Older flat tappet cam engines, what oil do you use?

[bwh998]

well, ya, but there was a spate of softer cams and lifters in 70's motors, which would be of concern to square owners, and the increased wear from unbelievable valve spring pressures and lobe profiles, which to not affect square owners. In the OP, is the goodwrench motor one of the drop ins you can get today from like summit or jegs or napa etc? built with modern components? I dropped a quarter mil on my last flat tappet motor (albeit a 1990) and once cancer took the frame, sold the motor still running cherry...

Yep, its a pretty mild 4 bolt main engine with the 993 heads. It's for sale on the front page of either summit or jegs right now for 1450 dollars. It used to be called the target master 350. Mine not new, it looks like it was dropped in sometime in the early 1990's.

 

[quaddriver]

Yep, its a pretty mild 4 bolt main engine with the 993 heads. It's for sale on the front page of either summit or jegs right now for 1450 dollars. It used to be called the target master 350. Mine not new, it looks like it was dropped in sometime in the early 1990's.

thats a modern machine...you should be just fine with quality oil from today, in the correct grade - none of this 0w-20 crap they push...

 

[bwh998]

thats a modern machine...you should be just fine with quality oil from today, in the correct grade - none of this 0w-20 crap they push...

Good to know, thanks

 

[foamypirate]

I run whatever oil is cheap that day, but major brand (Valvoline, Castrol, Mobil-1). Plain old 10w-30 or 5w-30. My 87' 305 doesn't burn or leak a drop of it.

 

[bwh998]

It's good to hear that these flat tappet engines are holding up, from some of the horror stories you read on the internet they make it sound like they are failing left and right. Kind of had me worried.

 

[bwh998]

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet+Performance/809/10067353/10002/-1


That's what I have, it has a ton of miles on it but seems to still run good.

 

[da_raabi]

I use a jumbo size 2 Qt filter and Amsoil Z-Rod oil. Seems to work well in my 454. Too bad the oil pan leaks more oil than I care to admit but... at least the engine itself seems happy.

 

[MadOgre]

It's good to hear that these flat tappet engines are holding up, from some of the horror stories you read on the internet they make it sound like they are failing left and right. Kind of had me worried.

Nah I only run ZDDP to break it in for the first 15-20K after that I just use straight quality conventional oil. I have never had an issue either.

 

[bwh998]

thanks for the help.