappy oil and run it at idle for 20 minutes. Then drain the oil and put in my regular oil with a new filter.
Old 02-06-2006, 05:33 AM
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Redline assembly lube here. It doesn't contain any particulate. I use it on the pushrod tips, roller tips, etc. for startup. I am putting in new lifters this spring and will use it on the cam lobes before putting in the lifters. It desolves instantly in the oil once oil pressure comes up. I also had an oil analysis done after my cam swap and I used it then, oil analysis came out perfect. I think a lot of tuners/builders on this site use the Redline as well, at least I found that when the search function was working correctly.



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