Q on 454 Big Block Engine Seals...

[LudeLuxury]

I would like to clarify an argument between my friends. I have a 454 big block that is running about 600 hp and is set up a potential of 900 hp. 'Bought it back in '99 and have not even had the chance to break it in yet as it is still sitting in a 78 Camero being restored. I have had it started a few times to show off to friends and hear the sounds that soothes my soul, but have never driven it. Some one told me that the main crankshaft seals are going to need to be replaced because they have not been 'seated properly' yet or woren in. If it has been almost 6 years of just sitting and not running are the seals good to go? Or should I have them replaced??

[MagicRat]

Six years is not enough time to harm seals. I have gotten engines running that have sat for 30 years and never had a problem.

It is possible that a 'rope-type' seal that was installed dry (not lubricated) it might get stuck to the crankshaft....but if that were the case here, you would notice a big oil leak just by running the engine in your driveway.

Don't worry about it. The seals should be fine.

[curtis73]

They were probably talking about rings. If not properly seated they never seat properly and compression loss and blowby will happen.

You should really break in that engine ASAP. It shouldn't be just run every once in a while since all the oil drips off internal parts when it sits that long, so you are running the engine entirely during its worst-lubricated times.

Fire it up, leave it on fast idle, make sure the radiator is unblocked, and let it run for 20 minutes. Leave it on fast idle, watch the temp gauge and hose down the radiator if needed. After that's done, the cam has been broken in and the rings are on there way to being seated. The reason for the fast idle is because certain parts (like cam and rings) rely on slung oil for lubrication.

Then, let it sit until you're ready to put it on the road. Sounds backwards, but that's what you should do. Ring seating should always take place on the road. The variations in load will seat the rings under all conditions instead of just one.

If its more than 2 or 3 months before that happens, take the distributor out and spin the oil pump to circulate some oil before startup.