First Time Startup and Break In of the Rebuilt Engine | Breaking in a New Camshaft | Spark Plug Gap

In this episode of Budget Build Garage the boys fire up the rebuiltn1968 Chevy El Camino for the very first time. Nick explains how to break in a new or rebuilt engine correctly, and then shows you how to prime and start a dry engine. It might’ve taken a couple tries, but the big block first start was worth the wait. Once the rebuilt Chevy’s first start took place, Nick explains and demonstrates breaking in a new camshaft. The cam break in procedure is very easy, but there are certain steps you must take. And, Nick includes a bonus Tech Tip when he shows the easiest ways to gap new spark plugs. So, stay tuned and enjoy!

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

Thanks for watching! Let me know what you all think of the $200 craigslist big block's first start up?

[@greggbarry4138]

Glad this thing fired up. It is cool to see something off craigslist actually work.

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

I am too. It is always a gamble when you buy something from someone on the internet you don't know but this time it worked out.

[@djhightopfade4940]

Always good to see budget deals work.

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

@@djhightopfade4940 Buying used stuff cam save you a ton of money but sometimes it turns out to be junk. I'm happy this thing is working so far.

[@williamkelly5784]

got a update on the 400 smallblock?

[@Thirdgen83]

You're supposed to prime the oil pump with a drill before starting the engine.

[@Pocketbassist]

Did you watch the video? lol

[@zAvAvAz]

its mad crazy youns went big block! Win for the hero! it just makes me love america.

[@__MAT__]

Bet your neighbors loved the cam break-in . Good stuff, keep it up.

[@setha360]

Prime oil pump, gas down carb have timing light ready, get to 2000 rpm, set timing, run 20 minutes, flat tappet camshaft lifters need crank oil splash.

[@johnnyohman8847]

I love your music also so keep that in the background whenever possible. It is your signature really.

[@maxs.5905]

I thought you guys were being serious till around 2:25. Great comedy !!! I once had an amazing fuel pump too and it filled my thing right up too !!!

[@alexlaverick6111]

What a great way to wipe all the cam lube off the lifters and wipe a lobe when you finally run it. Why didn't you prime it with a drill?

[@larrysouthern5098]

Great video!!! Old SCHOOL!!! GOOD MEMORIES!! Got me pumped up to try another project again!!!! Keep it up!! CLUNKERS UNITE!!!!!!!!!:)🇺🇸

[@bruceleeroy1245]

Thanks for doing the break in I wasn't sure if I should just run it at 2000 rpm for 20 or go through the rpm ranges..this helps a lot 👍🏾

[@edfox5589]

Sounds great!!! My experience with first starting rebuilt motors they either fire up right away or you spend time trying to find out what is wrong

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

When they dont fire up it can be pretty nerve wracking.

[@robertclymer6948]

Timing setting is critical for a quick starting engine for break in. Advance the timing up to 18 deg btdc, not 12.

[@ChrisDoesWhat]

Just got our rebuilt boat engine started, feels great! Burn the hair off my hand when the timing was off, see you keep your hands clear. Great video...

[@danielreyes-dj4nq]

Thats scary starting an engine for the first time

[@markthomas9273]

Flatten that cam the right way!!

[@andrewmurray6772]

well done guys, ! Nick, the engine looks awesome, cheers from Australia :)

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

Thanks! I am pretty happy with it so far. Taylor and I just need to finish up a couple things on it and road trip it somewhere.

[@stevancortez9670]

Nice you guys got it to start sounds great

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

The next step is to see if thing has any power left in it.

[@craigmonteforte1478]

Sounds pretty healthy !!! Like the cam smart breaking it in old school style IMO

[@stephenmitchell3569]

Fan of big block Chevy!! Music is louder than you. Good video and smart advice.

[@lsutrue48]

I’m deff subscribing to try to learn as much as I can off you. Thank you for the videos.

[@raymondsanchez9943]

This guys looks like Spider-Man

[@fxst100able]

Good job you are improving your wrenching skills. Love big V8s. Remember the kiss principle; keep it simple stupid. Works for me...........

[@HowToNation]

Aye love the videos! Very informative and entertaining aswell.

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

Thanks! Glad your into it.

[@LetsPlayDaPc]

peter parker building a car damn

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

Man its catching on! I've gotten that a lot.

[@dave1135]

Nice! I thought i was the only one who thought he looks like tobey Maguire.

[@Scubasteve22]

Don't know how much of a budget the audience is on or how much knowledge they have, but without fail, don't do what these guys do!

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

You mean make a cheap car run? I've been daily driving this thing for a month now

[@mikejeffries7794]

That radiator looks pretty nice.

[@fidelsoria1267]

Hey guys love the show I appreciate all the footage! Also what radiator did you guys use for that big block swap?

[@lsutrue48]

This is absolutely awesome. I just bout a 67’ camaro Ss about 6 months ago. It has a 350 in it and man it’s just not enough!!!! So I bid on a eBay auction and won a BBC 505 stroker.y dad and everyone keeps trying to talk me out of it saying it’ll be a complete hassle to put that in (motor mounts new transmission as placement issues etc) but man I can’t help but want to put the biggest motor in my 67’. I figure why settle gr leas and still have to spend a pretty penny. Also I should say I’m completely new to the work and Altho I do have a mechanical mind I’ve never done an engine swap much less one that requires new mounts etc.

[@kevinz0681]

I have a 67 Camaro also, has 427 bbc in it at the moment. Plan on putting a 540 stroker in and see how it works out. Good luck with yours.

[@fastlanebruce]

Good video Guys lol dude with the hoodie looks like spider man 😂

[@josephandrew6830]

I’m new to building and I’m getting ready to install my big block but don’t know where to position by frame side motor mounts

[@cerebralflatulence7465]

Are there any plans for more videos on the el caminos?

[@dougewing1571]

I have a red 69 SS . Came out with the 396

[@itbsection8980]

Children should not be left alone in the garage!

[@hudboys8120]

They got it runnin didn't they?

[@theshark2804]

My 468 cost $300 i hones and replaced the ring with a new cam. Heads were ported new intake and 750 dp carb. Havent fired it yet.

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

Sounds like a good deal! When do you plan on firing it up?

[@theshark2804]

@@BudgetBuildGarage when i get some money lol. Need exhaust and fluids. No rush. Its my first build and want to get the cam right

[@colin_300]

How exactly do you tune the distributor? I’m having trouble starting my freshly rebuilt big block mopar

[@GimpyHSHS]

You absolutely needed to rebreak in the cam. The break in is to help mate the lifters to the cam, not just run it in. Since you changed those, you did right by rebreaking it in. Since you hadn't had it at higher RPM, you also needed to up the RPMs to sling oil to the cam and new lifters. Shame on you for saying it probably didn't need to be done! Sub'ing anyway, looks like my kinda channel.

[@Thirdgen83]

The cam and lifters are PRESSURE LUBRICATED, so there is NO needto "splash" oil on them.

[@georgealmeida7382]

You can't rebreak in a cam ifvyiu didn't do it on the initial startup ,you already screwed that one up..just a matter of time before its flat ..lol

[@dougewing1571]

Close the choke to it's a half inch open. Always on a cold old school engine

[@vhp454]

You need to bring the rpm up to 2500 to break in the cam. Most 454 are low compression, i own about 14 BBC engines of different cubic inches . but a 427 with 12.1 compression would light that el caminos ass on fire. 🔥

[@stephenfaulkner1448]

Coulda used the idle screw to up adjust the RPM’s. Woulda kept your friend from having to sit a hold the petal

[@goodson77784]

Rad video! Can I put a 6.6 Duramax in my 1993 Suburban 1500?

[@robertwhite4720]

Quick question, I have a 1987 gmc R1500 It has a sbc 350 in it and it starts on starting fluid but my wife has to keep turning the ignition switch to keep it running... what do you think the problem could be? It’s getting fuel, I timed it on TDC #1 cylinder, I dropped the distributor in correctly, I wired the spark plug wires together properly, but it won’t just fire up, I replaced the timing chain and installed that correctly as well. Please help anyone I would appreciate it!

[@trucks7863]

Maybe a bad ground on the fuel pump ,I've seen them rub out under the left bedside

[@jasongrygier2342]

five guys has the best fast food burgers... change my mind

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

No problem. Fast food has to have a drive through. Five guys doeant have a drive through. It's not fast food. That being said I had Five Guys yesterday and it was delicious!

[@jasongrygier2342]

@@BudgetBuildGarage Damn... you changed my mind but still probably the best burgers ever besides homemade ctfu

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

@@jasongrygier2342 You have really interesting timing. The last time you commented I had 5 guys the day before. You just commented and I had 5 guys yesterday.

[@jasongrygier2342]

@@BudgetBuildGarage yea sorry ab that i always forget to check my notifs

[@DanLoFat]

I was wondering before you crank that engine did you prime it? I mean I would assume you dead but I just also would assume you would have put it in the video, or at least just casually mentioning are they had by the way with prime the engine before we crank.

[@1965OlGal]

Dan Lo Fat should have primed it then engine wouldn’t have been cranking so long with no pressure

[@DanLoFat]

Metal in metal, you did NOT prime it!.. or previous video you did?

[@timothynewton4453]

What plugs, what gap?

[@craigmonteforte1478]

I’m looking foward to hearing it anytime ive done one i is always something minor. Preventing the first start So go back and trace the basics Dont get that discouraged yet its only a machine and. You are smarter than it is ! Next. Video you will be laying rubber on the pavement

[@kevinpeterson4098]

Exactly! My recent build kept cranking and popping! I had lifters adjusted too tight. Loosened them and it started! Always something!

[@danielshuler8871]

Run it up a big hall in 2 at 2000rpm for 25 min .

[@danpayne1056]

Whats up with the square headlights?

[@vincegrimes2614]

Does it have heeeeaderz

[@stephendee7839]

Your version of "budget build" is different from mine. No way would I spend on a new rad for a budget build.

[@Nitrodan73]

Next time , turn down the generic rock music. I want to hear the motor!

[@charliegoldman4624]

Good video! Now go do some burnouts!

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

Thanks! I cant wait to burn through these old tires!

[@berniceperry8898]

What size BBC is it...454 396...?

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

454.

[@berniceperry8898]

@@BudgetBuildGarage that's what I thot it was, I've got a 75 model 454 with 32k original miles.. someday I'll find a body to put it in...

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

Nice! Do you have a car in mind?

[@djhightopfade4940]

I hope you score that Ford 9"

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

Me too! The real problem is I need 2 of them. One for this and one for the Mustang.

[@bbrut3332]

@@BudgetBuildGarage Lincoln versi(spelling) with disc brakes...used on a 29 ford coupe open wheel circle track.

[@kurtgarber2950]

My auto shop teacher gave us a higher grade if the motor started up first time.

[@Ashlen68944]

0:22 I done thought I had a damn crack in my phone screen, shyyyyyt.

[@danielreyes-dj4nq]

Put some gas i.n carburator

[@edwinj8275]

Missing the mustang videos 😢

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

We where just talking about more Mustang videos. We will be doing some soon.

[@edwinj8275]

Budget Build Garage I’m excited, I just got a 69 mustang coupe a few months ago so watching you guys is a huge help

[@BudgetBuildGarage]

@@edwinj8275 That's awesome man. If you have an Instagram you should tag me in the next post so I can see it.

[@edwinj8275]

Budget Build Garage will do!

[@edwinj8275]

Budget Build Garage what is you guys instagram?

[@RogueKnight33]

Way too much chatter in your videos. More work less talk!

[@dsprester]

Not wanting to listen to your music, break in is what this video is all about. I will not watch another video..

[@cameronjohnson175]

You guys did good but I can tell you don’t know much about how the motor was built. Good video good editing good work 👌

[@martinlutherbling424]

ALWAYS turn the key OFF BEFORE adjusting the distributor. You can and WILL activate ( open ) the points which will cause a spark plug to fire. that will ignite ANY gasoline that's laying around and with the timing off...a BACKFIRE through the carburetor can cause a FIREBALL to shoot out of the carburetor. A lot of mechanics have been BURNED by such an occurence BECAUSE they're leaning over the carburetor while adjusting the distributor. Tell the GOOFBALL sitting in the car to ALWAYS shut the key off before you move that God Damned distributor.