Break-in Period for Rebuilt Engine

[DieselScout]

Rebuilt an old D24 NA I had kicking around and installed it this week.
Currently at 400 miles of running time since install.

What is the recommended break-in period for these engines?

I am planning to change the oil at 500 miles, 1000 miles and again at 2000 miles.
How long should I change oil at these shorter intervals? (Using regular oil as opposed to synthetic for break-in)

What is a normal oil burn for a freshly rebuilt engine, and when will it start to level off?
It has burnt 1 quart over the past 400 miles.

[IMG][/IMG]

[ngoma]

Nice cleaning job!

The acorn nuts are also a nice touch!

Oil consumption in the first 400 miles is really not a long enough period for me to opinionate. Actually, not enough info for me to formulate any helpful comments, sorry.

What did your rebuild entail? Pistons? Rings? Bearings? Camshaft? Valves? Did you resurface the cylinders? How?

Have you seen this?

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

[DieselScout]

The entire engine has been "gone through" (Pistons, blocks, head, bearings, etc...) Block was sent to a machine shop to hone and bore .5mm over.

I have oil leaking from the cam cover cap, is this unavoidable with these engines?

I'll check out the website.

[ngoma]

Originally Posted by DieselScout

Block was sent to a machine shop to hone and bore

OK so reconditioned cylinder walls and new oversize pistons and rings.
You want to create plenty of combustion gas pressure to strongly force the rings into the walls. Don't let it idle, especially at the beginning.

Originally Posted by DieselScout

I have oil leaking from the cam cover cap, is this unavoidable with these engines?

What kind of valve cover gasket? Are the shoulderd studs completely bottomed out in the threaded holes? Usually have to double-nut them to get them all the way in, otherwise they stand too tall and don't allow sufficient gasket compression.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvs_EFR-f4E

[DieselScout]

The gasket is the rubber one-piece from Goetze.
Studs are shouldered.

From what I can tell, most of the oil is leaking from the cam cover (refill) cap.
I tried replacing the old (cork?) gasket inside the cap with some rubber, but it only helped a little.

[ngoma]

Is it an actual oil leak or is it just greasy and dirty?

[bigvolvoboy]

Hey, I'm currently going through the process of rebuilding my NA D24 (even though its taking ages cuz of school). Where did you purchase parts from such as the rod bearings?