removed while the engine was in the car to access the gears of the oil
pump. Also, all of the components were installed in preparation for
firing the engine. The drill was turned until oil pressure built in the
engine’s oil passages. Generally, it can be determined that pressure is
built up in the engine when the drill suddenly has a difficult time
turning. As soon as the distributor was reinstalled at top-dead center, the
engine was fired before the oil fully drained back into the oil pan.
Due to concerns with low levels of zinc in modern engine oil, an
additive was used and the recommendations were followed for breakin.
Once the valve covers, oil fill neck, water pump and engine mounts
are installed, this engine will be ready for a fresh coat of Cadillac
blue engine paint. Since this engine is going into an otherwise-
unrestored car, the still-functional engine accessories are not being
restored cosmetically or otherwise.With the gauge reading strong oil pressure in the engine, the car was
idled around 1,200-2,000 rpm for about 20 minutes, never allowing the
engine to maintain a constant revolution for any extended period. On a
new engine, this means a bit of heat as the coolant re-enters, so the
engine was fired in a well-ventilated area with the hood off. This process