This weekend I'll be assembling my 350 for my 85 silverado. It's had a boil, hone, new cam bearings. Ground crank, new bearings, aluminum intake, rebuilt carb, and all new fuel oil and water pumps, new pistons on old rods, new rings...

Basically all brand new ****. I am buying the small things tomorrow like plugs, dist cap and rotor, oil, coolant....

I need suggestions on oil. I run mobil 1 in my 01 silvy and my suburban. Should I run mobil 1 in this too? Or should I stay conventional?

If I should stay conventional, what brand an weight? Def don't want pennzoil.

For some background, this engine is goin back in my 85 silverado 3/4 ton lwb. It's got dual tanks and extra heavy duty suspension cause it's a camper king, designed to haul those bigass over the cab campers. So I need an oil that will stand up to the heavy duty use it's gonna get.

 

Do NOT break it in brand new on synthetic. I like to run the first 3 oil changes with Valvoline conventional, then switch to what I'm going to stick with, which stayed Valvoline conventional. We always used 10W-30 for Chevy 350s in my family, and these trucks got worked out. Last 350 we had lasted a solid 240K miles of hard work without ever needing to be opened up. Honestly, regular oil changes with a good conventional oil will serve these engines well and keep your wallet happier.

 

I've heard good things about valvoline.

I've been thinking about staying away from synthetic on this motor.

Whats a good break in first oil change number on these older motors, 500 miles?

 

What kind of cam does it have in it? Flat tappet or roller?

 

flat tappet. The block numbers indicated that it was a later model block and roller cam capable, but didnt have the roller cam in it.

 

Here's some info you might like:

http://cranecams.com/pdf/548e.pdf

http://www.joegibbsracingoil.com/?gc...Fcl25QodoGuajg

http://www.joegibbsracingoil.com/pro...kin/index.html

I've heard that you want high levels of zinc and phosphorus for engine break in for proper cam run in and ring seating

Slightly off topic, but I believe that Joe Gibbs is making Comp Cam's new Muscle Car Oil...I think it's a Gibbs oil with Comp packaging...

 

Checking those links now, thanks.

Meantime, anybody in the night crew have anything to offer?

 

yes valvoline all the way. i run mobil 1 now but all my other trucks i have used valvoline and never had a single problem. castrol is a good secondary choice as well and all in a 10/30

 

royal purple makes a "break in oil" and lucas makes a break in oil additive ,dont know much about em ,but might wanna check em out.

 

Well I finally got hold of my dad, his advice is to use store brand oil for initial startup, let the truck get hot for maybe 15-20 minutes, then drain it. Refill with conventional oil of your choice, drain at 500 miles OR LESS. The run the oil of your choice, which will prolly be valvoline.

I have the lifters soaking in some right now.