Hello all, hope you can help me as I'm overseas and don't have as good access to parts and accessories as in the states.

I just picked up the car after a massive rebuild:

New Lash adjusters,
valve job,
JE 10.5:1 pistons 20 over,
Eagle rods and bearings,
UDP,
Timing belt and tensioners,
Water pump,
OBX Header,
plus a few other non engine.

Theres a short ram intake as well.

I have put only 200 mi in the car, but when I start the engine from cold, theres a small clinging noise and light knoking that goes away after the car heats up. Is this normal during break in or initial period?

Last cuestion as of course the car feels a bit weird since I last drove it and trying to be careful with it at first, where will I find more noticeable gains? (i've read the stages, and comments)

Thanks.

Originally posted by manolo38
I have put only 200 mi in the car, but when I start the engine from cold, theres a small clinging noise and light knoking that goes away after the car heats up. Is this normal during break in or initial period?

I believe what you are experiencing is called "piston slap" and is normal. If you wish to look into it more, do search on it.

give the car a little more time to warm up before driving, for new pistons it's not unusual before the rings seat completely, it ususally goes away, do frequent oil changes for the first couple thousand miles of break-in. I do 300, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, and regular changes after that. the piston slap should go away eventually.

My JE 8.8 do that on cold startup, noise go away after 30sec. As for the breakin, ive fallow the motoman method, seem to work great at this time.