Assembly lube

[fekbmax]

What assembly lube do you guys like to use ? The engine will likely set 6 or 8 weeks after assembly  before firing.  I have used a few different things including a assembly lube and the federal mogul/speed pro (green snot) is readily available on the shelf a few places near me so there wouldn't haveta be a wait on ordering anything as far as a specialty lube goes. Just curious What you guys may think ?

[cjshaker]

Except for the cam and lifters, obviously, I'm not a big fan of "special" assembly lubes. They muck up the oil during the critical initial run-in, just when you want good oil and not some gooey slime running through your engine. I see it like this; you're going to pre-oil the engine anyway, right? So what is the purpose of the assembly lube? An engine should be mocked up at least once, if not twice or more, so during actual assembly there shouldn't be much reason to turn the engine other than installing the rods/pistons and setting lash. Most all engines sit over entire winters, so sitting any short length of time is hardly worse than that.

Once it's pre-oiled, and I will turn the engine by hand a couple times during pre-oiling, then oil should be at all the critical areas. That's just my opinion but I realize the vast majority of people like to use it.

[shady]

STP. mixes right in with the oil. & you are going to change oil after the first 25 miles, Right?

[fekbmax]

Yes, of course talking final assembly.  After several mock ups checking all clearances and re cleaning. Can't clean enough in my book. 
Absolutely pre oiling.
I normally change the oil fairly soon in the race engines.  Use something like a straight 40 for pre oiling and and change after 3 to 5 full heat cycles , depending. 

[KMcCullah]

I like Clevite Assembly Lube.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cle-2800b2/overview/

Looks like raspberry jam....sticks like it too.

[jayb]

+1 on the Clevite lube; I use it on all my builds.

[Barry_R]

Kinda with Mr. Smith on this one - especially with only a month or two before running.  We use some sort of sauce on cams but mainly oil on everything else.  Turn it over every once in a while.  If you're nervous you can spray some WD40 through the plug holes on occasion. 

[cammerfe]

Back in just-post-flathead days I, too, used STP/oil. One can of each. Later I used 30 weight oil with Moroso assembly grease (in a tube) on the cam and so on. FWIW, Roush uses some secret goop they mix up. They're very close-mouthed about it.

KS

[thatdarncat]

Quite a few years ago I was building a motor and asked my machinist what he was using for assembly lube and his advice was the same as Doug and Barry, other than the cam and lifters he was pretty much just using Brad Penn oil ( he does put something different on valve stems ). He puts one of those tapered nozzles like you get on a bottle of gear lube on the oil bottle, makes it easier to apply. He uses Brad Penn pretty much exclusively and Brad Penn advertises their oil as having some "cling".

[Nightmist66]

We have used a little of everything. From Clevite, Childs&Albert, E.O.S., Isky Rev Lube, Brad Penn, Lubriplate, and I think Micron Moly. Our recent windsor build we used Brad Penn assembly lube for almost everything. I was a little dissapointed since the build went a little slower than planned, I noticed after some time most of the lube ran off of the cam lobes and such.(hyd. roller) There was a thin film left and some dripping left on the bottom side. I think my favorite lube that stays put and won't run is the Isky Rev Lube. Great for cam lobes(especially flat tappets), dist. gears, etc.

FWIW, one night I was watching an episode of How It's Made: Dream Cars, and they featured Koenigsegg. During the engine assembly which is a twin turbo Ford modular based design, I caught a glimpse of the guy using Lucas assembly lube on pretty much everything.

[blykins]

I use Lucas assembly lube.  It's basically green snot, but sticks to everything and doesn't run off.  I use it on seals, bearings, and I use oil on the piston skirts and rings. 

[ScotiaFE]

I use KY... oh wait that's for the other site.

[jayb]

LMAO!!   

[driveamerican]

Do you guys remember the old stp comercial. What's the matter tough guy can't even hold a screwdriver. I use stp also I always liked it when doing an in frame because if you started late the next day you didn't have oil dripping on you while you finished the bottom end.

[Falcon67]

I use Lucas assembly lube.  It's basically green snot, but sticks to everything and doesn't run off.  I use it on seals, bearings, and I use oil on the piston skirts and rings.

Same - works well