Fresh 383

[peakandscoot]

I have my 383 fresh from the machine shop new rings and bearing. Mild Lunati roller cam, new aluminum heads. Im running a Holley Sniper and Holley Hyper spark. Here is my question. My co builder is insistent that we do the initial start up with a carburetor and the original distributor. My understanding is i dont need to do that with a roller cam but im no expert engine builder. What do you guys think.

 

[steve340]

Given it is a roller cam I would use the Holley system. My opinion - might as well run what you intend to use no harm will be done if it will not start.

 

[4mulas]

Roller cam = you don’t need a traditional style run it as you would for a hydraulic flat tapper cam. The EFI from Holley is fine. Keep in mind though that you still need to seat the rings.

 

[beanhead]

Yeah I agree. Really no reason to dick around with a carb you don't intend on calibrating and running, on a roller engine. Carb issues on an inital fire-up can happen too; just sitting them on the bench for a month makes me nervous. They always get a rebuild and good going-through right before startup day. Even then it takes some figuring to get a "close-enough" tune to not cause any problems during the (flat tappet) cam break-in.
Just go through the Sniper install thoroughly before starting, test the function of the fuel system beforehand. The last thing you want is fuel wash-down on unseated rings.

 

[PRHeads]

I always try and do the initial start up using “known good” parts.
Whether that’s a known good carb or a known good EFI.

If the EFI system is new and untested, I’d absolutely use a known good carb instead.