So the engine has gone pop already, no great surprise. Probably holed a piston or melted the seals on barrels.
1. When rebuilding splash out for some branded drop-forged pistons/rods so they don't melt and hole. This saves having to do the bottom end which is where the time and effort is. Make the bottom end far stronger than the bolt on pots as these change easily. Buy a bulk supply of pots...
2. Dramatically increase the cooling and fit a couple of head temp gauges so you can choose when to turn it on. I cheated and used to guess the temperature based on how "roaring furnace" the heater used to get. If it would melt the skin off your feet it was time to slow and cool. Not ideal. Kenlow fans and louvres in the engine bay cover or cal style fixed open lid (beware of reversing and forgetting it is there...crunch)
3. Once built take it to a good tuner and make certain it is running slightly rich on full throttle. When it is lean it does not cool so well and then cooks. The fuel tended to help and also gave the additional benefit of pops on the overun. Resist the urge to then over fuel and increase the pops or you might just blow the exhaust off.
4. Teach him mechanical sympathy and ensure the rebuilt top end is run in prior to blasting it. Arguments may ensue here but I was taught that after a rebuild it was wise to go for one long gentle drive to do it in a single run. I was told to gradually increase the change up point(+250rpm increase in change up point per 25 miles) but always on a light throttle and never load or "bog down" the engine. So just give it a light throttle and let it climb slowly around up to the next change and so on. This meant no steps in the barrels or on the pistons. Never use fully throttle until 1000 miles had passed. Never use top and leave it loaded until 1000 miles had passed.
5. Forget what they tell you abut mono-lubricants as the oil does all the work. Fit an oil cooler and go for a nice broad range semi-synthetic. Go thin in winter and thick in summer.
I did these and never blew the engine afterwards. (only twice before....whoops) I did plenty of other dumb stuff mind you. No great surprise.
But above all else, even at night, wear dark glasses.
Oh god how embarrassing when I look back.
You just have to do it through.
Anyone else want to share their first fruit ?
