Truck cam/ Flat Tappet Break In

[mammyjammer]

My plan has been to pull the 428 of of my 76 F-250 and put it in my 58 Fairlane 500 and build a a basic 390, no stroker, aluminum heads EFI etc. for the truck.
We have a .030 390 block, C4 AE heads? (they are not right in front of me) Edelbrock Performer, 600 AFB, Mallory Unilite, Hedman Long Tube Hedders with 2 1/2 dual exhaust. Truck is 76 F-250 4X4 4 speed , 4.11 gears and 36 inch tires. Truck will be a daily driver for my son so gas mileage is a concern. I figure the Performer limits the performance , but I think it will be fine for what we are planning.
I'm leaning toward the Comp Cam 268H cam, but a 270H may give up a little power for a little mileage?
Any thoughts on my choices? any other suggestions?

I have the 428 almost ready to go for my 58 Fairlane and this 390 should not take too long, which means I will be breaking in 2 hydraulic flat tappet cams in the near future.. I already have some Brad Penn break in oil. Do I need an additive?

[chilly460]

The 600 AFB/Performer should work fine for that application.  I hope he has a short commute because in that application, I'd say 12mpg is the absolute high side and that's pushing it.  I had a '76 F250 with exactly that drivetrain/tire setup and a 270H in a 390, it did around 8mpg with a 750dp.   Big axles, big heavy trans, gear driven transfer case, tons of drag from tires and aero.  Same engine in a '63 Marauder with 3.00 gear and a T10 pulled 15mpg. 

270H is not a large cam, but it's not what I'd call a "mileage" cam at all.  I also think it's on the large side for the Performer and Carb, I'd personally go a bit smaller. 

[bn69stang]

I would still use the additive jmo , any added insurance you can use i say do it ..Bud

[Grbmaverickmo]

I use the additive with every oil just as a added protective.

[Lenz]

My 2.5 cents is go with the additive, all the way.  Edelbrock makes a zinc additive, I use it with each oil change.  Retail is about $14, much cheaper than a munched cam and rebuild.  The only oil coming off the shelves in retail right now that's not designed to run with a roller cam are variants of diesel lubricants, zinc is long gone.  Once you run it in, keep using the additive and it'll last.  JMO

[Rory428]

Both my drag cars use flat tappet solid cams, and both cams were broken in without issue using Brad Penn 10-30 oil, and a can of GM EOS additive. I also prefer the old style gray Moly cam assembly paste for the cam lobes and lifter bottoms, rather than the bright colored fluid many newer cams come with.Both engines were broken with softer valve springs, but with a smallish cam like the 268H, that shouldn`t be a concern. A friend just broke in a new 394 cube Windsor with a Comp Cams flat tappet hydraulic. He used Joe Gibbs BR break in oil, and had no problems either.

[chris401]

You sparked my interest with 390 cam selection. I have the 265DEH and 270H but for my 352 it looks like the 268H would be better for my empty 4800lb truck, 3000 rpm @70mph. Links are cam specs.

268H:      http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=932&sb=2
265 DEH: http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=942&sb=2
270H:      http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=933&sb=2

[Ford428CJ]

The 600 AFB/Performer should work fine for that application.  I hope he has a short commute because in that application, I'd say 12mpg is the absolute high side and that's pushing it.  I had a '76 F250 with exactly that drivetrain/tire setup and a 270H in a 390, it did around 8mpg with a 750dp.   Big axles, big heavy trans, gear driven transfer case, tons of drag from tires and aero.  Same engine in a '63 Marauder with 3.00 gear and a T10 pulled 15mpg. 

270H is not a large cam, but it's not what I'd call a "mileage" cam at all.  I also think it's on the large side for the Performer and Carb, I'd personally go a bit smaller.

You might be shocked.... I had a 360 that got 15~16mpg and when I dumped my 428 (11to1, Solid Roller cam 565 Lift, 228 & 234 Duration on a 110LSA, moded 750DP that was more like 800CFM or so. I got 14mpg out of the 428 if I kept it 55-60mph.

All this was in a 1976 F-150 with a 4" lift and 35" tires, NP435 and 3.50 gears. I think it depends on the set up you have and if it all jives together. 

[cammerfe]

You can get Moly lube as a 'goo' from Moroso. Comes in a big toothpaste tube. Very worthwhile on cam lobes and lifters and such.

KS

[Ford428CJ]

You should use a non detergent 30w oil or Race Only 30w. Add a bottle of ZDDP to it and you should be good to go! Thats what Crower recommends on cam break in. 

Some good info~

https://www.crower.com/media/pdf/cam_book.pdf

[Lenz]

Yup on the moly lube.  I've used Crane's version on many stock and mild cams, stuff sticks like glue and doesn't appear to degrade if it'll be awhile between build and fire-up.  Back in the early 80's I ended up with an armload of defective cut down GM cams, I was replacing a lot of them in my spare time, owners almost always wanted to step it up a bit.  Had zero issues on break in.  Add some careful attention to detail with all the good advice above and you can't go wrong ...

[bn69stang]

I am going to a hydraulic roller , from a hyd flat tappet and am going to use  T @ D rocker setup .. but i am still going to use the zddp additive with  10- 30  vaivoline semi syn oil .. Bud

[Lenz]

Safety first Bud, I couldn't agree more.  As Ben Franklin used to say (I could be wrong, but hey, nobody's perfect , "an ounce of zinc is worth a pound of shavings."  He also said beer is proof that God wanted us to be happy but that's another thread.  You can only case harden any cam about .005" deep, so you need to use the right stuff straight out of the gate and then back it up with sound maintenance.  JMO, I've studied a bunch but I'm not an engineer.