So my Lucky 8 camshaft did not come with any break in procedure or lube, and I didn’t find anything, with a cursory glance thru the RAVE. Can I assume that the procedure is the same as other cams. 2k-3k for 20 minutes or so?

 

I always did 30 minutes, but yes the procedure is the same.

 

I would advise that you do a little reading on modern break-in procedures.

​​​​without re-igniting the oil debate, I would like to drop this little info bomb. Break in procedure (especially with flat-tappet cams) is the process of rapidly wearing away the sacrificial surfaces of the engine in order to mated surfaces, I.e uniform grooves/shallower peaks and valleys. You know this, most car guys do.

the old school break-in in procedure requires the use of break in oil for this purpose, because break in oil provides very poor wear resistance. Therefore facilitating this rapid wear. Despite advertisements like "our break in oil offers superior protection" they actually do the exact opposite, all of them. Hence the crazy break-in dance where you stand on one foot, while singing the national anthem and praying too the flat tappet gods that you don't wipe a cam lobe or lifter.

New school is simple. Use really freaking good oil, the same oil that you will use for the life of the engine. Use really good assembly lube. Do a really good job of priming the oil system. Then start her up and go about your business. The idea being this... the cam and lifters will wear into a pattern in time, because there are high spots that are just inherent with the allowable tolerances. The key phrase here is IN TIME, possibly several thousand miles. Not 3 minutes. No excessive heat created by poor lubrication, no excessive wear caused by non-existent oil film, no chance of killing your brand new cam and lifters.

 

Interesting info. Thanks King!