I have my 351 big bore kit coming in the mail and I was wondering what heat cycle procedure I should follow after the installation? I've tried searching but no luck....

 

What I did - after the motor was all bolted back up - don't put everthing else back on, just balance the gas tank and hook it up so you can start it. Then:

Start motor, let it idle till the fan kicks in, shut it off.

Wait till it's COMPLETELY cooled - wait a few hours. Then wait a couple more.

Then pull the valve cover off, pull the cam cap off, move the cams out of the way, and re-torque the four bigger allen bolts, and the two smaller bolts that are on the cam chain side to the tq specs .

Once re-torqued, put back together, and go enjoy the new beast.

 

Thanks Larry! I talked to Bill a couple of days ago and he said I don't need to retorque the head gasket bolts anymore because of the cometic fiber gasket. So, how many heat cycles do I do and when should I change the oil?

 

I gotcha. I have a copper gasket, that's what was called for.

When I broke it in I just let it idle till hot, shut down. Then rode it taking it a bit easy, but still giving it some gas for about 10-15 miles. Then went a little more up in the RPM's, little more, etc. At about 50 miles changed the oil, then started to drive it like I normally would.

Runs perfect. Even took the head off after about 1,200 miles and everything looked like the day I put it in.